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 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.

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.

International Rugby star prepares for Everest with My Peak Potential

This weekend saw Josh Lewsey, World cup winning International rugby player, along with best mate Captain Keith Reesby, a serving Army helicopter pilot, start their preparation to climb Mount Everest next Apr-May. The 3 day programme with My Peak Potential was based around establishing a starting point for the training from a climbing/mountaineering perspective.
Josh Lewsey’s long and successful career in both national and international rugby has kept him mainly at sea level with his feet firmly on a rugby pitch. He and Keith recently trekked to K2’s base camp which has given them both a taste of how the altitude might affect them. However their goal of reaching the roof of the world is going to be no mean feat and the next year will see them working hard to fully prepare themselves for what they will encounter during their push for the summit of Everest.

John Doyle and Dave Bunting of My Peak Potential, who between them have over 15 Himalayan Expeditions under their belts, will be putting both Josh and Keith through their paces in the next year. Their extensive knowledge and experience in both leading and climbing at altitude allows them to pass on all the necessary skills and preparation needed to give Josh and Keith the best chance of making it to the top of Everest next year. As well as learning how to use their crampons, ice axes and ropes effectively, they will also be learning a lot about what it takes both physically and mentally to get themselves up nearly three and a half kilometers of snow and ice.
John Doyle has successfully summited both the 3rd and 11th highest peaks in the world without supplementary oxygen and Dave Bunting recently led and climbed on an expedition attempting Everest’s summit via it’s notoriously dangerous and rarely attempted West Ridge route. John Doyle was also Climbing Leader on this expedition which although cut short due to avalanche conditions high up on the mountain, was hailed as a great success with all 20 climbing members reaching the high camp at 7600m.

Josh and Keith’s training started in earnest this weekend by way of a gentle introduction and familiarisation to harnesses and ropes. They were kitted up and tied in ready to descend the Gorge that runs behind My Peak Potential’s Alpine Training centre in Bavaria. With two waterfalls, zip wires and Tyrolean traverses to cross, this course of rope work allows people to acquaint themselves with knots, ropes and other climbing equipment in a controlled environment. Happy with their kit and eager to get to grips with the more advanced mountain gear, they were then taken up to the snowline on the mountains above the lodge to try on crampons and practice with ascending techniques. With just enough snow left in this part of the Alps to pull it off, the weather held just long enough to give them a small taste of what would be required of them. All that was missing was the exposure and altitude.

The next day My Peak Potential took Josh and Keith to a popular Klettersteig in Austria where they made a 500ft ascent of a cliff face next to a huge waterfall. Klettersteig is a very popular activity in this part of the Alps. Also known as Via Ferrata in other Alpine regions, it is a method of climbing and traversing the mountains using fixed metal ropes, bridges and ladders. You are clipped onto the wires and so it is a relatively safe method of reaching the parts of the mountains usually reserved for mountaineers and goats! Through his rugby, Josh is a very fit and athletic person and as the route progressed so did Josh’s technique. By the time he topped out an hour and a bit later he sighted it as “one of the best things I have ever done!” It also made him acutely aware of the need for high quality training in the skill sets needed to climb effectively and, more importantly at altitude, efficiently!

The weekend was a great success and plans have been made for the next stages of training including a 7-9 day high alpine programme. Both Josh and Keith are also enlisting the help of My Peak Potential’s partners, Leeds Metropolitan University in the very near future to gain crucial assistance and advice on physical and nutritional preparation for their climb. The University’s research and assistance on the Everest West Ridge Expedition was sighted as a very strong factor in the team’s outstanding performance on the mountain and so will offer the friends the best chance of making their dream to stand on top of the world a very real one.

“The first step! Thanks so much - the best outdoor experience I’ve had. See you again soon” Josh Lewsey

“What an amazing weekend! Thanks so much for your hospitality and training which will hopefully set the foundations for Everest. See you again in August” – Capt. Keith Reesby

If you are making plans to climb a mountain My Peak Potential offer valuable skills training, support in nutrition and fitness and tried and tested advice of all aspects of expeditioning and climbing at altitude. Please visit www.my-peakpotential.com/expeditions for further info and details of how to get in touch.