Words and (most) images by Epic founder Chris Lininger
This is a moment in the calendar year I look forward to. For the past few Decembers around this time, I wake up early on a Saturday morning, sit down with a double espresso coffee poured into my favorite mug, and reflect on the wild ride of another year in the adventure tourism game.
Many emotions bubble to the surface. In this industry – one feels the full spectrum of possible human emotion throughout any given season – in a similar way people cooking at a high level at a 3-star restaurant or working in the military must feel – and this year was no different.
It is easy to throw around phrases like “defining year” or “one for the books” – but when I really stop and think about everything that went down in 2023 – it feels right to say that 2023 was a great series of vast peaks and valleys – and having reached the final “summit” of 2023 – the view looking back is rather Epic indeed.
Starting the Season Off in Nepal
One of two new destinations for Epic in 2023, we started off the 2023 season with our debut expedition to Island Peak in Nepal.
This trip set the vibe for the whole year. It was so much fun. On Epic trips before or since, I don’t think I laughed as hard as I did on this one.
Our legendary team roster was made up entirely of former Epic clients and who all brought their own badass personalities to the table with the shared objective of climbing a 6000-meter Himalayan Peak. I loved it from the first moment our team assembled in Kathmandu.
To the Wolfpack 2.0 – you guys are all legends and it is trips like these that make us feel like the sort of community we are building here at Epic is truly special.
Pakistan: The Karakoram Gauntlet
As many of you know, Pakistan is where it all started for me and for Epic.
This summer I logged my 18th trip to Pakistan – and it was our busiest season on record in the Karakoram Mountains.
We got roughly 30 people to K2 Base Camp again this year (a record for Epic) – with all of our groups being able to cross Gondogoro Pass. The Baltoro was busier this year with many climbing and trekking groups out for Karakoram glory.
Another one of my personal favorites, the trip to K2 Base Camp can be summed up as a spiritual experience for many – and all of the highs and lows that come with that. We laughed, cried, and were mesmerized by the sheer beauty and rawness of being in a place so epic can bring on. Pakistan and the Baltoro in particular just hits different.
Our ground team, guides, and all of the people involved in making these trips possible went above and beyond to deliver powerful adventure experiences to our clients – I am so proud of you all guys!
We also ran two trips to the legendary Hunza Valley in the spring and fall – led by the one and only Sohail – which is always a great time.
Cheers to all of you who joined us in Pakistan this year – you know who you are :).
2024 is already poised to be our busiest season in Pakistan – so if you will be joining us next year – we look forward to making mountain memories with you!
The Triple Stans
New destination #2 for Epic this year was our inaugural Trekking in the Fann Mountains trip in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Due to the “adventure” nature of our trips – rarely does the first trip to a new destination go as smoothly as this trip did.
After exploring some ancient Silk Road sites in Samarkand – our team set off across the border into Tajikistan for 9 days of wild trekking, led by our lead guide and legend, Andrey. The turquoise lakes, the campsites, the challenging passes, the snow storms – this was a trip for the ages and we are stoked to be offering this trip now on our annual schedule.
This year we also returned to Kygrystzan with a fantastic crew of friends from Canada (and one great addition from Venezuela).
Seeing a group of friends coming together halfway around the world for two weeks of Kygrystzan magic was a special thing to facilitate and be a part of – and it was a true pleasure getting back to Central Asia this past summer!
We look forward to seeing team Canada again in the future.
Mongolia Development
Mongolia has been on our radar for a long time. When all of the ingredients that make up an Epic trip are staring you in the face – one simply needs to go and see what it’s all about.
And Mongolia delivered. This past September I went on a trip scouting mission to Western Mongolia and working with local partners, developed an an incredible Epic itinerary and plenty of new friendships. I was blown away by the truly wild landscapes, the super nice locals, and even the food – which I had always heard was boring or weird. Mongolia is it.
In 2024, we plan on taking two teams to experience Mongolia and there is a lot to be excited about here.
One thing is certain; Mongolia is going to be a playground for Epic trips for many years to come.
Back in Nepal: Disaster in Kathmandu
Based on how well our Spring 2023 Island Peak expedition went – we were so excited to get back there with another elite crew for a second round on Island Peak this year.
I arrived in Kathmandu a few days early as I always do to get things organized before the team arrives. This time, it did not go well. I had the unfortunate luck of suffering a season-ending injury in my first 30 minutes walking around the infamous Thamel neighborhood in Kathmandu.
By the end of my first day back in Nepal, I was reporting to my recently arrived or still-in-route team that I had broken the 5th metatarsal on my right foot in a freak accident, could not walk, and indeed would not be climbing any peaks for the foreseeable future.
Many lessons were gleaned from this experience – which on paper basically is an utter nightmare scenario for any person whose livelihood is centered around being physically there to lead expeditions.
1. The team was awesome, understanding, and took the news of my foot’s demise well – as well as can be expected. As awful as I felt not being able to join the climb, they supported me and kept the vibe positive.
2. The show must go on. With the help of some extra local Nepali staff, the trip went ahead and every member of the team summited Island Peak. Boom. Congrats guys.
3. Injuries happen when you are least expecting it. I logged more kilometers on uneven terrain, steep ridges, and sketchy cliff edges this season than ever before as an Epic trip leader – and it was a broken piece of curb as I walked for a cup of coffee – in a city – that created the stage in which I broke my foot. Moral of the story: cities are more dangerous than the mountains – pretty much every time.
Special thanks to Vasco and the October Island Peak squad for being great humans – we are very proud of your achievement and I hope to meet you all again for another adventure free of foot injuries.
