TV host Kristīne Garklāva shaken by Nepal flood tragedy after leading expedition there this spring
Latvian journalist Kristīne Garklāva says she is deeply affected by the devastating floods in Nepal, where she led a seven-person expedition of well-known Latvians to Everest Base Camp in May. She names climate change in mountain regions as her greatest concern.
Television host and journalist Kristīne Garklāva has shared her thoughts on the recent tragic floods in Nepal, a country where she led an expedition just this spring during filming for the show “Ārpus zonas” (“Out of the Zone”). Speaking to the magazine “Privātā Dzīve,” she said climbing in Nepal’s mountains was a special moment in her life, but she is now deeply troubled by what has happened there.
In May, under Garklāva’s guidance, seven well-known Latvians trekked from Lukla airport to Everest Base Camp: musicians Reinis Sējāns, Markus Riva and Patrisha, actors Niklāvs Kurpnieks and Rihards Sniegs, sports commentator Kaspars Dvinskis, and event organizer Anete Bendika.
Grief over devastating floods
The floods in Nepal have claimed more than a thousand lives, with Latvian nationals also reported missing. Garklāva says the tragedy cannot leave anyone indifferent, describing a mix of deep sympathy for those affected and vivid memories of her own journey there.
She recalls spending two weeks in Nepal, with the hardest part being a five-kilometer stretch at high altitude, where she experienced shortness of breath for the first time. She says the surrounding mountain landscapes and her own inner resilience helped her push through the physical strain, along with gratitude toward her body for carrying her upward.
Climate change as the biggest worry
Garklāva says what troubles her most is the effect of climate change on mountain regions, noting that this summer has been especially harsh for climbers, with many losing their lives. When planning her own climbs, she says she always chooses the safest routes while accepting that nature can sometimes be unpredictable. She agrees with Nepalese officials that the recent floods should not be seen as an ordinary seasonal event, but rather as linked to global warming.
