Been doing some research tonight……

It has been my life long dream to climb to base camp Everest, to experience the views, taste the atmosphere and feel the world from up high. The mighty mountain and one of earths most amazing environments. The people and cultural heritage, the way of life in the foot hills of Everest and then to get to base camp and to see the Ice Fall and know you stand at the base of one of the earths most dangerous places. Of course I would love to go the distance and get to the summit but I know my health would be against me, not that I am ever one to say “I can’t do” but I am sensible deep down and I would not gamble my life against the odds.

But base camp has been my vision for many years, falling ill snatched that away from me watching my illness take over my life was as I have said in many of my blogs and posts, one of the worst experiences of my life. I would look out at Trem Twmbarlwm The mountain that towers over my home, a mere hill in comparison to Everest, yet it seemed a distant dream to even get to the top as I once done so many times before.
I often recall sitting on top one evening with Lewis a great friend of mine, we sat there as the sun set over our homes thinking how relatively insignificant things really are when you look at them from a great distance. 

And there was the time one evening we bought a SubWay and climbed Sugarloaf mountain, we ate our SubWay on the top again as the sun set, some things money just can’t buy and great memories are one of those things. Great times!!


Completing the WAAT4 challenge recently gave me a boost it made me realise that if I can climb Pen Y Fan and manage a 30km walk carting my own gear then I stand a chance and base camp is not out of my reach completely. My off road crutches that was built for me by Good Directions Ltd am have also offered me new hope as I am so much more better equipped for the challenges ahead. I will need to look at what we do in snow though.. 

But for now just looking at costs the biggest bill on a summit accent is from Basecamp to summit and the amount of time and equipment that takes, they say that by the time you make the summit you have climbed the mountain at least 5 times. You have the added equipment like oxygen, masks and clothing aswell as climbing gear.

But for me I would need to look at things like on a smaller scale, so after arrival at Kathmandu Airport I would need to get a transfer to a hotel. Of course hotel accommodation in Kathmandu before and after the trek would be needed even if it’s only on a bed & breakfast basis. I would need transfers from my hotel to and from the trek start point which is in Lukla or Pokhara depending on where I decided to start but either way I would need flights from Kathmandu to get there. All National Park fees would need to be covered, TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) fees and I need to think about the fact that it would take about 15days to complete so On route I will need accommodation at standard teahouses but this can be a room only basis as I will have food with me. Service of qualified mountain guides and porters would’ve essential and they ain’t free, and you need to pay for their insurance aswell. 

Taking into consideration International airfare and departure taxes will need to be calculated. I would need an Entry visa for Nepal. And there are all the little bits like my own gear, Personal trekking insurance to cover a climb above 6000feet, food and supplies and I am sure I am missing a few things off the list. 

However I estimate the cost to be around £2000- £3000 per head……. I best start saving and looking for sponsors. Until that day comes when I get on that plane to Kathmandu this will be my destiny, my goal, my dream and I will make it that much a assure you..