While Americans back home prepare to honor those who served, Lake County Navy veteran Hugh Gravitt IV is spending Veterans Day thousands of miles away, surrounded by fellow veterans and some of the world’s tallest mountains.

Hugh is making his way through the Himalayas in Nepal as part of a group of veterans trekking toward Mount Everest Base Camp, an adventure that combines physical endurance, camaraderie and a shared bond of military service.

At 7:45 am Wednesday in Nepal time, Hugh sent us a message from the village of Dingboche as his group prepared to set out for Lobuche. “It’s Veterans Day!” he wrote.

The group is scheduled to reach base camp Nov. 12, just one day after Veterans Day. Hugh says he will then climb Kal Patthar on Nov. 13, which he puts at 18,500 feet.

For Hugh, who has dedicated much of his recent life to supporting fellow veterans, the journey carries special meaning.

The 41-year-old is the founder and executive director of Reforged Foundation, a faith-driven nonprofit focused on helping veterans rebuild strength, purpose and community through fitness, mentorship and accountability.

Hugh has previously shared his personal struggles and the experiences that inspired him to create an organization where veterans can find support and connection.

“After navigating one of the most difficult seasons of my own life, I realized my purpose was to help veterans before they become another statistic,” Hugh told Style in an earlier interview.

Now, he’s experiencing that same sense of connection on an adventure that has taken him from Lake County to the towering peaks of the Himalayas.

According to updates Hugh has shared with Style, the trek began in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, and continued with a flight to Lukla. The group has since climbed through mountain villages, staying in teahouses and taking acclimatization days to adjust to the thinner air.

On Veterans Day morning, the group left Dingboche, which Hugh puts at 13,910 feet, bound for Lobuche at 16,110 feet. The route climbs along a high ridge and the Khumbu Glacier’s moraine, passing memorials to climbers who died on Everest, which the itinerary Hugh shared describes as “a quiet and reflective place.”

Temperatures have dropped considerably as the group climbs, but he has reported feeling well.

The journey also reflects the mission Hugh has embraced through Reforged Foundation, where physical challenges and shared experiences are used to help veterans strengthen relationships and find renewed purpose.

“Seeing veterans build confidence, improve their health, strengthen their faith, and reconnect with a supportive community reminds me that our greatest struggles can become someone else’s hope,” he told Style in the same interview.

Everest Base Camp sits at approximately 17,600 feet above sea level, beneath the towering peaks of the world’s highest mountain. Although reaching base camp is not the same as summiting Mount Everest, the trek is a demanding adventure that requires days of hiking, careful acclimatization and determination.

And if the journey continues as planned, Hugh will arrive at Everest Base Camp on Nov. 12 and climb Kal Patthar the next day, carrying with him the experience of spending Veterans Day alongside others who understand what it means to serve.