Expedition Day 8

Last night’s comedy night was nothing short of genius. We have some seriously hilarious individuals on this trip. Quite amazing. Joe, Miles and Jules were clear stand-outs though with their beat-boxing and wrapping outfit ‘MC Shark and Base Camp 1’. What a tough day we had today though. For the first time I have felt the symptoms of AMS much more severely. My usual mild headache became quite severe at lunch. I have started on the diamox as a precaution.
We had another casualty today. Simmo has been left behind at Dughla (our lunch-time spot) with a guide a porter and Isla the medic. Really horrible leaving him behind, but it was the right thing to do and he still has time to catch us up. The walk itself is probably my favourite stretch of the whole trek. There’s an amazing spot where there are shrines to the fallen of Everest. Mainly Sherpa’s but also climbing legend Scott Fischer who died in the 1996 catastrophe. It’s such an amazingly peaceful spot.

Now we are in Lobouche. Traditionally the worst place on the whole region. However, our digs have been a pleasant surprise – new and really quite comfortable. An impromptu photo shoot at dusk was a fun distraction too. However, a couple of heads have gone down and I am asking certain people to keep an eye on certain others and to help keep morale up. We may need to leave a couple behind tomorrow too. Another day here, and some rest, would be good for a few people I think. I really can’t wait to set foot on Gorak Shep again, and tomorrow is the day all being well – so exciting

Expedition Day 7

Our second acclimatisation day was today. However, last night wasn’t without its events. Haydn has shown some serious signs of AMS and had to be monitored carefully throughout the night. I’m pleased to say he is on the mend. Others too have been showing symptoms, but all ok at this stage. I was last to bed last night, and just as I was drifting off I got awoken by the guides. A French woman from another hostel was really sick with AMS. Our medic Ian and then Isla took a good look at her as did Motti (our HRA Doctor). Using some of our meds, the medics got her into a fit enough state to be carried to the HRA hospital in Pheriche. We understand that she is now ok.

Today was the first day that I could visibly see people struggling, despite not having packs on for the acclimatisation walk. We did head up to 5000m for the first time and the weather was the coldest we’ve know so far with quite a biting wind. It’s been interesting to see who rallies around those struggling. I also have certainly made a note of who to keep an eye out for. It’s not just AMS, but knee and back problems too. The medics are nervous about the next 2 days of trekking. I have arranged for some extra porterage to take half the personal baggage over the next 2 days. Everyone can then take it in turns with a single bag between 2 people. This will reduce the strain on everyone, and hopefully reduce problems.

Today is also Kinsey’s birthday. The guides gave him a birthday cake this morning. This evening we will be having a comedy night in his honour. But not before the medics have done a full check on everyone.

Expedition Day 6

It's been a tough day for everyone today. Breaking the 4000m barrier is a big deal and we have been on the case in terms of monitering people's progress. Probably the most enjoyable leg of the trek so far with Everest constantly looming ahead, it has been a great day.
We're now sitting at 4400m, with the entire expedition present. However, some early signs of AMS are becoming apparent and suitably dealt with by our awesome medical team. Despite this, spirits remain high, which is inevitable with such a great bunch of people.
Tommorrow is our 2nd acclimatisation day. We'll take everyone up to 5000m and stay up there for a couple of hours before returning to overnight at our current altitude. This is essential for making sure people are in the best possible state to cope with the forthcoming days. Altitude is no joke, and all the expedition members are becoming accutely aware of that fact. On a personal note, I am really enjoying this trip. It continues to put a smile on my face seeing peoples eyes light up every time a new view comes into sight!

Expedition Day 5

What a couple of days we've had. Only in the Himalayas can you pack this much in!

Yesterday was really special. A 'rest' day or more appropriately an acclimatisation day meant that we were to sleep in Khumjung for a second night. It is critical to have these days to avoid the problems of AMS that are inevitable in a group of this size. However, rest we did not. The morning saw us coaching cricket with the amazing children of The Hillary School in Khumjung. This is sure to be one of the highlights of the trip. It was great, at the end, to donate some cricket equipment courtesy of the Lord's Taverners. It's a real pleasure to be thanked by certain members of the expedition and told that that was the best day of their life (and this by 2pm!).

The afternoon saw us taking on a spectacular acclimatisation walk up to altitudes of 4100m. The return to Khumjung was followed by 'The Everest Factor', an inter-team singing competition that left our guides amused (or should that be bemused?!).

Todays grueling trek up Tengboche was rewarded by amazing views of Everest, a visit to a Buddhist Monastry and an impromptu game of cricket with Everest herself as a back-drop.

Like I say, only in the Himalayas!

