Kerala priests conquer Everest base camp; holds up poster for 'uniform holy mass'

Alappuzha: Two priests from the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly made headlines when they reached the base camp of Mount Everest, holding up a poster advocating for uniform holy mass. They undertook the journey to Everest in order to enjoy nature and its wonders.

Fr. Paul Parekattil of Little Flower Church, Kurumassery and Fr. Ebey Edassery of St. Anne's Church, Eloor completed a nine-day trek to reach the base camp, located at an altitude of 5,364 metres (17,598 feet) above sea level.

Speaking from the camp, Fr. Paul shared that this trip had been a long-held dream for them. The main purpose was to spread messages about health and a love for nature, and the poster was intended to be part of their journey.

The priests set out from Kochi on October 14, but bad weather delayed their trek by three days. They faced challenges travelling by vehicle and walking through heavy snow and adverse conditions. Prior to the trip, both priests underwent four months of intense training and maintained a vegetarian diet. To help their bodies adjust to the high altitude, they took breaks after reaching 3,000 and 4,000 feet. They were accompanied by a porter for the journey as well. 

The priests were registered with a trekking company and had good accommodation as they ascended. Fr. Paul mentioned the high costs at the base camp, such as Rs 700 for a glass of hot water and Rs 500 for bottled water.

Both priests, aged 47, are preparing to return home after their adventure.