A Trek For The Future- Kala Patthar Trek-October 2024 In Support of PACH's Permanent Endowment Fund


FIBUSPAM Founder, Paul Martel

Hospital Fibuspam-Riobamba, Ecuador


For 25 years, Paul Martel, PACH and FIBUSPAM have provided health care and hope to tens of thousands of impoverished Ecuadorians. The years have passed, and Paul’s dream now is that this great work endures beyond his lifetime. In 2019, he and PACH established a Permanent Endowment Fund to provide for its future. Their goal is a fund of $1 million and they are 25% of the way there.  Your support of this trek to Kala Patthar in Nepal will bring us closer to that goal and help assure that this great work continues after the Founder's passing. Note: An anonymous donor will match the first $10,000 in donations.

Paul's third, and highest, Nepal trek will take place over 15 days in October 2024. He, with his sons Chris and Mikie and their trusted guide Jit Lama, will trek 78 miles, reach Everest Base Camp and summit Kala Patthar at 18,519’ to raise awareness of this important goal.  Kala Patthar is very near Mt. Everest and is the highest peak that can be reached with a trekking permit. Any higher effort requires a far more expensive and restrictive Climbing Permit. 

It is unfortunate but true that no one that Paul and Fibuspam help will ever have any resources to help fund the organization.  Unlike hospitals here is the U.S., we will never have a local constituency supporting our work. Like most foreign NGO's, we rely on our donors and friends here in the US, and, like most smaller NGO's, surviving the founder is often the biggest challenge. We are deeply grateful to our generous donors and supporters and hope they will help support this effort at making PACH and Fibuspam lasting institutions.

To make a donation: CLICK HERE

Thank you for supporting Paul in this important effort.

Note: All trek related costs will be paid for privately. Aside from normal transaction processing costs related to GiveLively, 100% of your donation will be added to our Permanent Endowment Fund to perpetuate the work of PACH and FIBUSPAM.


Paul's Trek itinerary looks like this:
Oct. 12th      Day 1- Leave JFK at 11:00 AM (terminal 8) for Kathmandu
Oct. 13th      Day2- Air travel to Doha and Kathmandu  Arrive 4:45PM
Oct. 14th      Day 3- Free day in Kathmandu
Oct. 15th      Day 4-1:30 AM Drive to Manthali Apt.-Fly to Lukla-Trek to Phakding
Oct. 16th      Day 5- Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Oct. 17th      Day 6-Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar
Oct. 18th      Day 7-Trek from Namche to Tengboche
Oct. 19th      Day 8-Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche
Oct. 20th      Day 9-Acclimatization day in Dingboche
Oct. 21st      Day 10-Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche
Oct. 22nd     Day 11-Trek to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp
Oct. 23rd      Day 12-Climb Kala Patthar & Heli back to Kathmandu
Oct. 24th      Day 13- Free day in Kathmandu
Oct. 25th      Day 14-Return Flight to JFK 6:00PM

Altitudes and Estimated Distances:
Lukla (9,383') to Phakding (8,563')                4.6 miles    2-3 hours
Phakding (8,563') to Namche (11,286')          7.86 miles    7 hours
Namche (11,286') to Tengboche (12,697')      10.82miles    6-7 hours
Tengboche (12,697') to Dingboche (14,469')   10.48 miles    6 hours
Dingboche (14,469') to Lobuche (16,210')       5.4 miles    6 hours
Lobuche (16,210') to Ev. Base Camp (17,575')   7.5 miles     8 hours
Gorak Shep (16,942') to Kala Patthar Summit (18,519')  2.7 miles    3-4 hours

Including acclimatization hikes, our total distance trekked should be roughly 65 miles

To follow my daily progress via GPS maps visit:
Paul's Kala Patthar Trek Progress


Paul's April, 2023 Trek to Gokyo Ri (17,575')
In Honor of FIBUSPAM



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