CRESTVIEW — More than 9,000 miles separate Crestview and Thailand, but Nick Belvin is happy to be back in Chiang Mai, the northern Thai city where he teaches English as a foreign language at a private school.
Shortly before his September departure, Belvin visited with several Northwood Arts and Science Academy classes, spoke about Thailand, and promised to stay in touch.
The community knew of his plans to hike the 230-kilometer Annapurna Circuit — which rises to 5,400 meters (or 17,716 feet) high — in about 20 days.
More than 45 people died in an October blizzard that struck the trail, which circles the world's tenth-tallest mountain, according to Reuters.
Local friends worried about Belvin's safety, but now, he's back in touch.
"It was a heavy blow to those of us in lower elevation when we heard the news" of the blizzard, Belvin said in a recent email. “I was only three days ahead of the storm, and I would have been in big trouble if I had been stuck in the high altitude areas that got hit hardest."
“We heard some terrible stories from people who made it through the weather, and a few harrowing tales of bravery.
"All stories made me kiss the wet, rainy ground of Pokhara, where I spent the week after completing the trek."
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview teacher dodged killer Nepal blizzard by days