More from the Himalayan Team

Tengboche (3860m) 18th October

After spending their acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar today the team hiked to Tengboche at 3860m. Dave Bunting reported in that all team members are well and in great spirits.

Tengboche is the site of an important Buddhist monastery, home to around 60 monks, and is also famous because of its spectacular and unique location offering the first clear views of Mt. Everest at 8848m. From here the team will also look out on some of the other world's highest mountains including Ama Dablam [6,812m], Nuptse [7,855m] and Lhotse [8,516m]. The ice walls of these mountains dominate the landscape where avalanches can frequently be heard rumbling high up the glaciers.

Tomorrow the team will be moving up to Pheriche at 4200m where they'll spend another day acclimatizing and by doing a short local hike. In Pheriche they also plan to visit the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) who have established a clinic there. The clinic is staffed by volunteer Doctors from all countries who meet with climbing and trekking expeditions to treat and offer advice on altitude and other mountaineering health issues.


Waiting to take off for Lukla


Stratis make friends with the locals


Namche Camp


Lukla Airport

Joe above Namche

Ian and Dom take a shower

Helen

Greg, Rachael, Chris, Alison and Kate

First view of the Himalayan Mountains

Dave braves the Rope Bridges

Bev explores the village

View from the plane to Lukla

Himalayan Expedition 09 arrive in Kathmandu

The Himalayan Expedition 09 team has arrived tired but enthusiastic in Kathmandu, Nepal over the weekend. A team of Leeds Metropolitan University staff and students are embarking on a three week expedition which is being led by the University’s Outdoor partners My Peak Potential Ltd. Expedition leader and Director of training for My Peak Potential, Dave Bunting MBE, worked closely with Leeds Met on a Military expedition to Everest’s West Ridge which he led in 2006. He and his deputy Richie Painting, arrived in Kathmandu on Weds last week as the advance party. One of the most important roles has been visiting the Charity which the Expedition team is helping; the Self Help Group for Cerebral Palsy. Here they met Bimal who is heading up the project they are helping with. They viewed the area that the team will be helping to clear and chatted about the project ahead.

Once the team arrives in Kathmandu they will settle into their hotel and then start work the following morning at the Self Help Group Centre. Here they will present the Group with a cheque raised by the team through a variety of fundraising projects over the last year. When given the news about the fundraising the team had done, Bimal said “I can't believe it !!! you made me cry .... I see blank but thankful eyes of our special children.. we will use best of this contribution.”

They will also be helping the Group with various building projects at the centre and meeting some of the children and families that use this valuable resource.
It is then onto the next stage, a trek to Everest Base Camp. Where they will experience the rarified air of this high altitude region and stunning scenery where they will be able to see some of the world’s largest mountains and meet the wonderful people that live in this harsh but beautiful place!
Please keep posted for the next installment!

Himalayan Training in the Yorkshire Dales

The morning of 12/9/09 was an early one for the Carnegie Himalayan Expedition team. The group gathered in the Yorkshire Dales village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale to attempt the 24 mile mixed terrain route best known as the Yorkshire 3 Peaks.

The trek created an opportunity to raise public awareness regarding the expedition, and in addition provided the team a chance to demonstrate the positive effects of the various physical conditioning programmes in which they have been involved.

With the weather being fully supportive from the outset, many of us were denied the opportunity to field test our various pieces of newly purchased equipment. Although remaining slightly disappointed that the conditions fell short of the desired -20 degree coat-testing-environment, the vast majority of the trekkers on the route were in fabulous spirits, and helped to create a fantastic start to the day.


Pen-y-Ghent was the first obstacle the team hit, but it failed to faze the expedition members and offered the first magnificent views of the day. A long walk followed from the summit, across stone walls, cattle grids and bogs, the latter of which firmly christened any new boots in the party.

The climb towards Wernside was an extended one, but relatively gentle compared to the previous peak. The visibility on the day provided brilliant views throughout, but still didn’t fully prepare us for the sight of the Dales from the top of our second peak. With summit photo number 2 completed, we set out for the final climb up Ingleborough. Although the author’s legs had already been fully tested, the prodigious achievement of completing the 3 Peaks challenge, and the commendable determination of the team helped to keep everyone going forwards, with smiles on their faces

The team aptly, if crudely nicknamed the steps which composed the final climb of the day, but a cracking leg burner and some soggy base layers later, the whole team had made it to their third Yorkshire Peak of the day. The final walk back was eventful, but neither the grints nor the local cows which littered the path could prevent every team member returning unscathed (relatively).

