Sherpa Adventure Gear: "Everest Uncovered" - Lecture Tour Edinburgh, Manchester & London - October Dates Announced!

Ok, so clearly I’m super stoked to be sitting alongside Kenton Cool and Lakpa Rita Sherpa, two peers from the Sherpa Adventure Gear athlete team for the forthcoming Lecture Tour, Everest Uncovered. 

Having said that, I’m also uber, uber nervous… and it’s prompted some serious reflection. Who am I as an ‘outdoor affectionado’ (as I don't consider myself a hardened mountaineer!) and what messages can I share which complement the messages of these incredible athletes..? 

Both Kenton and Lakpa Rita are internationally renowned legends in the world of mountaineering – both on and off the mountain. I’m just a girl who, by chance, fell into climbing 5 years ago when walking up mountains seemed just as enjoyable as skiing down them... and I couldn't afford the lift ticket!

Lakpa Rita Sherpa was 2013 Outside Magazine Adventurer of the year. He has reached the summit of Everest 17 times, Cho Oyu 12 times, Pumori twice, as well as Shisapangma and Ama Dablam. He has also climbed Mt. Vinson, Denali, Aconcagua and attempted K2 and the south face of both Annapurna and Shishapagma. Clearly he has a penchant for altitude..!

Kenton Cool is a bit of a legend in his own right (understatement of the year!). He’s the first European to summit Everest 11 times and the first non-Asian to summit Everest twice in one week. His achievements hit the headlines earlier this year when he summited Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse in one week. Additional accolades include guiding Sir Ranulph Fiennes to the summit of Everest and the Eiger (raising £3m for Marie Curie Cancer Care) and holding the title of being the only Briton to ski down two 8000m mountains. 

Between them, these men share a total of 28 Everest summits and a unique outlook on the history and future of the world’s highest peak.

So clearly, I think that they're pretty cool and pretty interesting people...

So who am I and what can I tell you about Everest..?

Whilst I have spent about 6 months of my life on Everest (both on the North and the South over the span of 3 climbing seasons) I'm certainly not your ‘typical’ mountaineer…and I certainly don't have my wikki page!!  I do lots of ‘stuff’ that I’ve been fortunate enough to do thanks to some very flexible employers and supportive family and friends who have tolerated my outdoor-addiction - combined with a pretty strong work ethic. Achievements beyond my job as a management consultant at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) include having had the opportunity to spend time on the flanks of mountains including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Mera Peak, Island Peak, Lobouche East, Kyajo Ri and skiing and climbing extensively in the Alps.  I’ve also managed to sneak in a few non-altitude driven cheeky little adventures such as cycling 500kms across Tanzania, 7500kms across Canada, dragon boat racing down the Thames, white water rafting on the Bhote Kosi and Karnali rivers in Nepal, walking 100kms / 24 hours for the Trailwalker Challenge....  

The lessons I’ve learned on these journeys and the people that I’ve met along the way have allowed me to draw from my experiences and work with both internationally recognised alpinists and leaders in the finance sector to develop parallels between leadership lessons learned and challenges faced on a mountain and those faced by businesses today.

Somehow I've made all this fit - amazing what you can do with your time if you're dedicated to setting and achieving goals..!

So what’s my message going to be?

Good question… I’m pretty average – I have 24 hours in my day just like the rest of the world. In those 24 hours per day, I’ve made good decisions, I’ve made bad decisions, I’ve gained a lot in life-experiences but have sacrificed an equal amount… My collection of strappy shoes and oversized handbags is nearly as extensive as my collection of mountain boots and padded-out packs. But everyone has their ‘thing’. 

One thing that seems to have worked in my favor has been my ‘can do’ attitude. I find myself saying, ‘yes, why not, I’ll give that a shot’ more often than I say ‘no, I can’t do it’. This attitude filters across all aspects of my life – both at work and on the mountain. It’s required a lot of courage, commitment and discipline…. And some creativity! 

