Leeds Metropolitan University

Everest West Ridge 2006

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Dave Bunting

Location

Nyalam

Time

27th March 2006

Having arrived on Thursday 24th March early evening we had just enough time to settle into The Summit Hotel and relax a little before getting suited and booted for a cocktail party at the Embassy that evening. Most members of the team attended along with Embassy staff, consulate staff and the military who have been helping us with the freight and logistics over the last few months. Standing outside the Embassy eating canapes there was a lot of excitment and talk of the journey. A stark contrast to what lies ahead of us! It was a very pleasant start to our trip and continued for a few more drinks once back at the hotel bar.

I was woken Friday morning in the hotel at 7:30 with a birthday cake from the Summit Hotel. 28 again! Although it was my birthday today, not the first in Kathmandu!, it was also a very busy day in terms of the expedition. We had a very full briefing with the teams in the morning which went very well and we all sat down to watch the various good luck wishes from various dignatories and celebrities that had been recorded for us in London. Tony Blair, David Cameron, Simon Cowell and Davina McCall to name a few!

Myself, Dave Wilson, Malcolm Russel, Kevin Edwards and Glynn Sheppard then went off for another briefing at the Embassy for general info on the country’s situation, Maoist movements, emergency transportation etc. I’m very glad to say that the Embassy was very onside with the whole expedition and there were no major issues.

We then went on to meet with Himalayan Ecstasy who are the ground agency for the Junior Team’s trek in Nepal to Island Peak. A final Brief to the rest of the team back at the Hotel rounded off everone’s day and most then went up for an early night. We had a very early start the next day.

However it seems an expedition leaders work is never done and I had a few more phone calls to attend to and letters to write back to the UK before leaving the comfort of Kathmandu. A few hours sleep and then up again at 3:30am for the big off.

We crossed the border with relatively no hassle and travelled through Zangmu to Naylam to start our trekking. We decided to stay in a Hotel at Naylam but compromised by having our own cooks so as not to risk any severe bouts of food posioning. It’s been relatively comfortable but there has been the odd encounter with Tibetan Rats (known for their big teeth!) The Teams have all been in very good spirits, which is such an amazing thing for to see after three years of everyone's hard work to get us here.

I have been really enjoying the treks so far and have been able to spend some time just taking it all in. It has been a very long journey to get us this far and in reality we have only just begun!

Eveyone is very excited about tomorrow now which (Tuesday 28th). We start our journey up to Nache Bazaar in the morning and weather permitting this will be the majority of the team’s first glimpse of Everest and what lies ahead! We just have to survive one more night with the possibility of encountering the Tibetan Rats!

Carnegie Visiting team 26 April

John O'Hara 24 April

John Allan 24 April

David Jackson