Summit to Sea: Everest to the Bay of Bengal – A Journey for the Planet

A 1,830-mile expedition to protect Nepal’s mountains, rivers, and future generations.

My name is Chandra Ale, founder of Initiative Outdoor, Nepal’s first outdoor leadership school. For more than 40 years, I have lived and worked in the Himalayan outdoors as a mountain guide, river guide, rescue instructor, and educator. Everything I have learned, and everything I have become, has come from nature. Now, I want to give back.

In April 2026, I will lead one of the most meaningful projects of my life: Summit to Sea — Everest to the Bay of Bengal. This seven-week journey is designed to raise global awareness about the environmental crisis unfolding in Nepal’s mountains and river systems, and to inspire a new ethic of care for the natural world.

Why This Expedition Matters

The Himalayas are warming nearly twice as fast as the global average. Glaciers are shrinking, snowlines are rising, and the rivers that support nearly two billion people downstream are under increasing stress from pollution and climate change.

Mount Everest itself is becoming one of the most polluted places on Earth. Trash, human waste, and overcrowding are harming a sacred landscape, and melting snow carries this pollution directly into the rivers that people rely on for drinking water. Protecting the mountains means protecting the rivers, and protecting the rivers means safeguarding the lives of millions.

This expedition is a call to action: to care for the water systems that sustain us all and to reconnect people with the responsibility we each have to protect the environment.

What the Journey Includes

Clean Ascent of Mount Everest: Our team will complete a clean ascent of Mount Everest while removing all waste from our climb and following strict Leave No Trace practices.

1,830-Mile River Descent: From Everest Base Camp, we will follow Nepal’s glacier-fed waters by kayak through the Dudh Koshi and Ganges Rivers, all the way to the Bay of Bengal. Along the way, we will document pollution, meet with river communities, and share their stories with the world.

Education and Global Outreach: A documentary film team will join the expedition to capture the journey, create educational materials, and elevate conversations about climate resilience, freshwater ecosystems, and responsible adventure tourism.

Who Is Leading the Expedition

Chandra Ale – Founder of Initiative Outdoor, rescue instructor, expedition leader, and one of Nepal’s most respected outdoor educators.

Ang Tshering Lama – Renowned mountain guide and high-altitude rescue specialist, who has summited Everest five times and dedicated his career to exploration, safety, and conservation.

Nishan Thapa – Outdoor educator, photographer, kayaker, and next-generation conservation leader.

Together, this team represents decades of experience, deeply rooted in Nepal’s mountains, rivers, and communities.

How Your Support Helps

Your donations will directly fund:

• Food, gear, oxygen, and safety systems for the expedition

• Fair wages for Sherpas, porters, and support teams

• Kayaks, rescue equipment, and river expedition supplies

• Filming and documentary production

• Environmental workshops for youth and river communities

• Leave No Trace trainings for guides and young leaders

Every dollar supports a mission grounded in environmental protection, education, and community impact.

A Legacy Beyond the Journey

This project is more than an expedition. It is a movement to protect the natural heritage of Nepal and to inspire people around the world to see themselves as guardians of the mountains and rivers that sustain life.

From the rooftop of the world to the sea it feeds, this journey reminds us that water connects us all.

Thank you for supporting this work and for helping us leave no trace and leave a legacy. PayPal username: Chandraale694