And this attitude ultimately led me to the mountains where I discovered myself and met a plethora of people who have truly inspired me and continue to inspire me every day.

I've often been asked if climbing has become an obsession… I’d certainly argue no. I think that my ‘obsession’ is pursuing things that I feel passionate about – which I have an uncanny knack of ‘packaging’ as adventures. I love climbing but it’s not an obsession in its own right. Climbing, like my job, serves as a vehicle that enables me to challenge myself emotionally, mentally and physically. I plan adventures every day but these adventures are as much about self-discovery and awareness as they are about physical challenges.

For example, I’m currently planning my ‘adventure’ for the Spring, then I’ve got a big challenging work-project to tackle while planning for my next assignment followed by organizing an expedition to lead a group of women to climb Kilimanjaro. Scattered between these milestone events are adventures like learning how to use my new iphone and meeting my new goddaughter.

So, I haven’t quite figured out what I’m going to say or how I’m going to say it but I have some ideas and look forward to taking some of the experiences I've had and people that I've met and contributing to this fascinating evening of discussion and debate.

If you’re interested in a fun evening out, fancy learning something about Everest, and possibly discovering something about yourself in the process, I encourage you to come out for the evening..! Details can be found on the Sherpa Adventure Gear website.

Really looking forward to sharing an enjoyable evening with you..!

----------------
EVEREST UNCOVERED: Lecture Tour dates

Tuesday 22nd October 2013 – George Square Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh  
Thursday 24th October 2013 – University Place, Manchester
Friday 25th October 2013 – Royal Geographical Society, London

Doors Open at 6pm, lecture starts at 7pm. 

Read More

Feel-good endorphins reactivated after a weekend in Chamonix

There's nothing like heading out into the great outdoors to awaken the senses. After even just a few minutes outside the grass just seems greener, the sun seems brighter, and somehow challenges which seemed gargantuan before now seem so much more manageable... 

Anyone who has gone for a run around Hyde Park, a climb up Ben Nevis or enjoyed the snowy slopes of Whistler or Chamonix would certainly be able to relate to the (not surprising) findings from a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, conducted by a team at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry which found that exercise in natural environments was linked to greater feelings of revitalisation, increased energy and positive engagement. Levels of tension, confusion, anger and depression were found to be lowered by exercising outside.

I was feeling the 'need' for some of these feel-good endorphins at the start of last week so immediately gave my good friend and Chamonix-based guide Isabelle Santoire a call to see if she could squeeze me in for some 'fresh air therapy'. 

Needless to say, Isa delivered and the weather did as well - despite arriving in Chamonix to an orchestra of torrential rain, thunder and lightening show which would have made Danny Boyle sit up and take notes... 

The forecast remained bleak so we decided for a straight forward walk up to the Charles 1er hut on La Tour to see how the weather would pan out. Our plan was to do some scrambling on ridges near the hut and then climb the Aiguille du Tour - a nice easy and straightforward climb (plod!). 

I'm not sure if it was the good karma generated by helping with the dishes that night in the busy hut or whether we just had some good ol'fashioned luck as we were greeted by clear, starry, moonlit skies at 4.30am as we set out for the summit. The conditions were exquisite - crunchy snow, mild temperatures and not a soul to be seen. I was reminded with each step why I love the balancing-feeling of being outside, in the hills, doing something I love.

Feel-good endorphins clearly reactivated!!

Happy that the sun is finally beginning to appear 

Doing dishes in the kitchen at the Charles 1er hut

Isa and our AMAZING Argentinian kitchen staff!

