It's been a relatively smooth journey to get here. Kathmandu was big, busy and noisy but amazing too. The flight to Lukla on the small plane went smoothly with great views of the mountains including Everest. From Lukla we trekked two days to Namche, arriving on the afternoon of the 6th. Kieron and I had a steady day yesterday, walked up to the Everest View Lodge to find not view of Everest due to the cloud and rain!! Still, it was good to stretch the legs and get a little higher for a few hours.
Today dawned a little brighter but it's raining again. We're starting the trek in to base camp today which will take another 5 days and take us a little over 5000m before dropping back down to Gokyo, the last town before the mountain.
Looking forward to getting to the mountain and seeing how the route looks. This is likely the last post until we get back down, so we'll catch you in 15 / 20 days!
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Bags are Packed - Andy
It's Saturday morning, just, and the bags are packed for the trip. The amazing thing is that they're under weight too! Now there's only the drive down to Heathrow in the morning.
Feeling rough still from the chest problem I've had all week but there's another course of antibiotics to come with me so hopefully that should have got rid of it before the walk in, fingers crossed!
Next post will hopefully be from the airport before we board the plane.
Climbing Hardware Items - Kieron & Andy
Thanks to Eddy and Isacco at C.A.M.P. for supplying some of the new hardware items for the trip.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Outdoor Research Clothing - Andy
Got hold of some Outdoor Research clothing for the trip. Decided on a base layer, soft shell, insulation layering system for the mountain. Will take some hard shell for the trek in and as a back up but I'm hoping not to have to use it! The specialist glove range are the first choice for leading mountaineers and alpinists so I should have warm hands (for a change!).
Looking forward to using this kit in anger as I've been around it in its sample stages for what seems like an eternity. Performance updates when I get back!
The link below gives a bit of an insight into what OR is all about, along with some useful tips too:-
Check out the OR website for more info on the products available:-
Saturday, 26 September 2009
The trek in to the mountain, Day 1 to 4 - Kieron.
I thought it was worth jotting down a little about the trek in to the mountain for those (Andy included!) who haven't seen or been to this area of the world.
From Katmandu a 50 minute flight on these small, Twin Otter type aircraft, we will arrive at Lukla. The landing strip and Lukla is on a 30 degree angle and makes for a very exciting landing and take-off!! It's here that the journey really begins, with a 2 day trek to Namche Bazaar.
The plane at Lukla.
View down to Namche Bazaar.
The view across to Ama Dablam.
Approaching Thame.
The plane at Lukla.The second day will see us arrive at Namche Bazaar. To help with acclimatisation, we will spend 2 days here before heading on to Thamu.
View down to Namche Bazaar. During our rest day in Namche we will plan to visit the settlement of Khumiuna, which is about 1000ft higher and will give us our first view of Ama Dablam, a peak I climbed back in 1996.
The view across to Ama Dablam.Arriving in Thame, this is where we will spend our fourth night on the trail.
Approaching Thame.Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Clean Water! - 9th September
Have been getting the majority of the kit together over the course of the last weekend and have most things sorted and the outstanding items are in hand! The one thing I'd forgotten all about until Kieron mentioned it was drinking water on the trek in to base camp. Luckily, a quick email to Ralph at Rosker Ltd and we had the solution - SteriPEN Journey!
This is a bit of kit which I've seen and heard a lot about but never actually used. Simplicity is the key here purifying the water using Ultraviolet light, killing viruses, bacteria and protozoa - including Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
Will update on the performance of the product when we get back so watch this space!
Saturday, 5 September 2009
New Buff's!! - 5th September
Big thanks to Lisa and Jimmy from Angling & Outdoors in Cockermouth for sorting Kieron and myself out with a Buff each for the trip. Kieron's is the cross of St Andrew and mine is the cross of St George.
Hopefully we'll get a shot of them on the summit!!
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