Jennifer Doherty Conquers the Challenge of Trekking to Everest Base Camp

Have you ever wondered whether it might be possible to follow in the foot steps of some of those great mountaineers and trek to Everest Base Camp as a blind or partially sighted person?  

Well, Jennifer Doherty from County Donegal has certainly conquered the challenge  having recently taken part as the only blind person on a trek to Everest Base Camp having been invited by local well-known mountaineer Jason Black who had not guided a blind or partially sighted person before meeting Jenifer.

RNIB connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Jenifer to find out how that invitation from Jason came about and whether Jenifer had done any mountaineering at all before taking on the challenge of trekking to Everest Base Camp. 

Jenifer also explained to Toby how she worked with Jason and other sighted members of the team to work out the best way of guiding a blind or partially sighted person when trekking up a mountain as this was the first time Jason had ever guided a blind or partially sighted person, very different guiding someone up a mountain than round the streets or round a building.

Then Jenifer shared with Toby what it was like reaching Everest base Camp and her feelings about maybe going further and talking Everest itself!

Toby ended by asking Jenifer whether she might be off doing some more mountaineering closer to home with her family over the summer. 


(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)