Hot tea after a wet walk up to the hut

Stellar climbing conditions

Read More

Taking time out for reflection... The "L&Co Talks with..." interview

Sometimes I find myself getting so caught up in the physical hustle and bustle of life - planning expeditions, running to and from meetings, and keeping fitness levels up to snuff... that I forget to take time out and reflect on how this crazy personal and professional journey has evolved, what I've learned from it all... and, perhaps more importantly for me personally, the 'why' behind it. Many thanks to  entrepreneur Shannon Lewis, a seasoned communications professional and President of Liberty and Co, a strategic communications consultancy for encouraging me to stop in my tracks and reflect on the journey through some thought provoking questions through her L&Co Talks series. 
The full interview can be found here: http://libertyandco.ca/lco-talks-with-mountaineer-heather-geluk/

-------
L&Co. TALKs this week with high altitude mountaineer and savvy business women Heather Geluk. Heather’s story is one of adventure in attitude. She has reached the highest points on earth climbing Cholatse, Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Mera Peak and Everest and currently summiting the famous Eiger in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland. Heather’s inspiration of  pushing beyond one’s limitations can be applied to our daily lives in facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities and testing yourself against the unknown.


L&Co: What words do you live by?

Heather: Discipline. Commitment. Courage. Creativity.

L&Co: What were your motivations to climb? What brought you to the mountain?

Heather: To prove to myself that I could do it and to set out on the journey to make it happen.  Life can be full of ‘Everest-like’ challenges. We all have the ability to conquer these challenges by facing and overcoming our fears, by believing in ourselves and putting our hearts and mind to the challenge. We set our own limits. Sometimes the only thing between us and our dreams is ourselves.

The summits of the mountains I’ve climbed, I always hoped, would serve a greater purpose and have a deeper meaning than just accomplishing a goal. I am fuelled by the strength and courage of cancer patients and their families who face the challenges of cancer on a daily basis. These challenges are much more significant than an 8848m peak. Through my climbs I support the charity Hope for Tomorrow hopefortomorrow.org.uk whose mission it is to bring one Mobile Chemotherapy Unit into operation in every county in the UK. Treating as many as 20 patients a day, Mobile Chemotherapy Units bring vital chemotherapy treatment closer to patient’s homes reducing long distances of travel, waiting times and avoid the stresses and strains of busy oncology centers. Each bespoke unit costs £260,000 to build and maintain over 3 years – a nominal amount when you consider the tremendous impact that they have on the quality of life to so many patients and their families.

L&Co: What is the most challenging part of your Himalayan climbs?

Heather: I love my job as a management consultant and have been lucky enough to lead individuals, teams and organizations to their own ‘Everests’ – in a business context.

The results-driven nature of these projects motivate me to deliver my best – even if this means working long hours and skipping that gym session or two just for the thrill of working with others to achieve their goals. Finding the balance between my job plus training, raising funds for charity and developing my personal ‘brand’ hasn’t been easy. And balance as more precarious than any summit ridge I’ve ever been on!

I believe that I’m a better consultant because I climb and a better climber because I’m a consultant. If you’re able to find that balance and stay true to yourself then reaching the summit is simply a matter of putting one foot in front of the other.

L&Co: Speaking of the summit, what is the view and feeling being on top of the world?

Heather: Summit views are all about seeing ‘possibility’.  From the Lhotse summit, I watched as the spindrift blowing off of the steep face shifted to provide glimpses of the slopes of Everest and of the myriad of peaks beyond – new possibilities spread out tantalizing below.  Some of these mountains I’d already attempted or climbed – Cholatse, Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Mera Peak and Everest.

L&Co: Can you describe what was going through your mind when you are reaching the summit?

Heather: Why can’t I enjoy a beach holiday and a mojito like normal people?

When the steep rocky summit came into view I felt a broad range of emotion – from euphoria to fear to vulnerability to feeling truly ‘human’ and truly alive in an environment that I didn’t physiologically belong in. I felt an overwhelming sense of calm. I couldn’t believe how close the sun felt and how far away the rest of the world seemed.

