How to begin this story of a stroll up a hill…. don’t call it a bloody hill for a start…

Well, the first day the tour was to meet up, I already got to meet my roommate (Kev) for the trip. We got to know each other pretty quickly and would find not only a great mate but also the life of the trip! We decided to have a look around before the rest of the group met. We ran into another group that proceeded to tell us how awful it was and the bloody noses, illnesses, lack of food and blocked toilets in one place etc… We came away thinking “shit, this is going to be interesting”.

When the group met up that night. I was stoked to see another small group of what, that I’d quickly find were great like-minded people. Considering ten minutes after the meeting we all decided to get together and have a beer! I knew this would be a great time whatever the previous group said.

So after the night and wondering if the weather would clear. We were lucky enough to fly into Lukla airport to start our journey to Everest base camp. Was a smooth trip and landing considering its one for the world’s most dangerous airports. That’s because it goes directly into the side of the mountain, go figure…


(Before pic) And so we were off. I was prepared to be going hard from the start. Turned out was just an easy walk to our first place so only about 4 or so hours. We smashed it in 3. But it gave us some amazing teasers of the views we would see.

We arrive at the first place to stay but not before noticing a sports bar as we passed on the way. As of course, everyone should know there are bars and pool tables up the Himalayas???. So what’s a guy to do…

Have a beer and play some pool of course. This also gave me my first view that this wasn’t going to be the type of hike I thought it would be. In some ways it definitely was and in others wasn’t.

That was also the night I learned quickly that some people are just disgusting no matter where you are in the world. Real simple stuff here people. If you’re in an isolated place and you make a mess especially a bathroom. Clean it up! It’s just respectful, especially when such few facilities in the mountains.  (Gripe over)

Our amazing Tour guide Lalit told us the next day was the hardest and he was half right. Was a hard day. We went up 800 vertical meters to Namche and took us 7 hours but again we smashed the time he gave and was a beautiful day. Again our group had a buzz and laughed our way along the trail.


Low and behold as we make it up to Namche, we notice a sign that said the world’s highest Irish pub. Plus had two Irish boys in the group so it was a must!



Also got to see some amazing views as well. Now, what I consider a rest day and what intrepid consider a rest day are slightly two different things… we had two days in Namche to acclimatize to the altitude. But we still had day hikes in those rest days to help our bodies. Did give us some more amazing views of Namche and the area though.



Now, these three boys were our guides (Esra, Indra and Lalit) and I love each of them. All of them great men with hearts of gold and went out of their way to make sure that you were healthy and ok and that you had a good time.

We had another day before we headed to our next spot to acclimatize. Phortse Gaon had a beautiful night sky and brilliant morning view.

This was what I expected to be a hard day but again. Each time we were given a time frame we just smashed it. This showed what a great group of people we had on the team.

Dingboche was our next acclimatization day and was another day for a day hike and rest. By this stage wed gotten to know each other pretty well and the cards came out and thanks to Dave’s teaching us “Shithead” the nights flew passed with a good laugh.

Now the day before or earlier on we met this guy. This is one of the big takeaways for me on the trip. He’s in his 70’s carrying 70kg on his back up a mountain for work. He doesn’t complain. He gets on with it because that’s the life here. All around in the mountains you see farmers and everyday people working their ass off with little resources. By hand and in some truly brutal conditions and weather. It makes you not only appreciate what you have back home, But also what ever your petty little moaning is about is but a drop to an ocean compared to these people. For that they have my undying respect.

We had one last night up in Lobuche before we hit Base camp. I had bugger all sleep that night. We to be fair you have bugger all sleep at altitude. I think outside one or two good night’s was like 3 to 4 hours broken sleep a night. But I did feel like a kid at Christmas.

And So it came. The big day. Everyone was stoked and ready to hit this out. It was a long day and was worth ever step of it to see not only base camp but to also finally see Everest.

This was my favorite and also worst day for me. After we celebrated making to base camp. We heard the weather for Kala Pathar which was the next day wasn’t looking so good. We decided we’d try for that the same day as well. At the time I thought I’d be fine even though had a bit of a chest infection the last couple days. But I didn’t realize I had to be part mountain goat with the route we took. Long story short we made it half way up before the weather got too crap and by this stage I thought I had gotten altitude sickness. Still got a good shot for the album but by the end I was destroyed. And to be fair Only two ended up going again the next Morning. Soph and Kev you two are legends for going back up.

But we weren’t done yet. We made it up. Still had to get down. Going down the mountain is faster but can still be hard on the body and joints. We managed to keep a hard pace and get to our stops fast and enjoy each of them including Tengboche (The temple is to your right Kev)
And prob for me the best night after that where you have a group of great people at altitude with a lot off beers and a few bottles of whiskey and you get a asexual, gender neutral Yak from Germany named Jeremy. That is ridden (with a stand in) around the central fire and waking up half the guests. After which we have people proceed to fall down the stairs. Was a fantastic night!!

We managed to somehow make it back to Kathmandu with no major injuries (God knows how) and we finished on a few fantastic nights of celebration with the porters in Lukla and then each other before saying good bye the extra day.

When I look back to the first day and what was told to me then and now. Sorry girls but you were full of it. It was an amazing trip and yep I haven’t put everything in and there were parts that weren’t so great. But it’s part of hiking and you just deal and enjoy what you’re doing. I am glad to have met each of them and found more friends along the way.


(After pic) yeah side note. Dropped 5 Kg’s in 12 days. Want to lose weight climb a mountain!