I’m writing this two days before I set off on my epic journey to EBC. I’m nearly packed, those of you that know me well, will know that I will still be packing early on Friday morning just before I go…….I am organised, I just have my own system of doing things :). I cannot believe it has come round so quickly and as I look at my tiny little allowance of 12kg, I do wonder how that will last me for 19 days!
As you know, I love a challenge, but for me this is a big one! I’m not that keen on flying in small, rickety airplanes and I seriously don’t do tuberlance, so the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla will be my first challenge. Assuming, I arrive safely and in one piece, then we immediately set off on our trek (I think they’ve forgotten to schedule in, mooching around the markets and bazaars!). I’m hoping that after the freezing weather we’ve had recently here (not to mention my lack of oil – no heating (!), but thats another story), that the first few days will be pleasantly warm as we trek through magnificent forests of rhododendrons and magnolia trees (my mum would be in heaven). We progress to Namche – a Serpa village, trek past the Everest View hotel, no we don’t stay there, we are in tea houses – wooden cabins, that have outside toilets (all that squatting will come in useful!), some have hot water (solar powered), though the definition of showers aren’t quite the same – a bucket of warm water! Well…..it is a challenge 🙂 We then start to seriously ascend and reach altitudes that can cause altitude sickness, so from now on it’s going to be very testing!Oh did I mention that I’m not too keen on heights!! We have 5, yes 5, rickety bridges to cross, with nothing but a sheer drop underneath – right now I’m just blanking them out….. to be dealt with later!!! I’m probably going to be very smelly by now, as there are a serious lack of showers, it will be very cold and having spoken to others that have done it, taking your clothes off is not a sensible option – no washing hair for over two weeks, good job it will be under a wooly hat by now! When we finally reach base camp, we stay there for two days, mixing and socialising with the ‘real’ climbers, soaking up the atmosphere and climbing to view the Khumbu Glacier – should be an amazing experience.
Then its all the way back down, which is obviously quicker and we round it all off by a day in Kathmandu – yay!
What I love about challengers is that it takes you so far outside your comfort zone, and its at these times when you have no one except yourself to rely on, also as you’re part of a team, its important not to let anyone else down. You really start to find out who you are, what you are capable of and most importantly to realise how grateful I am to be able to take part in such a awe inspiring experience!
Wish me luck and please please visit my just giving page and donate to the fabulous charity I’m raising money for – Thank you 🙂