I felt truly ‘alive’, very conscious of my vulnerability and nostalgic. I thought of my family in Canada. I thought of the charity, Hope for Tomorrow and the ‘Everests’ of those people and their families battling with cancer. I reflected on the journey I’d taken to get here – the experiences both on and off of the mountains I’ve climbed and the lessons learned. The hours of training, the worries, but also all the pure joy, the happiness, and the truly inspiring, amazing people that I’d met along the way. We didn’t stay on top too long as it was about -45 degrees C and we still had a long descent ahead. Just long enough to enjoy the views, have a team hug and a photo.

L&Co.  With your climbing team, how much to you rely on them? What was the dynamics like? 

Heather:  People are people, no matter what the environment. Team dynamics on a mountain are like team dynamics at work – the stakes are just different and the impact of the decisions that individuals make and the risks that they take can have fatal consequences.

There’s always some element of ‘give and take’ on any team but you need to be clear on the basics – the degree of risk you’re willing to take and build a solid foundation of respect and camaraderie as you work toward an agreed joint vision or goal. I rely on my team for physical support and also for emotional support.

L&Co. Everyone tends to focus on the Summit, but often the journey down can be most treacherous. How do you prepare for this, mentally & physically?

Heather: Every summit is different so there is no best answer on how to best prepare. What needs to remain front of mind on both the ascent and the descent is around understanding as an individual how much risk you are willing to take and when it’s time to turn around. This needs to be understood and respected by the team. A dead body sits frozen just below the summit of Lhotse – still dressed in his down suit, attached to his rope and wearing his big mountain boots. He serves as reminder about the fatal consequences of taking undue risks and making good decisions when it’s time to turn around and go home. There are some risks that simply aren’t worth taking.

L&Co: Where do you find inspiration?

Heather: I meet inspirational people every day – in basecamps and boardrooms. Some of these people have dazzled me with their genius and art. Others have shared with me insights about how I can live. Others have devoted their life to helping others. Some have conquered mountains while others have built business empires. Some are great artists while others have entertained with their brilliant musical talents.

One thing that they all have in common is that they are passionate, talented, and amazing people who have added color to my life and have helped to gently shape the moments that make up my journey – both at work and at play. Without the tremendous support of these people, life would not be nearly as fascinating and mountains would be significantly higher.

It’s not just the mountain but the mosaic people you meet along the way that make life such an incredible adventure.

L&Co: There is controversy that too many climbers on the mountain are not experience and its over-crowded,  should anyone be able to venture to the peak? Or should it be only those who are highly skilled, especially we so many fatalities? 

Heather: Everest was crowded this year with about 1000 people at Base Camp and about 600 or so people going for the summit at various times during the late-May weather window. It was quite different to Makalu, a much more technical 8000m peak I attempted in September 2012 where there were only about 20 of us in Base Camp.

So yes, it was busy but I didn’t ever feel ‘threatened’ by the number of people on the mountain. What concerned me more than the numbers was the number of inexperienced climbers going with low-cost, low budget operators, signing up for expeditions without understanding the undue risk that they are taking for themselves and how these low budget operators impact the better organized operations on the mountain, looking to them when there’s trouble. Many of these operators serve low quality food, don’t have the appropriate supporting infrastructure with tents, oxygen, sherpas, radios etc. By the time that clients realize they are in trouble on a mountain and/or that this infrastructure doesn’t exist then it may already be too late. There were several deaths on the mountain this year that definitely could have been avoided this year.

L&Co:  You are also working in London, UK at a high profile job at PWC, what keeps you on top of your game, balancing climbing adventures, work and life? 

Heather: After returning from climbing Makalu and Ama Dablam in Nepal in November 2012, I took some time out to reflect on how my love for the mountains fits into my career as a management consultant. I’m not your typical ‘climber’ and I’m not your typical ‘consultant’ either. I like my ‘creature comforts’ but there are more than a few days when I’d quite happily swap a pair of Jimmy Choo’s for a pair of LaSportiva boots, a Burberry trench for a Sherpa soft-shell and a Birkin bag for a Berghaus.

