Puja and a rotation in the mountain

It was great to kick start the expedition with a puja. A ceremony that takes place before moving into the mountain. A lama blesses us all for safe travels in the hills.

The Sherpas absolutely love this Ceremony and it was great to be part of it.

So with the puja done, we can move into the mountain.

A 4 30am alarm call and it was time to head up through the ice fall. Hydrate, eat and its was time to go.

From BC you could see the icefall was busy but to get close to camp 1 would be great acclimatisation for the next rotation.

Kenton and I made our way through camp and into the icefall. Making really good time through the icefall only problem being bottleneck after bottleneck.

After about 3 hours and nearly being and camp one I decided to head back down.

A lazy afternoon and a days rest tomorrow before a rotation to camp 1 for a night then to camp 2 for a few nights.

Its all systems go.

Working through the icefall, looking back over Pumori

Kenton

The icefall

Pangboche to base camp

It was a two day slog to base camp facing white outs and snowfall. It was a lonely trail being the only person moving towards BC.

It was nice to arrive at BC and be equated with the Sherpas and climbers. So hopefully move into the mountain tomorrow.

From a cold, snowy base camp.

Entrance to Everest Base Camp

The trail to base camp, pumori on the left

Namche to Panboche

Today the goal was to get to Pangboche. Where I plan to rest for 2 nights before moving up valley.

I left namche and the sun was blazing, a hot day trekking ahead of me. The start of this trek takes you above namche and gives you amazing views of this village. Spectacular in fact.

From here you make your way through varied terrain being greeted by monuments and villages on the trail. I love the Napali people and the way they great you always with a smile on there face and enthusiasm in there voice. I make as much effort as possible to say hello and greet the local families. Its always fun having banter with the local Sherpas, porters and guides on the trail too.

I got my first view of Everest , Lhotse and Ama Dablam today. The sky dominated by these beautiful mountains. There is no place like this on earth.

At one point of this trek, not paying atention I found myself going completely the wrong way, I was heading to gokyo by the time I realised and turned around it was an extra 45 mins on my journey, not what I wanted.

It was only an hour or so and I was in lobuche and here I stopped for some potatoes chips and a coffee. Just what I needed to give me the boast to push onto pangboche.

I'm now sitting in pangboche, sonam lodge. It was great to greeted and to be reunited with friends I gained last year.

Tomorrow I will hopefully be blessed by lama geshe and have the afternoon taking it easy before a push further up the valley.

At the moment I'm feeling great and not showing many signs of altitude effecting me. A couple of days rest will only play in my favour.

Really looking forward tucking into a portion of dal bhat tonight. 

Monument with Ama Dablam on the right

Namche, time to leave and head up valley

Rest day in Pangboche

Today was a rest day in pangboche. Just taking it easy and soaking up the views. Sonam lodge probably hosts the best views of Everest and sister peaks in the khumbu.

Karme Nuru our serdar at BC, meet me at 0830h and we went to visit Lama Geshe. I was blessed for good luck, safe travels and success in the mountains. Karme and I spoke for a hour or so about his projects in pangboche and in particular the pray wheels that are being built around the monastery. I'm hoping when I walk back to lukla on my way home the work is complete. The project looks spectacular. I also meet karme's wife. Such a lovely lady, full of smiles.

The khumbu is hosting some pretty high winds and this is evident on the summit of Everest. The valley is a lot quite than last year. Maybe me walking in a week later is the reason why.

So blessed and rested tomorrow I make my way to Duglha another 600m gain, from there I will go to gorek Shep and then to BC. Arriving just in time for the puja.

Sonam Lodge, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse in the distance

Map

Moving on to Namche

Today it was a casual start with getting to Namche being the objective. A 600m vertical gain , so an important acclimatisation push.

I felt very strong moving up the valley. A steady pace and arrived at namche in good time.

I headed straight to the bakery and tucked into pastries and coffee. It was bliss.

Tomorrow I will put up the valley to pangboche and spend 2 days at sonam lodge. Where I will be greeted by many Nepali friends I gained last year. I will also be going to visit lama geshe, and be blessed for a safe travels in the mountains and a safe expedition. I am really looking forward to this part of the trip. Also to sit under Ama Dablam and have spectacular views of Everest, Lhotse and nuptse.

