Trip report for Open Charity Challenge to Everest Base Camp (Nepal) led by Alan Ward in November/ December 2011

Photo: TMC group at Everest Base Camp in December 2011

On November 29^th our Open Charity Challenge group trekking to Everest Base Camp arrived to Kathmandu. Alan Ward was the western leader for this team of fifteen which also included four visually impaired (“VI”) people with one person having no sight.

One of the VIs, David, had already joined two of our treks both led by Alan, in 2007 he trekked to Upper Mustang in Nepal and in 2010 attempted to climb Stok Kangri in Ladakh. David got in touch with us at end of last year with the idea of planning a trek to Everest Base Camp to coincide with his 60^th birthday. Of course we were delighted to be able to help him and he also recruited several friends from his walking group Milton Mountaineers and Vitalise Holidays.

In September Alan organised a training weekend for this group in Brecons, this worked well so that the team could get to know each other. From feedback received I gather everyone found Alan’s various presentations and discussions over the course of the weekend very helpful and aided their preparations for the trek to Everest Base Camp.

Based on our experience with organising David’s previous treks in the Himalayas we realised that each VI would require a sighted helper from UK as well as one Sherpa guide to escort them at all times along the trail. After discussing this set-up on their return I understand worked well with Sherpa guides taking the lead during the day due to their knowledge of the route while also being supported by UK helpers. Then on arrival to lodge in the afternoon UK helper would take over showing VIs around the lodge such as dining room, bedroom and washing facilities.

I enjoyed meeting this group on their return to Kathmandu and hearing about how the trek went for them. They experienced good weather with sun every day and also everyone acclimatised well to the altitude (as a result of our tried and tested 14 day trek itinerary!). The feedback I received was they enjoyed staying at the lodges we had carefully selected for them and I gather Zamling in Namche and Mother Earth were their favourites.

Great news that all VIs and helpers plus the rest of the group (apart from one) made it all the way to Everest Base Camp and/ or Kalapatar. This is a fantastic achievement for everyone in the group and is truly inspirational. When they got back in Kathmandu there was a lot of interest by Nepalese media and VIs had interviews with Kantipur TV,several radio stations and also articles/ photos in several newspapers including Republica (see photo below).

Photo: VIs in Kathmandu published in Republica

This is a photo of David, Jimmy, Leigh and Terry in Kathmandu a few days ago after successfully completing Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, it is a really special achievement for them as they are all visually impaired with one person having no sight. I would like thank Alan Ward their western leader and UK helpers (Diana, Rob, Meg and Emma) as well as the rest of the group who supported VIs throughout their trek. A huge thanks to our Nepalese sirdar, Buddhi Rai, plus the Sherpas (Tenzing, Purna, Mangal, Prem, Kulungman and Uttar) as well as the porters who did a superb job making it possible for everyone to achieve their objective of walking to Everest Base Camp.

Thanks also to Rohan Designs Limited who kindly donated over 20kg of clothing for KEEP’s porters lending bank, Alan brought this gear out with him and shortly after arriving to Nepal visited their office in Kathmandu to hand these items over to them.

The Mountain Company is organising two Open Charity Challenge treks in Nepal for 2012, we have a western led Everest Base Camp group in November and Alan is coming back again to lead our Annapurna Base Camp trek also in November. Please get in touch with us soon if you would like to join one of these groups.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Our treks guaranteed to run in Nepal for Autumn (Fall) 2011

Photo: walking on glacier to High Camp on Mera Peak

The Mountain Company has a number of treks guaranteed to run for Autumn (Fall) in Nepal, if you are interested in joining one of these departures then please get in touch with us soon.

There are still international flights to Kathmandu at reasonable prices for most of October and November however it is likely this will change soon as we get closer to the peak trekking season in the Himalaya.

The following treks are now guaranteed to run and there is currently availability if you are interested in joining one of these groups:

Dhaulagiri Circuit

October 9th to 28th 2011

Langtang and Laurebina La

October 20th to November 5th 2011

Mera Peak Expedition

October 30th to November 20th 2011

Kanchenjunga Circuit

November 2nd to 27th 2011

Annapurna Sanctuary

November 5th to 20th 2011

Everest Base Camp

November 6th to 24th 2011

Everest Luxury Lodges

November 19th to December 4th

Everest Base Camp

November 29th to December 17th 2011

Please get in touch at anytime if you have any questions or would like any further information about any of our treks.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

DIL Trust UK successfully reach Everest Base Camp in April 2011

Photo: Everest summit

Congratulations to the team from Development in Learning ("DIL") Trust UK who successfully trekked to Everest Base Camp in Nepal with The Mountain Company in April this year. In spite of poor weather and conditions up high the group carried on with admirable determination to reached Base Camp on April 26th.

