From Olympic Ice to the Himalayas: Alysa Liu Everest Base Camp Trek

Did you know Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu even went to the iconic Himalayan trek to Everest Base Camp in May 2023? The fluttering prayer flag of the snowy Himalayan ranges and trekking high above the Himalayan clouds made Liu trade her skating career for hiking boots.

Similarly, far from the bright lights of skating arenas of the United States, Liu set out on a different kind of challenge to trek through Nepal’s rugged Khumbu Valley, crossing suspension bridges and climbing steadily toward the base of the world’s tallest mountain, Everest.

For Liu, the Everest Base Camp trek is not only about a physical adventure, but it is a journey of reflection, freedom, and discovery that took her from the shiny ice of Olympic competition to the raw, breathtaking heights of the remote Himalayas.

Childhood of Alysa

Alysa Liu was born on August 8, 2005, in Clovis, California, USA. She grew up in a lively household that encouraged curiosity and determination. She was raised by her father, Arthur Liu, along with several siblings.

Alysa was very young when she was introduced to skating, only after visiting an ice rink near her neighborhood. It was her simple childhood activity that quickly turned into a serious passion. She spent long hours practicing, often balancing schoolwork with early morning training sessions.

Even as a small child, coaches noticed her natural balance, fearless attitude, and enthusiasm on the icy surface. These early years of dedication and family support helped lay the foundation for what would soon become one of the most remarkable young careers in American figure skating.

Alysa’s Achievement

Since childhood, Liu has been achieving a lot of success, some of which are:

• In 2018, she won the title of the youngest skater in the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships.
• She became the youngest U.S. women’s national champion at the age of 13 years old in the year 2019.
• In 2020, she again won the U.S. National Championship.
• While representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Beijing she became the 6th in the women’s singles event.
• Liu won the bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in 2022.
• In May 2023, she successfully completed the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal.
  She won the World Figure Skating Championships in 2025.

A Skating Prodigy Who Reached the Top Early

Liu’s rise in skating was nothing short of extraordinary. She burst onto the scene as a teenage prodigy, becoming the youngest U.S. women’s national champion at just 13 years old.

Her fearless skating style and technical ability to land difficult jumps like the triple Axel and quad made her quickly turn into one of the sport’s brightest stars. By age 16, she had already competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics and won a bronze medal at the World Championships.

Yet at the height of her early success, Liu made a shocking decision to take a retirement from competitive skating. For many athletes, walking away from a dream at such a young age would seem unimaginable. But for Liu, it was a chance to rediscover life beyond the ice.

Trading Ice Skates for Hiking Boots

When she was taking a break from skating, Liu explored the world in ways she had never experienced before. One of the most memorable adventures was a trek to Everest Base Camp, located about 17,500 feet above sea level in the Himalayas.

In May 2023, she joined her best friend and her friend’s mother on the challenging journey. The trek covers roughly 40 miles through the Khumbu region of Nepal, usually taking about two weeks to reach base camp and several more days to descend.

Unlike the controlled environment of an ice rink, the Himalayan trail offered unpredictable weather, thin air, and physically demanding climbs. For Liu, it was a completely different type of challenge. But that was exactly what made it special. She later described the trip as one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.

Finding Perspective in the Himalayas

The Everest Base Camp trek tested both physical endurance and mental resilience. It demands long days of hiking, extreme temperatures, and simple living conditions in the remote region of Nepal, forcing Alysa to step outside her comfort zone.

Yet the raw beauty of the mountains and trekking in Nepal made every step worthwhile. The sky rocketing peaks, rocky landscapes, and vast open skies created a setting unlike anything she had experienced before.

At night, far from city lights, the Himalayan sky revealed a breathtaking display of stars. It is a once-in-a-lifetime moment that offered Liu something rare in the life of a professional athlete, a perspective.

For someone like Liu, who had spent most of her childhood focused on competition, the journey reminded her that life holds far more than medals and rankings.

Rediscovering Joy in Sport

The time away from skating and adventures like hers made her do the Himalayan trek, which allowed Liu to return to the sport with a renewed mindset. Instead of feeling trapped by expectations, she began to approach skating as a form of self-expression and creativity.

Figure skating, she realized, was not just about technical perfection but also about storytelling through movement, music, and artistry. Her comeback proved remarkable. After returning to competition, Liu captured the 2025 World Championship title, demonstrating both maturity and confidence in her skating.

The athlete who returned to the ice was not the same teenager who left it. She was stronger, freer, and inspired by experiences far beyond the rink.

More Than an Athlete

Today, Alysa Liu represents something deeper than sporting success globally. She is a perfect example of how athletes can explore their identities beyond competition.

During her time away from skating, she also began studying psychology at UCLA, reflecting her curiosity about people and the human mind. Her interests span art, fashion, design, travel, and academics while showing that a champion’s life can be multidimensional.

Alysa made her Paris Fashion Week debut by attending the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2026 show. It was her first appearance at a major global fashion event. She even had a brief talk with actress, Zendaya in front-row which highlighted her growing influence beyond figure skating. The appearance showcased her transition from Olympic champion to a rising cultural and fashion icon in 2026.

The trek to Everest Base Camp symbolizes her broader outlook. She wasn’t focusing on conquering a mountain, but on discovering freedom, adventure, and balance.

The Journey Continues

From spinning under arena lights to standing at the base of towering Mount Everest, Liu’s journey has taken her to remarkable heights both literally and figuratively. Alysa story reminds us that stepping away from the familiar can sometimes lead to the most meaningful growth, and we should also get inspired by her.

The icy surfaces of Olympic arenas may have launched her career, but the quiet trails of the Himalayas helped redefine her journey. And in the end, the greatest victories are not always measured in medals, but in the courage to explore new horizons. If you want to explore the iconic trek to EBC then, contact Awesome Holidays Nepal in the upcoming season for life time unforgettable memory of 2026.