59-Year-Old Kerala Tailor Vasanthi Cheruveettil Reaches Everest Base Camp With Youtube Tips
59-year-old Kerala tailor Vasanthi Cheruveettil treks to Everest Base Camp solo, training via YouTube and daily walks. Her inspiring journey defies age and limits.
A 59-year-old tailor from Kerala, Vasanthi Cheruveettil, has achieved an extraordinary feat by successfully trekking to the Everest Base Camp without any formal training. Cheruveettil, a resident of Thalipparamba in Kannur, reached the South Base Camp on 23 February after starting her trek from Surke, Nepal, on 15 February — a testament to her determination and self-learning.
Training through YouTube and Daily Walks
Cheruveettil took over four months to prepare for her journey, training herself despite scepticism from everyone. To achive this she followed a strict daily routine of walking for three hours, practising in trekking boots, and covering 5–6 kilometres in the evenings with her companions. To enhance her communication skills during the trek, she also learned Hindi and watched YouTube videos to familiarise herself with basic trekking techniques.
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One of the users of Instagram wrote under the comment section and said, "59 is really not old to do these trips. We climbed Mt Kailash last year at 72 and 77. 5,200m We were also at Everest Base Camp and the Great Wall of China." Her Instagram profile has travel videos and photos of her trip to Thailand also, and in of the pic she has a tiger cub in her hands in which she is feeding it milk from a bottle.
Overcoming Challenges on the Trek
The journey was not without its challenges. First the bad weather led to the cancellation of her flight to Lukla, forcing her to seek an alternative route via Surke with the assistance of a German couple she met in Nepal. Throughout the trek, Cheruveettil encountered fellow adventurers from around the world, including a father-son duo from Thiruvananthapuram.
The trek itself was demanding, with steep climbs, narrow paths, and deep ravines. She walked six to seven hours daily, pacing herself carefully to avoid exhaustion. “I needed more time, so I walked slowly, using a stick. Every few steps, I paused to take at least five breaths to avoid shivering and exhaustion,” she told Manorama.
Going Viral and Future Plans
Cheruveettil’s story gained widespread attention after a photo of her waving the Indian flag at Everest Base Camp, dressed in a traditional Kasavu saree, went viral online. This isn’t her first solo adventure — last year, she travelled to Thailand alone after her friends backed out, doubting whether a woman could travel so far by herself. Financing her adventures through her tailoring business, with occasional support from her sons, Vineeth and Vivek, Cheruveettil remains undeterred in her thirst for adventure. With Everest Base Camp conquered, she now sets her sights on her next dream destination: the Great Wall of China.
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