Madeira Island: Our Final Trip of the Year
November brought on our only European itinerary of the year: one week in the hiking/food paradise of Madeira Island, Portugal.
We had a big team from 5 different countries come on this one and it was a week filled with incredible weather, feast after feast after feast, and some great new friendships formed via the secret hiking trails of Madeira.
Madeira is a special place to us as half of the Epic team now lives here full time in the off-season or when not leading Epic trips – and we love showing folks the wild/Epic side of this rugged little island. Trip leaders João and Pema crushed it and showed our clients why Madeira is so near to our hearts.
The Madeira trip was an excellent way to finish off the 2023 season and we are already looking forward to future Roman-scale feasts and more Epic trail explorations in 2024.
The Team is Growing
This year we hired a half dozen new guides and partners to work on our 2024 expeditons.
Our Epic Guide staff community is growing nicely and I am honored to be working with some truly high-caliber humans in 2024.
Check out our Meet The Team page on our website to get to know some of the new faces on the Epic team.
To all of the Epic guide veterans out there – this crazy project of ours does not move ahead or operate at the highest level without you guys. Thanks to each and every one of you for making this little adventure tour company something that delivers the adventure magic consistently to our community of clients year after year.
Epic also got a new, non-human member this year: Choriza.
Choriza is a rescue dog who literally came to my doorstep here in Madeira late last year and has filled our hearts with joy ever since. She participated in her first Epic group trip in November – racking up a few vertical kilometers in the process. Welcome to the Epic family, Choriza!
A Year of Wins and Expanding the Epic Community
There are so many highlights to point out from this past year but here are five things that stand at the forefront:
- 1. Epic broke the 100 clients in a year mark for the first time AND we are close to being there already again for 2024.
- 2. We ran more itineraries to more countries than ever before. Epic is now operating in 8 countries whereas only 4 years ago, we were just running in Pakistan. So stoked.
- 3. Epic brought in a series of new partners in the various countries we operate in and everyone – and I mean everyone – delivered above and beyond. From Nisar and Sohail in Pakistan to Sandip in Nepal to Max in Kyrgyzstan, to Andrey in Uzbek/Tajikistan to Syerik in Mongolia to João in Madeira – and all of the other characters too numerous to mention – you guys are ALL legends.
- 4. In early 2023, we ran a fundraiser for our dear friend and legendary Baltoro cook Ibrahim Michael – who runs a non-profit orphanage for vulnerable kids in Hushe village. We brought in $3500 USD – thanks to everyone who contributed. We will be running this again in early 2024!
- 5. We partnered with some excellent content creators and photographers whom I am now pleased to call great friends too: To Peter at Atlas and Boots, Peter and Celi from Hungary, and Olly Gaspar from We Seek Travel – we look forward to meeting you again in the future for another round of Epic journeys.
Lessons: Part of the Game
As in any business, if you are not learning from mistakes and adapting to an ever-changing environment, you are dying on the vine.
This year we learned a ton of lessons.
Here are five standout lessons from the 2023 season:
- 1. Never, never get too comfortable in this business. Part of what we love about working in the adventure travel industry are the ever-present challenges to navigate, struggles to overcome, and hustle required for success. We are here now, taking a minute to celebrate the wins of 2023 – but tomorrow, it is back in the game; forward. Time to get uncomfortable again.
- 2. Being genuine matters. In an era defined by social media, record-chasers, and being the most popular for x or y reason – we maintain that being true to our roots as genuine lovers of off-beat travel, hiking, climbing, sunsets, adventure sports, good food, glacier rocks, suffering for the sake of fun, and learning about new cultures are more important than ever. Authenticity in our book should not be something one aspires to, but rather a vibe that comes naturally by holding dear one’s valued ideals in the realm of adventure.
- 3. There is no such thing as over-planning. Even when you think all the boxes are ticked – there will be more. To underestimate complex logistics is a fatal mistake in this game. This year drove the point home more than ever just how important every single little attention to detail is.
- 4. Things beyond your control are just that and one must live with this reality. Bad weather, slow visa processing times, client-starved competitors, currency fluctuations, floods, flight cancellations, upset stomachs, sudden foot fractures, missing goats, collapsed bridges, lost-in-translation orders – the list goes on. No matter what happens, it is important to remember that there are indeed things you can control and other elements that you can not. Operating with this mindset is crucial unless you want to be driven crazy by all of the unknown question marks adventure travel always throws at you.
- 5. Building community is very important. For us, Epic is not just a business. We truly value this thing that has slowly become the Epic community. Whether we are talking about our past clients, the people working with us, or simply just “friends of Epic” – we value above all else this community we have built around travel, hiking, and shared adventure experiences. You all make this job very rewarding and we are indeed blessed to know you all!
Looking into 2024
Tomorrow is the first day of 2024. Bring it.
There is a lot of new stuff going on here in Epicstan at the moment. We are launching a new trip destination very soon, with more planned trip development missions on the horizon, new personnel hires, new plans, new ideas, and a few more surprise changes coming very soon as well.
What a year. We are very thankful to be in the position to do what we love while curating life-long adventure memories for those who choose to travel with us. Our adventure cup for 2023 is full and it is time to drink it down. Who’s coming for a refill in 2024?
I can speak for everyone over here at Epic; thanks for being here and for all of your support along the journey these last years; the stoke is high all around.
Happy New Year Guys
Big Love,
Chris + the Epic Team
2 Replies to “2023 Review: A Defining Year for Epic Expeditions”
What were some of the standout epic expeditions of 2023, as discussed in the article “2023 Review: A Defining Year For Epic Expeditions”?
All of them!