Seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Whilst I was away climbing, Natalie had heard his Holiness the Dalai Lama was in the UK doing public talks. When I returned from the Himalaya, I was told I would be going to listen to him in Manchester.

After my experiences in the Himalaya, being blessed by Lama Geshe and being around Buddhists for 2 months, seeing the Dalai Lama was something that really excited me.

We drove up north, popping into Wakefield to see my Nan and Granddad. Then we headed to Manchester.

Sunday morning we headed to the Manchester Arena and took our seats. A slideshow of pictures of Tibetan monasteries and the Himalaya’s instantly calmed me. So many familiar pictures brought back great memories. A demonstration of Tibetan dancing took place then hisHoliness entered.

The Dalai Lama started by telling us he is no miracle worker, he does not have magical powers or ointments to make things better. Making a joke of this and telling a story about how if he did he would open ointment shops and make a fortune. Such a warm, friendly and humorous human being, someone you would want to be around all the time if you could.

The messages that he puts across are logical and can be applied to life no matter what religion or belief. He did not preach about Buddhism or try and convert. He talked calmly about our approach to life and how we can enhance it by small changes, how we think and how the way we think influences the way we feel.

There is only one religion and that's love is something that was mentioned and has so much meaning behind it. Love all and let all be loved.

I want to thank Natalie for organising such an amazing weekend. It was amazing experiencing the Dalai Lama, hearing messages that I will remember forever.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Being home

It's been great being home and the reception I got at Heathrow was one to remember. Natalie ran so fast and jumped into my arms so hard nearly sending me back to baggage reclaim! It's so nice being back together and home. It's been fantastic telling family and friends about my success in the mountains and it's a story that brings back so many memories and one I could tell again and again. The Himalaya is a magical place.

It was great timing arriving back in the UK for the jubilee, which was amazing to watch. I ended up celebrating at my brother’s home in Richmond. A BBQ in the street with a live DJ at the end of the road, I had an amazing time.

So with the Euros on and Wimbledon and the Olympics just round the corner, I have plenty to keep me entertained. A visit to see the Dalai Lama this weekend, followed by a week in Cornwall and then planning a wedding for the end of the year, 2012 is the year for success and happiness.

Shadow over the himalaya created by Mt. Everest

Taken by Rob Casserley

A small selection of pictures

Khumbu ice fall

A ladder over a crevase

Kenton radioing down to base camp to get a weather check

Western cowm, a lonely place

Chilling at camp 1 before moving to camp 2

Testing the Oxygen mask and googles

The Lhotse face

Cooking at camp 3

Above the clouds, Pumori and Cho Oyu

Himalayan sunset

On the move to camp 4

At camp 4

Summit of Mt. Everest

Celebrating at the summit

Final steps to the top of the world

Snow blindness and another night at camp 4

Jabu Sherpa and myself at camp 4 before decent to base camp

The western cowm warming up, just below camp 3

Dorjee Sherpa and me at camp 2

Finishing unfinished business

Sometimes things just unexpectedly come your way and I had a very special something come my way on the trip, which made me feel extremely proud to be British.

A great story that comes with a the official London 2012 Olympic flag.

10 Eton boys wanted to make the journey to Everest Base Camp with the London 2012 Olympic Flag. The goal was to pass it onto a member of the Walking Wounded team, who would then continue its journey to the top of the world. This would result in the climber being the first person to fly an official Olympic flag at the summit of Mount Everest.

Due to Russell Brice's decision to pull the plug on his Walking Wounded expedition due to safety fears, it was thought the flag would not continue its journey from base camp to the summit. But some how the flag ended up in my hands. I heard the story and thought what a great tribute to the boys at Eton and if I could get it to the top, what a privilege and honour to fly the flag.

For me the feeling of continuing the journey of the flag and completing the job, was amazing. I hope to meet up with the boys in the next few weeks to talk to them about our journey's. You never know I might inspire them to one day climb it themselves. I will ensure they put their education first though.....

