Carolyn Robinson Shows How It's Done at 80 with her Record-Breaking Journey on Top of the World!

There are a number of small tea houses where hikers stay for the night along the Trek to Base Camp. Photo Laurelle Price

At 80 years old, Arbour Resident Carolyn Robinson has achieved something extraordinary - becoming the oldest woman ever to trek to Everest Base Camp, reaching 5,364 meters above sea level.

"It was never on my bucket list, but this is an opportunity that I couldn't let go by because I love to experience other countries and their cultures.” Caroly has recently completed the challenging 130km round trip through Nepal's rugged terrain.

Carolyn wasn't alone on this adventure. She joined 12 fellow Rotary members, including her 74-year-old neighbor Laurelle Price, with the group averaging 67 years of age.

Together, they navigated the demanding 17-day trek while raising over $50,000 for Rotary's global efforts to eradicate polio worldwide.

"The challenging 17-day trek is something I will never ever forget, and it will change my life," Carolyn was reported saying - whilst preparing for her incredible adventure.

Carolyn Robinson's record-breaking achievement proves that age is just a number and that our greatest adventures can also serve a greater purpose. From Berry to the roof of the world, her story inspires us all to never stop embracing unexpected opportunities.

 Carolyn’s Motivation!

“When I moved to Berry in 2016 I joined a number of organisation’s to fill a void in my life. I decided that Rotary was the organisation that provided ‘humanitarian services, encouraged high ethical standards in all vocations and helped build good will and peace in the world’. That is the reason I will doing my bit in trekking to Everest Base Camp to assist in the eradication of Polio worldwide, an extremely debilitating disease.
PS : This expedition was lead by our resident mountain goat in Berry, the extremely formidable Ken Hutt.’
We hope to invite Ken Hutt, Carolyn and the Rotary crew to share their experience at a Morning tea over the next few months.

“I believe everything in life happens for a reason, you don’t always know what the reason is, but there’s always a reason. “ - Carolyn Robinson

The route for the group’s Everest Base Camp Trek. (supplied: Goutam 1992)