Carry on up the Khumbu!

Where do you stand on the management of hopes and fears?

“And Number 1, the most dangerous airport in the world, is Lukla.”

So spoke the presenter of the TV documentary. My wife was horrified. And then came news of the tragic crash of a Lukla-bound aircraft out of Kathmandu.

Add to this an awareness of the effects of altitude, the likelihood of temperatures 20 degrees below zero, and YouTube clips of Island Peak’s 20,000’ summit ridge.

Same journey, different take…

In contrast I am thrilled by the prospect of my Himalayan trek. From Kathmandu to Lukla by air, then on foot up the Khumbu valley to Everest Base Camp, and finally the climb of Island Peak. And back to Lukla again. Eighteen days of amazing new sights, sounds, tastes and smells; and an embodied aliveness that comes from movement through awesome landscapes.

More than kit and training…

I have been training in the Brecon Beacons, the Lake District, and the Scottish Highlands – enjoying each day in the mountains for itself and for its future purpose. I have been building up the kit I need, carefully balancing need, luxury and weight. With 2 weeks to go, I am pretty much packed and ready.

But of course, any big journey is more than just kit and training.