So from a high on caffeine Paul enjoy your day and I'll post another update soon.

Yaks and porter on the trail

Bakery - Coffee and Cake

Welcome to Namche

The gateway to the khumbu valley

A 0445h alarm woke me and I was up and making my way to KTM airport. I was flying with a nice kiwi fella that was getting the same flight. We arrived checked in went through security had enough time to buy a bottle of water and our flight was being called. So lukla here we go.

We arrived in lukla around 8 and had breakfast and some tea at the paradise lodge. Then hit the trail with the goal of getting to jorsale. We arrived here around 1 had lunch and our now chilling. The views are just in amazing, the smell of burning juniper in the air sets this paradise alive.

Tomorrow I make my way to namche, which is around a 600 vertical gain. So a good acclimatisation day ahead.

I feel strong and lucky to be back in the khumbu but there is a big bit of me missing. I wish my wife was here with me. I know she would love it and I hope one day soon we walk this trail together.

Lazy evening ahead and a early start tomorrow.

On the trail

KTM airport

A beautiful trail

Kenton Cool supports Do Summit Good

Arrived in Kathmandu

Just arrived in Kathmandu and it feels great to be back. The noise, smell, buzz of this place is like no where else in the world.

The flight was ok, I didn't sleep much. A lot of thinking time about what I had just left at home, floods of emptiness and emotions overcoming me but I must stay focused on my objective.

The plan is to have tomorrow in KTM getting last bits sorting out logistics for walk in and fly to Lukla on Tuesday.

So for now, we head to Fire & Ice for dinner where we will meet up with a few others that will be joining us at base camp this year. A good night sleep is in order.

Switching into expedition mode

It's time to say my good byes and switch into expedition mode. Today I depart for KTM in hope to summit Lhotse, the 4th biggest mountain on earth.

Ill be flying out on the 21 30 Qatar airways flight to KTM accompanied by 10 x Everest Summiter Kenton Cool. It's going to be great having a companion on this flight.

I'm extreamly excited to be heading back to the Himalaya and back into the mountains but there is a gut trenching feeling Im dealing with knowing I'm leaving my wife for 5-6 weeks. Broken contact and distance ahead, I know it's going to be hard on both of us.

I would like to thank all my sponsors that have made this possible. It wouldn't of happened without your support and belief.

To all my family and friends thank you for your continued help, understanding and support.

So here we go, Heathrow T4 destination KTM.

But before this I must head to Kingston Hospital to meet my niece who was born in the early hours of this morning. Bethany Elizabeth was born at 0230 this morning at a whooping 9,13, both mother and baby are well.

This has been the perfect start to the expedition with the little one wanting to say good bye to uncle Paul.

Lhotse 2013, The journey begins.....

Parky supports Do Summit Good

Holly & Phillip support Do Summit Good

Jamie Oliver supports Do Summit Good

How time flies...

It only seemed like yesterday that I put out a blog saying 1 month to go. Now it's less than 2 weeks...

Everything is coming together for my departure to the Himalaya, in search of my 2nd 8,000m peak.

Currently sorting kit, clothing, insurance, flights and much much more prior to my departure on the 13th April.

I'm feeling mixed emotions with half of me eager to get back in the mountains and half slightly concerned about leaving my wife for 4/5/6 weeks. It will feel like a lifetime as I head down the khumbu valley and make an ascent of the 4th biggest mountain on earth.

Knowing I'm heading back to this land that is so magical and so special to me brings me so much joy, but the thought of not falling asleep with my wife in my arms and waking up to her beautiful smile, having her there to talk about daily troubles and make things right, is starting to play on my mind.

I have another event playing on my mind. I will be an uncle in the coming weeks and will I be around for the birth?

It's all happening my end, but I know come the 13th, I need to switch into expedition mode and focus on my acsent of Lhotse.

This summit means a lot to me for so many reasons and it's going to be amazing to be back at Everest Base Camp, many will be there to celebrate 60 years since Hillary and Tenzing stood on top of the world.

I have the pleasure of flying out with Kenton Cool and I'm looking forward to having his company on the flight and at base camp, as well as putting names to faces and making new friends. I'm aware we are in good company at EBC this year, with some formidable mountaineers present.

All the anxieties I believe are normal pre expedition and I thank my wife, family and friends for all their support, encouragement and belief.

Love ya all.