I love and thoroughly, appreciate, embrace, and soak-up every moment I spend in the mountains however I also love the time I spend in the office, drawing insights and inspiration from my colleagues, clients and helping individuals and teams to reach both short and long-term goals. I feel that the contrast between these two environments has helped to shape the way I approach challenges, make decisions, manage risk and manage my time.

Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices. I am creative in the way that I balance my work and passions outside of work – this means prioritizing and saying ‘no’ when I have too much on my plate and becoming disciplined in the management of my time.

L&Co: Has climbing become an obsession? Will you climb Everest again or are you onto another adventure?

Heather: I love life. I am happiest when pursue things that I feel passionate about. I love climbing but it’s not an obsession in its own right. Climbing, like my job, serves as a vehicle that enables me to challenge myself emotionally, mentally and physically. I plan adventures every day but these adventures are as much about self discovery and awareness as they are about physical challenge.

Next week I’m off to climb the Eiger (also known as ‘wall of death’) in Switzerland… then I’ve got a big challenging work-project to tackle followed by organizing an expedition to lead a group of women to climb Kilimanjaro. Scattered between these milestone events are adventures like learning how to use my new iphone and meeting my new goddaughter. 

L&Co: What is your favorite app or digital tool on the mountain? 

Heather: I love my kindle – light and easy to pack and has a great battery life. I have a lot of ‘down time’ on big Himalayan expeditions when I often find myself stuck in a small tent with the wind howling outside. Diving into a warm sleeping bag with a collection of my favorite literary classics a click-away is an absolute luxury. When I first started climbing I was limited to carrying up one (if any) book at a time to save on weight. Reading ‘War and Peace’ at 8000m would have been unheard of!

L&Co: How would other describe yourself in three words?

Heather: Unique. Bold. Positive.

Read More

The People You Meet: The 'Cool Climb' Team & Access Sport climb

I paused briefly from my high-altitude plodding to take in the deep shades of gold and pink being cast over a panorama of snow covered peaks around us here in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Ahead of me and cutting the steps in the snow-covered ridge of the Monch were guides Kenton, Farmer and Margaret and following on the ropes were Nick, Owain, Becca, Montel and myself. Together we formed the heart and soul of the ‘Cool Climb team’ braving exposed ridges, corniced slopes and a hut full of snorers to attempt to climb the notorious Eiger to raise money and awareness for the charity Access Sport. The 4017m Monch was just one of our key objectives – an acclimatisation climb which would prepare our bodies for the duress of altitude which we would experience in the days ahead during our planned ascents of the Eiger and Jongfrau.

It was a beautiful morning for our ascent of this majestic peak. We left the Mönchsjoch Hut at 3658m at 4am after feasting on a breakfast of muslix, cheese and strong ‘bowls’ of coffee and tea. The Monchsjoch hut is one of the highest huts owned by the Swiss Alpine Club. Because of its altitude, the first night in the Monchsjoch Hut, when the body is still adjusting to the ‘thin air’ will always present its challenges and few people manage a good first nights’ sleep at this altitude. Our merry band of travellers proved no exception with everyone appearing a bit more bleary-eyed than usual at breakfast. Only Owain, aka, ‘the Labrador’ seemed as spritely and keen as always and we had to hold him back from running out onto the mountain before breakfast..!

A blast of mild 4am air blew out the cob

webs and we began our silent approach over the glacier to the foot of the mountain where we strapped spikey-crampons to our boots, armed ourselves with ice-axes and donned our helmets! Nervous smiles were exchanged all around at the prospect ahead but we were comforted by our fearless guides who double checked our equipment to ensure that we were well prepared. Montell looked up excitedly and we all remarked how he would fare brilliantly on the ascent – particularly following his flawless (and seemingly effortless!) ascent of yesterday’s 2500m peak. Becca also smiled bravely, pacing on the glacier to keep warm and testing the knife-edged points of her crampons as we roped up and began the climb..!

