Featured Hobnailer: Robert Tretsch

Our “Featured Hobnailers” series spotlights past and upcoming Hobnail trekkers. In this episode, we interview Robert Tretsch of Atlanta, Georgia. Robert completed our Everest Base Camp + Gokyo Lakes Extension trek in September of 2019. (In the above photo, Robert is standing on the peak of Gokyo Ri, Nepal.)

Q: Where do you live? What are your occupations?

A: Atlanta, Georgia. I’m an architect.

Q: How and when did you get into adventure travel?

A: I had some friends who had taken a trek, and that seemed to have flipped a switch in my brain.

Q: Where was your first out-of-country adventure? How did it go?

A: I did a semester of college in Italy in 1989. It was a fantastic time for a 21-year-old college student.

Q: How did you discover Hobnail Trekking?

A: I heard about Hobnail through my good friends, Russ and Susan Moore.

Q: Which Hobnail adventure(s) have you done and when?

A: I did EBC + Gokyo Lakes in September 2019.

Q: What is your favorite memory, moment, or story from this adventure?

A: There were so many moments — terrifying, sublime, awe inspiring, surprising, etc, etc. It’s not something that can be distilled down to one, so I’ll give you a few.

Seeing an avalanche. We were hearing the Ngozumpa glacier talking while shrouded in a heavy fog.
“Rest day” summits of Goyko Ri and Kala Patthar.
Falling accidentally into Goyko Lake up to my waist! A rock ledge I was standing on collapsed. There’s nothing like wet boots with 7-plus days left to trek!
Almost getting gored in the stomach by a runaway yak. I was saved last minute by a boy who couldn’t have been more than 12.
Watching Dingboche villagers harvesting potatoes from the southeast flank of Nangkartshang Peak after finding a trail off Dingboche-Chhukhung path on the outskirts of town and admiring my favorite mountain peak, Ama Dablam.
Almost stepping backwards off the trail (twice!) above unfathomable drops while trying to get a photo.
The architecture of the Everest Hotel in Namche Bazzar.
Watching the birth of a waterfall in the Khumbu Glacier just off the trail after Gorek Shep.
And on and on and on

Q: How did your expectations for your trip (or the destination) differ from reality?

A: It was amazing how slow one had to hike so as not to keel over. This type A walker/hiker, settled into it nicely though. The immense scale of the mountains was definitely not like the mountains in the US.

Q: Were you nervous or concerned about anything before your adventure? If so, was is better or worse than you thought?

A: I did have a concern about altitude sickness. But i ended up doing just fine save a couple of headaches.

Q: What other destinations are on your adventure-travel bucket list?

A: I’d love to experience Machu Picchu.

Hobnail’s Everest Base Camp + Gokyo Lakes Extension trek is the ultimate Himalayan adventure, combining the iconic journey to the foot of the world’s highest peak with the breathtaking beauty of the Gokyo Valley. Trek past towering peaks, across suspension bridges, and alongside the vast Ngozumpa Glacier, all while soaking in views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. Climb to the summit of Gokyo Ri for a panoramic view of the turquoise lakes below, visit climber memorials at Thukla, and celebrate your arrival at Everest Base Camp itself. With expert local guides, well-planned acclimatization, and stunning scenery around every corner, this trek offers an unforgettable blend of adventure, culture, and natural wonder.

See the details HERE.