Expedition Days 1-3

We have had an immense few days. First off a succesful press conference at Lord's. Next, navigating a Heathrow bomb-scare that lead to us playing cricket in the dropping-off area. This delayed us, meaning that Qatar (who gave us 2 of our own check-in desks and have been completely amazing!) had to delay the connecting flight. Vick Staves lost her passport, which meant we nearly lost her and Jules! We made with, miraculously, all our central kit in tact

Despite having booked the rooms 6 months before, we had to be shifted to another hotel. wUs Hillary boys then went and coached some orphan kids at Aamir's 'Shangri-La Cricket Acadmey, which was an awesome experioence in itself.

Tenzing arrived but didn't do as I asked, leaving me furious. We got on the 'death flight'. We got to Lukla without any problems and are now firmly on the trail, having made it to Phakding, where we had some Tongba (see earlier posts!). Now we are in Namche Bazarre.

It has been immensely satisfying seeing this thing begin to materialise. There's a long way yet to go, and it's been eventful, but we are all safe, as is our kit and spirits are high. We have certainly had our planning tested, but am pleased to say that each challenge has more than been met and everyone has operated with the utmost professionalism. Today we had our first real health problem, one of the expedition falling ill mid-trek with AMS caused by dehydration. The medics stepped up to the plate and he is now safe, resting and will be fit to continue tomorrow. The journalists here seem more than happy with what they are getting, which is great. Sometimes I find fielding all the questions and handling the various situations a little tiring, but that's the job and I suspect that when I look back it will be fondly and with pride. It's great to be back here though!

Final Preparations

Well, we are now on the eve of departure. It has been a truly manic week since I got back from Nepal. From The airport I went straight to Lord's for an expedition meeting and some nets at the MCC indoor school.

The rest of the week has been spent running around town, trying to pay all the people that need paying (insurance, equipment hire etc). The Nokia money didn't come through until yesterday, which has meant that we have had to leave a lot of things to the very last minute. Tomorrow I still need to drop cash into one of the insurance companies main account in order for us to be fully covered!

Tonight I did a studio interview with Setanta Sports, which was really fun. I also dropped round some kit to Wes' flat wher it is all being packed up ready for the off. What an amazing sight that was. We have so much equipment, there is absolutely no questioning it now, this shit just got real!

Nick Mulleneux is going to be excellent as quatermaster, looking after all the central kit. He had an impressive system. With Jamo and BJ as his Hillary lackies, I have all the faith in the world.

We also took delivery of our Nokia phones, complete with Sports Tracker. Unfortunately I haven't had time to upload any tunes onto it as would have been ideal.

Well, the UK stuff is nearly wrapped up. We've had our fairwell party, we're packed, we're fit I am now ridiculously excited. A press conference at Lord's in the morning, and finally, dare I say it, we are off!

Just one saddening thing. We have, in the time I was away, lost one of my favourite Everesters. Charlie Bathurst-Norman has had to pull out due to an ongoing stomach issues. I'm pretty upset to be leaving that man behind. I'm sure though that will make us Hillarians play that much harder on match day.

Results All Round!

Well, what a manic time for 'The test'. But everyone has come up with the goods, as I have come to expect!

One of the hardest things about heading back to Nepal on an impromptu visit like that was the stuff I was going to have to miss out on.

Just before I went away I was able to announce that ITV London Tonight were going to send a journalist, Mark Jordan, to cover our expedition. That was an amazing scoop. Captive Minds were a big help on that one too. Alex Rayner and I had planned an ITV News Tonight feature whereby I would present to a school with James Butler and get them to make prayer flags that we would take up to Everest with us. They were to write their own prayers, hopes and wishes on these. In the end I had to miss out on this and let Glen and Wes take over. I also missed the table cricket with the Lord's Taverners and the disabled children. I also missed out on a big team weekend down in Cornwall. These things were pretty gutting to miss out on, but particularly the school as that was my creative idea and I really was looking forward to it.

Possibly harder than that was missing out on closing the Nokia deal! All the work I put in trying to find us a sponsor and I couldn't even be there to seal the deal. Still, at least we have a sponsor!! It's not as much as I'd have liked, or we may end up needing, but it'll mean we cna definitely do this thing so long as we are shrewd with spending! Massive thanks to Gerorge Powell and Vicks for managing this. Also to Wes for stepping back up whilst I was away.

My trip was also a success. At one point we were staring down some obnoxiously large demands from the Government there. It wasn't looking pretty, that's for sure! However, I'm starting to understand Nepal and its politics a little better now, and started palying this game properly.

First up I spent my evenings networking like a beast. It's all about who you know out there! Through a great guy call Aamir, I got to meet the CEO of a massive TV station out there called Avenues. He agreed to put together a promotional video campaign out on national TV for me. This suddenly started putting them in a corner. I also changed up the website homepage to include the Nepal Tourist Board logo prominently placed. This CEO also had some words in the right places. all this serves is to heap up the potential embarasment factor for the Government if permission was not to be granted.

Thanks to Nir's amazing tenacity, a few words from the right people and me losing my rag a bit, I am pleased to say that I have come away with full permissions and we should have no further problems. What an amazing feeling!