There’s a common distinction in climbing referred to as ‘Type 1 fun’ and ‘Type 2 fun’.

Type 1 fun: This is when you enjoy the moment / activity as you are living it.

Type 2 fun: This is when the moment / activity is not particularly enjoyable, but in hindsight you enjoyed the experience

That morning, under perfect conditions – mild temperatures, great snow, gentle slope, and a beautiful sunrise is a perfect example of ‘Type 1 fun’. Moving together as a team, sharing the occasional laugh and joke and experiencing the sheer beauty of the mountain under an exquisite sunrise – I found it difficult to imagine anything more perfect.

I’ve spent a few seasons in the Himalaya so am accustomed to the challenges that mountain-terrain can sometimes throw at you – and how challenging it can be to overcome a fear of the unknown. What most impressed me was the way that the team – particularly Montell and Becca – moved over the terrain especially given that they had never even walked on crampons before and, in Montell’s case, had never seen a mountain..! Rather than shy away from the challenge, they embraced it and excelled navigating over exposed rock, steep snow covered ridges, and dizzying heights. It was far from an easy, straightforward climb and yet they smiled through it and kept positive spirits throughout.

Conditions began to deteriorate and the mild temperatures prompted a thick fog to roll in. At around 3950m, on a particularly exposed ridge which presented perfect views of the sheer face of the Eiger Montell and Becca made the wise call to begin their descent. Given the warm temperatures there were additional risks posed by the melting snow and the descent often presents more challenges than an ascent – they showed tremendous maturity as budding climbers in understanding the conditions and their own abilities. The expression, ‘everyone has their own Everest’ sprang to mind and I was / am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to share this Everest with Becca and Montell. We took advantage of a break in the fog to capture the moment with a well-placed team photo complete with an Access Sport t-shirt.

Kenton, Farmer, Owain, Nick and I continued to the summit of the Monch while the visibility decreased due to the cloud which quickly began to close in. Every now and again there was a break in the cloud and we were able to witness the many snow covered peaks – the many ‘opportunities and possibilities’ below us. Enjoying these views was short-lived as the narrow summit-ridge was extremely exposed and attention was certainly required to put one careful foot in front of the other..!

When the corniced, precarious summit finally came into view, the satisfaction of having realised our goal allowed us to take a few minutes to enjoy and congratulate each other on our collective achievement – the 4017m summit of the Monch! No matter the mountain, for me personally, ‘summit satisfaction’ feels the same – maybe a perfect example of ‘Type 2’ fun.  There is a moment of happiness for having achieved the ultimate goal followed by an overwhelming with a sense of feeling incredibly ‘tiny’ and powerless in an environment which I feel hugely privileged to experience. The opportunity to experience this with such an exceptional team and for such a great cause made our success even sweeter. Something that I fully appreciated when we were all down from our adventure, safe and sound and enjoying a cold drink back in the hut..!

Huge thanks to our fantastic Cool Climb Team for an exceptional day in the mountains and for yet another incredible alpine adventure..!

Many thanks to our generous sponsors who made this climb possible:

Sherpa Adventure Gear

Cotswold Outdoor

DJ Lora

Alexandre Buisse Photography

and to Nick House, Owain Walbyoff, and Kenton Cool for their initiative in setting this up this fantastic opportunity for Access Sport..!

Read More

This blog is about people... And Thank You's

First and foremost this blog is about people... and thank you’s... This blog is about a journey which has been so much more than ‘vertical’, freezing-cold and oxygen-limiting...! Reflecting both on the extensive preparation for this expedition and the two-months spent on the snowy cold slopes of both Everest and Lhotse, this adventure has really been defined by amazing people that I have met along the way.... People who have inspired me, helped me, and joined me in some shape or form on this incredible adventure to the summit of the 4^th highest mountain on earth.

