Bruce, Alexis and 11-year-old Hunter take on one of Nepal’s great Himalayan challenges
Some journeys stay with you forever. The 2022 Mera Peak Nepal expedition with Bruce and Alexis — joined by their 11-year-old son, Hunter — is one of those rare stories where adventure, family, grit and the magic of the Himalayas converge into something unforgettable. Their incredible video captures the rawness and the beauty of the expedition, but behind the footage lies a deeper tale about courage, perseverance and shared experience.
This is the story behind the film. A journey from the streets of Kathmandu into the quiet forests of the Hinku Valley, across high passes and wide glaciers, all leading to an attempt on one of Nepal’s most iconic trekking peaks.
A Gentle Beginning Before the Mountain Calls
The adventure began on 15 October, 2022, when the team arrived in Kathmandu and checked into The Radisson Hotel. The city always feels like a threshold — colourful, chaotic, spiritual — the perfect place to gather your thoughts before stepping into the Himalayas. A welcome dinner brought everyone together and set the tone for the shared challenge ahead.
The next day was spent exploring Kathmandu and preparing gear. The anticipation was growing. Mera Peak Nepal is not a small undertaking, and the excitement of what lay ahead was balanced with healthy respect for the mountain.
The Flight to Lukla and First Steps To Mera Peak
On 17 October, the team boarded the iconic flight to Lukla — the gateway to the Khumbu. From there, an acclimatisation walk up to Chutanga offered the first glimpse into the days that would follow: steady climbing, crisp mountain air and the thrill of being surrounded by towering peaks.
A warm dinner at Namaste Lodge that evening marked the beginning of the team’s mountain rhythm: walking, eating, laughing and sharing the simple joy of moving through the Himalayas together.
From Lukla, the journey unfolded gradually. The team trekked through peaceful, less-travelled trails from Lukla to Poyan, then on to Pang Kongma, and deeper into the forested valley to Gnashing Dingma. These early days set the foundation for what would become a truly remarkable expedition.
Crossing the Surke-La and Rising into the Wild High Country
On 21 October, the expedition crossed the Surke-La Pass, a defining moment where the gentle terrain gave way to the true high mountains. The ascent to Chalem Kharka (3600m) was challenging but stunning, with sweeping views and a sense that the world had suddenly expanded.
For Hunter, these were big days. At just eleven years of age, he was moving through landscapes and altitudes that challenge even the most experienced trekkers. His determination and resilience became a source of inspiration for the entire team.
From Chalem Kharka, the route climbed further to Chunbu Kharka (4200m), one of the most remote and spectacular high camps in the entire region. A rest day here allowed time for full acclimatisation, quiet reflection and simply soaking in the beauty of the surroundings.
Into the Heart of the Hinku Valley
With lungs adjusting and legs strong, the team descended into the wider Hinku Valley to Kote and then pushed higher to Tangnag (4360m). The valley here is raw and dramatic — towering cliffs, glacial rivers, ancient moraines. It feels like a place carved by time itself.
Another acclimatisation day in Tangnag ensured everyone was well prepared for the days ahead. Mera Peak in Nepal rewards those who respect the process, and our team did exactly that. Here the team also spent a day learning and honing their jumaring and abseiling skills. Skills they’d need to use high on Mera Peak. For Hunter, this was a highlight. He took to the technical skills with confidence, soaking up the experience in the way only a young adventurer can.
By 27 October, the team had climbed into the thin air of Khare (5045m) — the base and launching pad for all Mera Peak ascents.
The Move to Mera Peak High Camp
From Khare, the team trekked to the gentle snow slopes at the end of the Mera Peak glacier. Here they established their Base Camp at 5400m for the night. Then, on 30 October, they moved slowly and steadily to Mera Peak High Camp at 5800m. This rocky perch sits high above the Hinku Valley, offering panoramic views of five of the world’s highest mountains: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Kangchenjunga.
High Camp is a place of emotion — excitement, nerves, anticipation — and the video captures this beautifully. The tents glowing in the cold night, the whisper of wind over the ridge, and the quiet conversations knowing that summit day begins long before dawn.
For Hunter, reaching High Camp was already an extraordinary achievement. Very few young people ever step foot this high in the Himalayas, let alone after trekking for more than two weeks across such demanding terrain.
Summit Day: Courage on a Cold Himalayan Morning
In the early hours of 31 October, the team roped up under a clear night sky and began the slow, steady ascent towards the summit. The glacier shimmered in the moonlight, and the silhouette of Mera Peak rose ahead like a promise.
The climb is demanding — steep in sections, long throughout, and unrelenting at altitude. But the team moved with quiet determination.
At around the halfway point, with the mountain steepening and the air thinning further, Hunter made the incredibly mature and courageous decision to turn back with one of our Sherpa guides. It was a choice grounded in wisdom, not defeat — a recognition of the limits that even adults often struggle to acknowledge. In the mountains, this kind of judgement is not just admirable; it’s essential.
He returned safely to High Camp with his guide, while Bruce and Alexis continued upwards across the final steep snowfield toward the summit.
As dawn broke, they reached the 6461 metre summit of Mera Peak Nepal, standing beneath a skyline of giants. It was a moment charged with emotion — pride, relief, and quiet awe. For them, the achievement was even more meaningful knowing that Hunter had come so incredibly far and had shown such strength throughout the expedition.
a Mera Peak Nepal Celebration Earned
After reuniting at High Camp, the team descended to Khare before making their way gradually back down valley. 1 November offered a well-earned rest at Kote, followed by the return journey through Tuli Kharka, Chutanga and finally back to Lukla.
By the time they reached Kathmandu on 5 November, the story was complete — a family adventure spanning more than twenty days, crossing high passes, forests, glaciers and ridgelines, stitched together by resilience, teamwork and the shared experience of the mountains.
A Story of Strength, Growth and Genuine Adventure
What Bruce, Alexis and Hunter achieved on Mera Peak is extraordinary. Summits matter, but they are never the whole story. The real heart of an expedition lies in the days between: the effort, the learning, the laughter, the setbacks, the small victories and the moments that shape who we become.
Hunter’s performance across this entire expedition was remarkable — reaching High Camp at nearly 5800 metres, mastering glacier travel, moving confidently through steep terrain, and making wise decisions in an environment most adults will never experience. His journey is its own triumph.
Thanks to Bruce and Alexis’s remarkable videography, you can experience their Mera Peak Nepal expedition as they lived it — rich, emotional and beautifully real. It is one of the finest visual stories ever produced on this iconic Himalayan peak, and a reminder of what’s possible when a family chooses adventure together.
Two years later, the story was far from over. In 2024, the family returned to Nepal — this time with their sights set on Island Peak, the dramatic 6189 metre summit that rises above the Imja Valley. Hunter, now older, stronger and carrying the experience of Mera Peak Nepal, arrived with a new level of focus and determination. The mountains had left their mark on him, and he was ready to test himself again. What unfolded on that expedition is a story of its own — one filled with resilience, challenge and the unmistakable spark of a young climber coming into his own.
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