A brilliant day. Congratulations to the team for the work they put in to meet the physical demands the day required. Another significant step closer to reaching our Himalayan goal.

Leadership and Management Programme

In May I visited the beautiful Alpenrose facility in Bavaria. The trip was part of the Leadership and Management programme and proved to be an excellent finale to the group experience of the programme. The surroundings of Bavaria proved uplifting, with the striking Alpine scenes inspirational and each day presenting another aspect of natural beauty to wonder at. We were welcomed warmly by the staff of My Peak Potential, the University partner operating the Alpenrose facility and throughout the whole experience their friendly and gentle support proved invaluable in coaching us through fairly challenging tasks.

Though based in different areas of the University we soon formed a strong and supportive team, reducing the potential anxiety of the challenges of the experience greatly and it is this that must be the most important learning point of the trip for me. We all have tough jobs to do but with the considerate support of colleagues the burden is shared, the outcomes improved and the experience positive. The tasks we undertook all had a physical aspect and this made the excellent cooking of the chef Herbert Muller even more inviting, with his traditional dishes proving supremely wholesome and universally loved by the group!

Lawrence Bellamy - Faculty of Business and Law

Everest Fundraising Ball

My Peak Potential are currently involved in leading a team of students and staff on the journey of a lifetime to Everest Base camp.

Last weekend, the team hosted a fantastic fundraising ball at Leeds Elland Road stadium which was hailed a huge success rasing £15,000. The evening went without a hitch, save for the confusion of the compere's heads or tails game which saw a few bemused party goers standing around with their hands planted on their heads or holding their backsides wondering if they were still in the game.

Around 350 guests, including Leeds United goalkeeper Casper Ankergren, British mountaineer Alan Hinkes, GB Kayak canoe champion Claire O'Hara and Leeds Carnegie's Steve Nance and Andy Key turned up to support the expedition. They were greeted by a champagne reception before sitting down to a delicious four course meal.

Expedition leader Dave Bunting introduced the evening followed by a short film about the community project they are supporting, Self Help Group for Cerebral Palsy (SGCP ). Dave said "As well as improving levels of fitness for their trek to Everest Base Camp in October 2009, the team has to meet an immense challenge on the fundraising front to make this Expedition a success and to support the SGCP. The success of Saturday night brings us another step closer to achieving the team's objectives and we are looking forward to the next events to maintain this momentum."

Following the meal, the compere for the evening, Frank Hanson, came into his own and was auctioneer supreme, getting people to reach deep into their pockets for some great prizes such as a holiday for 6 in a Norwegian Log Cabin, a weekend sailing trip and a day with the GB bobsleigh team culminating in a run down the St Moritz course! However, the prize everyone had their eyes on though was a place on the team to Basecamp. This was snapped up quickly and for a handsome figure. The team is now one person stronger.

Himalayan Expedition Training Weekend

After spending 7 months out at the Carnegie Alpenrose as a My peak Potential trainee it was fantastic to see some familiar faces back in Bavaria last week and also to meet some new ones.

I am referring to the training week for the Himalaya 09 Expedition which saw the whole team of Leeds Met staff and students travel to Bavaria for 5 days of preparation and planning for the trip to Nepal in October this year. The team will be aiming to reach Everest base camp as well as volunteering with a community project at a school for children with cerebral palsy, for which the team are aiming to raise £20,000.

The week combined briefings, mountain skills training, snow shoeing and that all important team bonding, in perfect clear blue skies which resulted in certain team members returning home with an unexpected lobster appearance.

Having been unable to attend the first training meet in North Wales I was meeting some of the team members for the first time. From the outset I was struck by what a friendly, motivated and diverse group of people have been put together for this ambitious project.

Unlike many commercial trekking expeditions where you simply turn up at the airport, this one is unique in that each team member has a specific area of responsibility from fundraising to coordinating the physical preparation. This results in the team developing personally and also learning vast amounts about expedition planning which contributes to a more rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Coming from a sporting background I have always enjoyed being part of a team and all the camaraderie and friendships that come along with having that collective identity. The group of individuals that arrived on day one, through the activities, the fantastic setting and a few bar games thrown in for good measure, left a focused, motivated and above all bonded Team.

As the team left for the airport there was a real buzz of excitement in the air, that one day in mid October, after much preparation and a great deal of hard work, we will be standing as one at Kala Pattar in Nepal, looking up at the top of the world.

By Dave Green