Some of these people have dazzled me with their genius and art. Others have shared with me insights about how I can live. Others have devoted their life to helping others. Some have conquered mountains while others have built business empires. Some are great artists while others have entertained with their brilliant musical talents. One thing that they all have in common is that they are passionate, talented, and amazing people who have added colour to my life and have helped to shape the moments that have made up this journey.

Thank you’s...

Throughout this journey - both in preparing for the expedition and on the mountain itself, I’ve continued to be inspired by so many of the people that I’ve met along the way. These people have inspired me to push on to find additional strength and motivation to reach the summits of mountains – both real and proverbial – or make my way as far as possible up their snowy slopes…!

These people have included first and foremost, my fantastic AC team - both for Everest and for Lhotse. I’ve never climbed with a more talented, deserving and fun group of individuals. You are all amazing, talented, inspiring people. An especial thanks to Guy, Suze, Anthony, Ang Phurba Sherpa and Mark  – thank you so much for sharing your incredible journey with me and for being such great team mates. Guy and Suze – for your fantastic sense of humor, Anthony for boiling water and being a great tentmate and Mark, for rubbing my back when I ate too much beef jerkey in C3 and Ang Phurba, for watching my back during our descent through the couloir..!

Secondly, Thank You to my family.  Thank you for your patience, your understanding and for supporting me no matter what. Over the course of the years and the many adventures of days gone by, this has meant so much to me and it’s such a tremendous comfort knowing that no matter what time of day or night I make the call, there’s always someone at the other end of the phone to offer a listening ear.

A special thanks to Hope for Tomorrow - read more to find out how you can show your support for this fantastic cause....

I’d also like to extend a massive Thank You to Christine Mills and Alex Trapnell and the incredible team at Hope for Tomorrow. The amazing work and vision of Hope for Tomorrow and these passionate individuals has inspired me to ‘move mountains’ to help to improve the lives of those patients suffering from cancer. Hope for Tomorrow is a national cancer charity dedicated to bringing cancer treatment closer to home. Its Mobile Chemotherapy Unit's bring vital chemotherapy treatment closer to patient's homes reducing long distances of travel, waiting times and avoid the stresses and strains of having to travel to busy Oncology Centres.

It has been such an an honour to be associated with Hope for Tomorrow and to see the results of all the charity’s efforts coming to fruition. A perfect example is today’s announcement of yet another mobile chemotherapy unit – one for East Kent hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust - bringing the total number of units on the road to 5. It’s fantastic to see the tangible difference projects such as my climb has made to the lives of so many people. Hearing the patient's stories and listening to Christine’s own personal account makes one appreciate the tremendous amount that Hope for Tomorrow has done to alleviate some of the stresses and strains of cancer for both patients and their families. The charity continues to raise the funds necessary to keep the expansion project on track and, keep its fleet of Units on the road and needs your support to put the 6^th and 7^th units into operation– so if you haven’t donated yet and are keen to show your support and make a concrete, tangible difference, please give what you can via the link below. Thank you SO MUCH.

http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/HopeforTomorrowClimb

To Sherpa Adventure Gear family and the wonderful team at The Terrace in Kathmandu. Thank you for all of your support both during my time in Kathmandu and over the course of the expedition. Thanks for making such high-performance, comfortable and stylish outdoor wear – every single day you kept me warm, dry, comfortable and most of all stylish under some of the most extreme conditions on earth – from cold days on the Lhotse face to audiences with Reinhold Messner. I’m so proud to be part of the Sherpa family! Thank you also for making the Terrace my home while in Kathmandu – I can’t imagine a more comfortable, modern and home-away-from-home..! I encourage anyone visiting Kathmandu to stay to make their visit of this vibrant city complete by experiencing a warm sherpa welcome in a hotel both owned and operated by the Sherpa family.

Thank you to my fantastic colleagues at PwC. People always ask me if I struggle with ‘returning to reality’. I don’t because I am inspired to go to work and take on the new challenges presented to me both by the firm and its clients on a regular basis. Meeting people, working with people, learning from people, joining forces to bring structure, creativity and addressing issues is just one of the highlights of my life – fortunately this is inherent to my job..!