DIL Trust UK seeks to establish or adopt, and operate primary and secondary schools for less privileged children, primarily girls, in the under-developed and rural regions of Pakistan. Their Everest Base Camp trek was a fundraiser for this good cause in Pakistan.

Thanks to Georgina Hobbs and Nepalese Sirdar Buddhi Rai for their help in making this trek such a success and of course thanks also to the porters who carried the group's gear for everyday of the trek.

If you are interested in trekking to Everest Base Camp to raise funds for a charity of your choice then please take a look at our Open Everest Challenge led by Alan Ward with dates November 29th to December 17th 2011. This trek is now guaranteed to run and there is currently availability please get in touch soon if you would like to join this group.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Mother Earth: new lodge in Lobuche on Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal

Photo: Mother Earth lodge in Lobuche

When trekking to Everest Base Camp with a group in December 2010 I noticed a brand new lodge in Lobuche called Mother Earth. Construction of this building had just finished and after knocking on the door for a while we woke the security guard who agreed to show us around.

I was very impressed with this new lodge, there is a large dining room and bedrooms are well designed with carpets on the floors. Apparently the roof is made from special material (imported from Europe) that insulates the building when cold at night but cools the building when heats up during the day.

For those of you who have stayed in Lobuche you will be aware there is a lack of quality lodges in this location, up until now the best one was Eco Lodge however their service level and standards have dropped over the last few years. There is no doubt that the Mother Earth will be the best lodge in Lobuche when it opens at the end of February, however of course it is also far more expensive.

At The Mountain Company for our Everest Base Camp trek we use the best teahouse lodges in each location therefore we have decided from now on to put all of our groups in the Mother Earth lodge. You will be glad to hear this is a free upgrade as we have decided not to increase our selling price, for 2011 it is still £1,045 (or US$1,695) land only from Kathmandu.

Please get in touch if you would like further information on our treks to Everest Base Camp, we organise six fixed date treks each year and also several private departures.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Islamic Relief Everest Challenge successfully reach Base Camp on December 12th

Photo: Mount Everest

All fourteen members of of the Islamic Relief Everest team successfully reach Base Camp on December 12th 2010, so congratulations to everyone in this group for completing their challenge while raising significant funds for charity.

This is the fourth Everest Challenge trek that the Mountain Company has had the privilege of organising for Islamic Relief. Each of their Everest treks has been during the month of December, like previous years we experienced sunny and clear weather for thirteen days in a row.

In my view this is one of the best times of year to trek in the Khumbu as there are very few other trekkers so there is no problem getting rooms in the lodges for a larger group, easier to secure flights to/ from Lukla and the trail is much less busy than peak months of October and November.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Our October Everest Base Camp group successfully trek to Base Camp and Kalapatar

Photo: Mount Everest

On my return from Dhaulagiri Circuit on 27th I went over to Hotel Tibet to meet our Everest Base Camp group to hear how their trek went , I gather everyone made it successfully to Everest Base Camp and most went up Kalapatar on the next day. Similar to my group on Dhaulagiri Circuit they also experienced some unstable weather with precipitation at Pangboche village however by the time they reached Lobuche the skies cleared off and the views from Kalapatar were superb.

Congratulations to everyone in this group, and of course a special thanks to Buddhi Rai who led this trip and looked after the team so well.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Islamic Relief Everest Challenge successfully reach Base Camp

The Islamic Relief Everest Challenge team all arrived safely back to Kathmandu today. Congratulations to eleven members of the team who successfully trekked to Everest Base Camp on December 13th.

This group has raised a significant amount of sponsorship for various water projects in Africa.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Our November '09 group successfully reach Everest Base Camp

The Mountain Company's November '09 Everest Base Camp group arrived safely back to Kathmandu after a successful trek where seven people reached Base Camp.

I met the group yesterday in Kathmandu to hear more about the trek, I gather they experienced similar weather conditions as my group on Mera Peak however they had a sunny and clear day for the walk to Everest Base Camp. Many thanks to their Sirdar Jhire Rai for his help in leading this trek.

The Mountain Company has four Everest Base Camp treks scheduled for 2010 (March, April, October and November), please get in touch if you would like to join any of these groups.

Roland Hunter

www.themountaincompany.co.uk

Everest Base Camp!!

Photo: Islamic Relief group at Everest BC

Congratulations to the team from the Islamic Relief who successfully trekked to Everest BC and Kalapathar on December 1st. They raised a large amount of money for water projects in developing countries, so well done to everyone involved! With increasing numbers of trekker visiting the Khumbu during the peak trekking month of October, my top tip is to go later in the year at the end of November and into December . The weather is normally stable at this time of year with sunny days and there are far fewer trekkers around. In fact from speaking to The Mountain Company's October Everest BC group I am convinced that it was colder in Gorakshep in October than late November....