VIRTUAL 360 Everest Trek Part 01 - Helicopter Ride to Lukla, Nepal
Join our virtual trek to the south side of Mount Everest to the top of Kala Patthar, in immersive 360 VR video, in this limited series from Jon Miller and The Rest of Everest! Part 01 - Kathmandu to Lukla
In the Fall of 2019, I returned to Everest with my dear friend and guide, Dawa Sherpa. We had last trekked to Everest Base Camp in 2014 and a lot has changed in the region since the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes. Our goal was to visit with friends and family at new and rebuilt lodges in the Solukhumbu as well as to explore helicopter transportation options to leverage on a future project that is in the works.
Joining us from the USA were Dawa’s friends Caroline and Christy who were there to experience Nepal for the first time! All four of us live in Fort Collins, Colorado so it was a wonderful experience for me to meet some new friends.
Assisting Dawa were guides Tshering and Tenjing as well as our excellent porters Khul and Ongchu.
It was absolutely wonderful to be back in Nepal for the first time in 5 years and to see so many treasured friends in my short time there.
As with each trip I take out to the Himalayas, I experiment with new camera technology in my endless efforts to bring the Himalayas to you in a new way. In 2003 I filmed in SD. In 2007 I upgraded to HD. In 2010 I experimented with 3D. In 2014 I was one of the first to fly in the region with drones. For this trip in 2019, I experimented with a 360 camera that let me film in VR. For those that are new to the concept of 360 videos, it allows you to look anywhere you’d like as you watch the episode—not just at what is in “front” of the camera. I’m very excited about this technology and while some people may not like it, old-school Rest of Everest fans will likely be thrilled to see that much more of what a trek to Everest is actually like.
In this first Part 01, we visit the famous Boudhanath Stupa before I visit my old friend Sagir the barber at his new shop in Thamel. Then we fly to Lukla in a helicopter—my first time doing so— before we start the trek proper. The helicopter ride was truly something special and there’s more where that came from in a later episode. This series is comprised mostly of the 360 video but is peppered with “flat” footage where necessary to fill in the story. The camera tools may have changed, but old-time viewers of the show will feel right at home with how it all feels…even if your intrepid host looks much more middle-aged than he feels.
While you can absolutely enjoy this series on a mobile phone or computer, for the most “you are there” immersive experience I HIGHLY recommend viewing the videos using a VR headset. Here are some suggestions that I own and have personally tested. They range in price from just a few bucks to a few hundred dollars. Buying them from these links will support this endeavor!
I Am Cardboard VR Box https://amzn.to/3d3CSu6
This is a fantastic entry-level VR viewer that can be used with the YouTube app on your mobile phone. I found this one to be superior to the less expensive versions that need to be assembled. This one comes ready to use and has a more thoughtful design and better user experience. Worth buying even if you only have a passing interest in VR content.
Pansonite 3D VR Glasses Virtual Reality Headset https://amzn.to/37s06ZJ
A real upgrade from Google Cardboard devices. This is a true headset and is very comfortable to use. Since you actually wear it, the experience is much more immersive yet still uses the YouTube app on your mobile phone for viewing which keeps it inexpensive. It is also far more adjustable than the Cardboard options. I’ve given a Pansonite unit to Dawa’s family for viewing these episodes!
Oculus Go Standalone Virtual Reality Headset - 32GB https://amzn.to/2MVhz3a
Oculus Go Standalone Virtual Reality Headset - 64GB https://amzn.to/2Ba0z6u
This entry-level Oculus is a true VR headset and is completely standalone with no phone needed. It has everything you need to view all kinds of VR content and even play VR games. It is a lot of fun!
Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset – 64GB https://amzn.to/2YE3oF2
Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset – 128GB https://amzn.to/3fnOKbN
The Oculus Quest is the best all-in-one VR headset on the market right now. Using it is like peering into the future. For viewing 360 videos it only beats the Oculus Go in terms of screen quality but if you’re interested in gaming THIS is the headset to purchase. There is NO comparison. I use an Oculus Quest connected to Adobe Premiere while I edit these episodes. Amazing device with a lot of “wow” factor.
Thanks for watching. If you’re new to The Rest of Everest, please consider checking out Episode 000 to see what this series is about and how it all started almost 20 years ago. • Episode 000 Introduction
If you’re based in Colorado, consider checking out Dawa’s Fort Collins restaurant, The Himalayan Bistro https://himalayanbistro.com
Jon Miller
June 14, 2020