Expedition Day 10 (Practice, Preparation and Base Camp!)

Today will go down as a highlight for me for sure.

This morning we had an awesome practice on the wicket. The ball picks up respectably from the wicket, and it’s clear we will be able to have a truly competitive game, which is a huge relief.

In practice I managed to bowl so badly that you’d think we hadn’t been near a net in the last year! However, I made up for it with my batting, so I am confident I will be able to play my part tomorrow. It was pretty special seeing everyone out in their kit practicing. Only 3 years since I had my vision, and now we are so close to it being real!

Just as we finished up our practice and let the Zingers on the pitch, we saw a sight; 2 columns of uniformed people approaching from Base Camp down towards us. One column all in yellow, the other all in red. As they roll up, it turns out to be Russell Bryce and his HimEx Summit expedition. They had come down to lay down a challenge to us. Having heard of our World Record attempt, they wanted to challenge us a week later to a higher game of cricket on the vast glacier above the Khumbu Ice-fall at about 6800m! It was done and received in good spirit and it was a real honour to meet this legend and his team. We gave him a pink Nokia ball, and Everest Test cap to be taken to the summit (amazing!) as well as signing a bat for them. They kindly invited us to visit their camp (a real honour as Russell is notoriously militant about not letting strangers into his camps as strangers bring illness) before heading back up the glacier.

After an early lunch, a few of us decided to ignore medic’s advice and head up to Base Camp. One thing that has become increasingly apparent to me up here this time is how unstable this glacier is compared to 3 years ago. The ceracs coming off the Khumbu Glacier are a fraction of the size, and constantly under the glacier you can here the torrent of melt-water running underneath. That was not a sound I heard at all last time. This year has been the hottest and driest that the guides can remember. Whether it’s a freak year or Global Warming I don’t know, but if it’s the latter then that is genuinely disturbing.

Base Camp is a cool place and we had a good wander. We had tea at the HRA hospital tent, met some climbers. I got invited to meet ‘The Colonel’ at the Indian Army Expedition tent. Nice bloke. Wanted to send his boys down for a game of cricket! Told him no as we only have a licence for one game and I didn’t want to get arrested!

After a pastry at the bakery (yes they even have a bakery there now!) we left the main camp and popped in to see Russell at his separate camp. At the entrance to his camp there is a sign that reads ‘Trekkers – F**k Off!’ (Like I say he doesn’t like visitors). However, we ignored this as we are in fact cricketers! (Besides we had an invite).

Once in the camp we were given a warm welcome by Russell and the others. We were given a tour and then lead into his ‘lounge tent’. This guy doesn’t do anything by halves. Compared to the squalid conditions the climbers at main Base Camp endure, this camp was 6 star! The cooking and dining facilities amazing, toilets amazing, looking at the supplies going to the upper camps, amazing. You are able to see how he has such a phenomenal record when it comes to getting his clients to the top and back safely.

However, it was the lounge tent that was the ultimate. High ceilings, full walled windows, plasma screen, DVD player, stereo, scalextrix and most importantly bar with beer fridge! Russell was quick to offer up a beer to us all. I know we’re not supposed to drink up here, but you can’t refuse Russell Bryce, that would just be rude. So we enjoyed a Tuborg and had a good old chat – awesome! However, we needed to get back as it was getting late, so we didn’t hang around.

On the way out I was fortunate enough to meet Phurba Tashi Sherpa. This man has already climbed Everest 14 times and is looking to summit twice more this year at least. And he’s still only young. What a legend! Getting back was a little hairy as we raced the setting sun back along the glacier. We all just got back in safely and have eaten.

Poor George has taken a bad turn though. He’s over done it today and has gone down with exhaustion. The medics currently have him on an IV drip to rehydrate him. Simmo, Joe and Zoobie rejoined us while we were up at Base Camp. Great to see them, particularly Simmo.

Expedition Day 9 (Arrival!)

We are here! What an amazing feeling it was arriving. We were back in our teams again for this final trek, and arriving with the Hilary boys to the place of our year long obsession was a very special moment. It was gutting that Simmo couldn’t also be there, or indeed the great Charlie B-N.

It’s such a spectacular stretch of trekking. We are up above 5000m for the entire days trek, looking down at the moraine and ice of the Khumbu Glacier as it makes its way down from Mount Everest. Constantly walking over that same Moraine, up as high as 5500m at some point. Amazing weather too.

Arrival was pretty special, but soon we were down to the business of preparing the pitch, clearing the out-field etc. Tiring work at such heights. However, really pleasing to see the track laid on a specially prepared strip. With the outfield cleaned and boundary calculated we’re looking in good shape. Tomorrow both teams will have a practice session on the wicket. Can’t wait!

On another positive, Simmo and Isla have made it safely to Lobouche. They are with Joe and Zoobie who we left behind this morning. All will join us tomorrow, which means we will have successfully got the entire expedition up here in time for the match. That is an achievement I will be very proud of. Massive thanks to the guides and medics for making that possible.

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!