Finally, thank you to Danielle Sweeney Designs, Charles Finch and the team at CHUCS Dive and Mountain Shop, Katy Biddulph from Striders Edge, the girls from the Sisterhood, Laura / DJLora and Kenton Cool for all of your advice, patience and support and most of all friendship. Thank you for making me laugh and giving me the extra boost I needed every once in a while to remind me to look to the snow-covered mountain peaks and follow my dreams.

Without the tremendous support of each and every one of these individuals life would not be nearly as fascinating and mountains would be significantly higher.

Read More

The People You Meet: The Legends of Everest & 60th Anniversary Celebrations

Today marked one of the highlights of my personal journey as a 'modern day adventurer' and lover of mountain-adventure stories which have inspired me climb to the lofty peaks of the Himalayas and the Alps. Today marks the 60th anniversary of the 1st ascent of Mount Everest with celebrations here in Kathmandu to honour the 'diamond' anniversary of first mountaineers  - Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay - reaching the highest point on earth on 29 May ,1953.  We celebrated, in style, at the British Embassy and subsequently at the Royal Palace.... the wine was flowing, the sun was shining and the conversations inspiring...  It was an absolutely BRILLIANT day from start to finish and I couldn't imagine a more perfect place to celebrate this historic occasion.

Set in the beautiful gardens of the British Embassy and the Ambassadors residence (which had been recreated into a more 'comfortable' and significantly 'greener' version of Base Camp), under some blazing-hot pre-monsoon sunshine we shared tales of our recent high-altitude adventures on the slopes of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and other 8000m peaks and mingled with Nepali dignitaries and members of the diplomatic community. Many climbers who attended the celebrations were just back from expeditions so it was great to re-connect with everyone and admire and compare our 'racoon' tans and summit day stories... It was great to see everyone in excellent spirits, dressed in their finest post-expedition wear and ready to celebrate into the early hours...

Guests included Kanchha Sherpa, the only surviving member of the 1953 team that made the first successful ascent, as well as both Sir Edmund Hillary’s granddaughter Amelia Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa’s grandson, Jamling Norgay. Also in attendance were Reinhold Messner  and Lydia Bradley, who were the first man and woman to summit Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen. They had the pleasure of cutting a giant 'Everest' sized cake..!

The British Ambassador, Andy Sparkes, read out a message from the Queen to the President of Nepal...

“On the 60th Anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest I wish to send my warmest regards to the Government of Nepal and to re-affirm the strong ties that exist between our two countries. The news of the successful ascent reached me at a particularly memorable time, the day before my Coronation. The Everest Expedition was an historic example of UK-Nepal co-operation and I hope that the special relationship between our two countries will continue to grow in the years to come. Elizabeth R.”

The evening ended with an award ceremony and dinner at the Royal Palace...

A perfect day and perfect way to end what has been a truly amazing two months.

With my invite to the British Embassy celebrations and Royal Palace dinner

Social sunny afternoon

Suze, Anna and Lydia - looking gorgeous after 2 months on the mountain

Anthony meeting his mountaineering hero Wolfgang Nairz

Prayer flag bunting..!

Gorgeous marquis that kept us well protected from the blazing sun

Reinhold Messner and Lydia Bradley cutting the Everest cake

With British Ambassador, Andy Sparkes and Serena Brocklebank

Miss Elizabeth Hawley with Suze Kelly and Billi Bierling  

Two inspirational climbers and wonderful women Everest summiteers Serena Brocklebank and Billi Bierling (who was part of the all-woman team to summit Nuptse this season!)

Kanchha Sherpa, his wife as well as Serena and Billi

With Nazir Sabir at the Royal Palace

Traditional Nepali dancing at the Royal Palace

Preparing for a delicious traditional Nepali dhal bhat dinner

Read More