PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – Chirag Trivedi, International Programs Manager at U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal, has taken what began as a hobby more than 30 years ago, and applied it as a test of true grit and determination while climbing two of the world’s tallest mountains.
When not collaborating with international allies and industry partners as part of his job, Trivedi, 50, can be found exploring nature on foot.
He began hiking while attending college but would later find himself climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and to the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal, which is a rudimentary campsite at the base of Mount Everest used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the sixth tallest mountain from the Earth’s core. It is unique not only because of its location directly on the equator, but it is also the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, meaning it is not part of a mountain range like the Himalayas.
This dormant African volcano measures 5,895 meters or 19,340 feet about sea level and requires between five and nine days to reach the summit.
In late July and early August in 2021, Trivedi and one of his friends, along with the assistance from trail guides, completed the Kilimanjaro climb in eight days.
“It took six and a half days to reach the summit,” Trivedi said. “Then another day and a half to come back down.”
Kilimanjaro was a test run for Everest Base Camp. It was there that Trivedi learned the importance of how to properly pack his gear, sustain nutrition and energy, prepare for changes in weather, and monitor oxygen levels.
Climbing at high elevations comes with risks, including high-altitude sickness, exposure to extreme cold and weather, avalanches, falls, and exhaustion. The thin air at high altitudes significantly reduces oxygen levels, causing various health problems like pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and cerebral edema (brain swelling), which can be fatal.
Some people adjust quickly to high altitudes, but others do not. While everybody responds to altitude differently and there is no guarantee a fit traveler will withstand altitude better than perhaps an out-of-shape friend. However, the overall experience tends to be easier if you are fit and healthy.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a risk on any trek above 2,500 meters (8,202 feet). To give your body time to adjust, acclimatization days are essential. Guides will build these stops into the climbing schedule. During one of these pauses, climbers will be examined and monitored by physicians before moving on to the next stage.
“Once you are above 6,500 feet, there is basically nothing you can do for elevation sickness,” Trivedi said.
Some people start to feel the effects of altitude above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), and by 4,000 meters (13,100 feet), almost everyone will have an elevated heart rate, faster breathing, and maybe a headache and difficulty sleeping.
“You would have the whole evening after you reached your camp to bring your breathing and heart rate down and get your blood oxygen checked to make sure it is close to 85.That means you are drinking enough water and can continue the next day,” Trivedi said.
Because of the complexity of the climb and inherent dangers, climbers often purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes evacuation and rescue services.
When it comes to packing gear, you do not want to overdo it, but you also do not want to under pack. Porters, or people assigned to carry gear, will help take the burden off the climber’s back, as will yaks and dzopkyos (yak-cow hybrids), but there are restrictions as to what climbers should bring to help keep the weight down. With limited energy supply and connectivity, most electronic or communication devices are useless without solar power.
Learning from his Kilimanjaro climb, Trivedi decided to challenge himself further in April 2025 by taking the climb to Everest Base Camp. This trip would take 13 days to complete, five more than the previous excursion.
Mount Everest, part of the Himalayan Mountains, which is home to a handful of the highest mountain peaks in the world, measures in at 8,848.86 meters or 29,031.7 feet above sea level. Everest stretches across Nepal, China and the Tibetan border in southern Asia. Mount Everest's height makes it the definitive "roof of the world."
Everest Base Camp, 5,365 meters or 17,600 feet above sea level, is a key location for climbers attempting to summit Mount Everest. It's a temporary settlement on the south side of the mountain, in Nepal, serving as a starting point and logistical hub for expeditions.
Packing for a trip like this is not a one size fits all situation. Each person needs to test their gear before the trip and get used to how it fits, and it works for you.
“I learned to pack as light as possible,” Trivedi said. “This isn’t a fashion show. You need just enough layers for a couple days.”
Mount Everest's height makes it the definitive "roof of the world."
Trivedi said at Base Camp he experienced temperatures of -15 Celsius, which is equivalent to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
The extreme cold temperature caused the tip of his nose to turn purple due to frost bite, an ailment that has since healed.
Aside from the cold, the sun also plays a significant part of the trekking experience, offering both stunning views and a unique challenge. Light glaring off snow can be blinding. Also, and at times temperatures can swing from one extreme to another.
“I applied petroleum jelly, sunscreen, and even pieces of cardboard under my sunglasses to prevent direct sunlight on my nose,” Trivedi said, recalling attempts to prevent sunburn.
Trivedi said that while nobody in his group at Everest Base Camp got sick from the increased altitude, they each noticed that their resting heartbeat was 20 to 30 beats higher than at sea-level.
As of May 2024, 340 people have died on Everest. More than 200 bodies remain on the mountain and have not been removed due to the dangerous conditions.
Trivedi recommends that anyone who can physically handle the challenges, should visit Mounts Kilimanjaro and Everest.
“Definitely do it. It is a once in a lifetime experience,” he said.
For his next adventure, Trivedi intends to climb Aconcagua, part of the Andes in Argentina, and highest mountain in the Americas.
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