From Creve Coeur To Mt. Everest: Updating Joe Ashkar's Journey

Creve Coeur businessman Joe Ashkar has reached the area around Mt. Everest as he works toward a goal of having ventured to the North and South Pole and to have scaled the seven highest peaks around the world in a single calendar year.

Ashkar talked to Patch about his interest in mountaineering in a story we reported late last month.

He's sharing his journey on a blog on his website, which includes some breathtaking photos he's allowed us to share with you.

On Day 4 of his journey April 6, Ashkar's team made it from Namche to Thame in the Himalayas.

"Namche is the capital of the Khumbu and is a central trading point where merchants come from all corners of the Khumbu and as far as Tibet to sell their goods. Villagers make their weekly trek to Namche Bazar to buy goods. You can practically find anything you want on that Saturday morning."

On Day 7 he journeyed to meet Tibetan Buddhist lama Geshe Lama Konchog and then he got stuck in some unique traffic that you wouldn't find on Olive Boulevard:

"After visiting with Lama Geshe, we left Pangboche and continued our hike up the valley with majestic views of Ama Dablam and other surrounding peaks. On our way, we passed many Chortens and Stupas as we followed the river. On the narrow and exposed trail, we got caught in Himalayan traffic jam caused by a caravan of Zopkyos and Yaks"

You can read more about his journey by visiting his blog at ashkar.com