Local mother-daughter duo to climb Mt. Everest

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (WHDH) -- A mother and daughter are taking on a steep challenge to celebrate Mother's Day. They’re heading halfway around the world to climb Mount Everest.

Julia Sweet and her 82-year-old mother Hanni Myers are getting ready to celebrate Mother’s Day in a special way: hiking Mount Everest.

“Well I have two fantasies; one was to buy a Mini Cooper, another was to go trekking, so I didn’t buy a Mini Cooper,” said Myers.

Mother and daughter have hiked many mountains together, but they know this will be a challenge. They will spend 17 days trekking Lower Everest -- walking about five to seven miles per day to reach nearly 14000 feet.

“Well, we have to face the fact that we have 40 percent less oxygen. It’s actually not less oxygen, it’s just the barometric pressure changes,” Sweet said. “So we have to deal with that.”

“I mean, it’s up and down, up 4000 feet, down 3000, so I think the average is around seven hours a day,” Myers said.

“We just need to keep our iPhones charged so we can take pictures. And then of course we have a super-down sleeping bag. We want something really warm,” said Sweet.

In addition to their gear, they’re also bringing donated items to give to the Nepal Youth Foundation when they arrive.

“This is a wonderful organization that takes care of children and mothers. It helps with nutrition and also they keep children out of slavery,” Sweet said.

To prepare, Myers took a “Fit Over 40” training class.

Both are excited to embark on the adventure together.

“I think it’s partly the challenge and nature and seeing something different,” Myers said.

“We want to inspire people of all ages; mothers, daughters, anybody. Especially to go for a hike and have some fun,” Sweet said.