Glen Young, our lead international guide for Everest Base Camp, is a native of Southwestern Michigan who has been working in the outdoor industry for 17 years. Glen began as an environmental educator in the Midwest before moving to Alaska and later New Zealand where he attended graduate school, earning a Master’s in Park, Recreation, and Tourism Management. Glen has worked throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. He has led trips overseas in Canada, New Zealand, Ecuador, Peru, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Nepal.

In recent years, much of Glen’s travel has been to lead international mountaineering expeditions for his own company, Direct Experience International. In Nepal, Glen has led expeditions of Imja Tse (Island Peak), Pachermo, Labuche East, AmaDablam, and Naya Kanga. He has also guided treks in the Annapurna, Langtang, and Everest Regions of Nepal- including having guided the Everest Base Camp trek twice.

Glen is excited to share his appreciation of the local people and culture, his fascination with landscape, his knowledge of natural and cultural history, and his ready sense of humor with participants on our Everest Base Camp trek.

The route we follow to Everest Base Camp is well known to Glen. He has not only guided many high elevation treks in Nepal, including this one, but has also guided many of the spectacular peaks we will see along our journey. His knowledge of the natural and cultural history of Nepal, expertise in high altitude travel, and friendship with the Nepali People make him one of the most sought-after guides in the region. Glen’s commitment to the people of Nepal is best evidenced by his involvement with Karma Project, a nonprofit he founded with his friend Karma Geljen Sherpa for the purpose of funding education and medical services in the Everest Region. We’re certain you will appreciate Glen’s kind heart, professional attention to detail, and passion for the Himalayas as much as we do.

YExplore partners with Karma Project to make this trip possible. Karma Project is a non-profit organization that creates locally owned sustainable tourism companies to provide employment, education, medical services, and job training to people living in remote Himalayan villages.