Below is the picture of me with the flag at the Summit of Mount Everest at 8848m.

Flying the Official Olympic London 2012 flag.

The Eton Boys

A piece of history

Last night I was enjoying celebrations of my summit with my family and my brother pulled out a present.

A picture of Mount Everest signed by the expedition team from 1953.

Sir Edmund Hillary
George Lowe
George Band
Mike Westmacott
Alfred Gregory
Lt Col Charles Wylie

It takes pride of place in my lounge and only adds to the emotions of following in such footsteps of legends and adds to what Everest means to me.
A piece that will be passed down my family and add to the stories that will be told to children and grandchildren.

Massive thank you to my brother for such a thoughtful present.

Reflecting On A Great Trip

Right now I'm on the Qatar airlines flight QR7 to Heathrow Terminal 4. I have had 2 months of lodges and tents and the bare necessities resulting in a summit of the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. 

Reflecting on the trip, I realise I have followed in the footsteps of legends to the top of the world. The likes of Sir Edmund Hillary to present legends Uri Steck and not forgetting those between like Ranulf Messner. I feel deeply privileged to have had the opportunity to experience a beautiful mountain and a route trod by so many living the same dream. 

Everest is a commercial mountain today, a route that many consider easy and think is a stroll in the park, just a walk. I personally don't think it get's the respect it deserves. A mountain that is kind on a good day but can be so unkind the next.

I had to take steps over 4 bodies that were victims of 2012 chaos and shared a helicopter with the body of the Korean man who's life was taken by the mountain.  A Nepalese/Canadian lady was 100 maybe 200m from safety and the mountain kept her hostage, it makes you think why couldn't she make it safely to camp 4? I met a guy in the road house in KTM today with bandages on 4 of his right fingers, he had stopped and tried to help the lady for 4 hours, but all he had to show for his efforts was frost bite. Maybe inexperience, maybe lack of support or maybe the climbers did not give the mountain the respect it's due. All I know is, it's a dangerous place that requires 110% respect and care. 

I too had my dramas at altitude, nearly getting frost bite on my feet and hands and my spell of snow blindness... The snow blindness hit me properly once I was back at Camp 4, but it hits many on the ascent/decent resulting in loss of sight (not necessarily permanent), for me this could have been another story. Victor saunders told me of a time when a client went snow blind at the summit and had to be short roped all the way down, I had a lucky escape and believe I managed my problem very well. I will elaborate in a future blog. 

Sherpas have a massive part to play in the mountains. Many are experts at their job and these guys take it upon themselves to be the best. Mine (Jabu Sherpa) definitely had an impact on my summit push being a success. I told him about my eyes on the way up and he told me how to ease the impact and warmed my right hand when using the adjuma, which resulted in my fingers almost freezing. I highlighted my symptoms, but many climbers ignore them. Your Sherpa is there to help and support just like a climbing partner. 

I now sit in row 9, seat A and a million thoughts and memories are buzzing through my mind. Reflection on a brilliant, safe and successful trip. In less than 12 hours I will be reunited with my fiancé, family and friends and my life will slowly return back to normal. A transition after living in the mountains I may find hard! 

I have missed Natalie like you can't imagine and have a wedding to plan for (the date will be revealed in the very near future), a summer to enjoy filled with sport and great entertainment and reflection of a mountain so beautiful which has given me friends and memories for life. 

I want to thank everyone that made this trip possible and then I'd like to thank everyone that made it what it was, sherpas, climbers, Henry Todd and many more, who organised and set the foundations for a safe and successful trip. 

I have made friends for life and managed to open doors in life that may lead to amazing opportunities. An experience and a result no one can take away from me, a story I can tell my children and grandchildren and something I am very proud of. 

I want Nepal to remain a part of my life, the place and people I have become very fond of and respect massively. I can't wait to take Natalie trekking in the Khumbu and meet my new friend's. 

I thank everyone involved in making this dream come true. I will never forget this victory.