Stacey’s intrepid journey
Christine Walsh talks to Stacey Hitchcock about her mega trek.
Stacey Hitchcock entered the local government arena late last year as a rose among thorns.
Now, she brings an even fresher perspective to the New Plymouth District Council table.
Stacey seized a window of opportunity between council commitments to take on an epic trek to Mt Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas with her husband Tim Hitchcock.
‘‘I wanted to disconnect, there’s no Wi-Fi, you’re waking up early trekking five to eight hours, playing cards, eating, and sleeping. That simplicity of life. I loved it.’’
The intrepid journey turned out to be a journey of selfdiscovery too.
‘‘Accumulating stuff is OK, but actually experiencing things that change who you are, challenge who you are, build who you are, I know things like this can only serve me better for what I want to do here in New Plymouth and New Zealand,’’ she said.
The couple set off on the 12-day adventure led by Sherpa Bill. They trekked across sweeping valleys, suspension bridges overlooking wild glacier rivers, and traipsed up steep narrow rocky tracks.
The first clear sight of Everest overwhelmed her. ‘‘I sat and cried for a while,’’ Stacey said.
When they reached base camp her emotions were on a higher level too. ‘‘It just made me really happy, joyous, privileged and grateful.’’
Stacey came face-to-face with extreme weather conditions, coping with the high altitudes, and a bout of food poisoning.
When it came time to descend the slopes her mood went downhill too. ‘‘It was like, get me off this mountain - game over, I need a shower and I want food.’’
Back on home soil Stacey, 35, takes time to reflect. She said she spent much of her 20s focused on work. Things changed about five years back when she decided to assign each year a new mantra.
First was the year of the Yes. From that she learnt the power of saying no, then came the year of Adventure. ’’My work made me happy so did pursuing adventure and seeing new things. I decided I wanted both. I’m just gonna start hitting my goals,’’ said Hitchcock, who was the only new female candidate to be elected on to the NPDC in 2016.
The Taranaki Alpine Club member said the mountainous hike featured high on her bucket list, adding she even has pictures of Mount Everest and K2 hanging in her room to serve as motivation. ‘‘It’s just one of those things, I’d glance at them and think I’m gonna get to both of you,’’ she said.
‘‘I decided I wanted both. I'm just gonna start hitting my goals.’’
Stacey Hitchcock