Everest Base Camp

In May 2009 I travelled to Nepal to trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, with the aim of raising as much money as I could for the two charities. The 18 day trek took me through the breath-taking mountain scenery of the Himalayas up to 5,357m and the Khumbu Icefall at the base of Mount Everest.
Pictures from the challenge are shown below.

the Hindu temple at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, 85% of Nepalis are Hindu

... with the sadhus (holy men) at Pashupatinath

the Buddhist stupa at Bodhnath in Kathmandu, one of the largest in the world

typical street in down town Kathmandu ... manic!

Mohan and his son Dependra, who has Down's Syndrome, outside their shop in Kathmandu

Lukla airstrip in the Himalayas ... high pulse rate landing & take-off ...!

... high finance in Lukla (2840m)

a traditional Sherpa house in Lukla

... off to school ...

morning assembly at Lukla Primary School (includes exercises and singing the national anthem!)

on the trail a "mani stone", carved with the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum ...


heading up towards Namche Bazaar

porters regularly carry over 60kg, & in all weathers ...

arrival at Namche Bazaar (3400m)

first views of Everest (above my right shoulder), still some 20 miles away ...

on the trail ...

...the spectacular and beautiful Ama Dablam (6814m)

Tengboche Monastery (3860m)

yacking with a Yak .... at Tengboche Monastery

the Rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal

...the team!

in front of Thamserku (6618m)

snow on the trail to Lobuche (4910m)

... & Yaks

... on the right route ... by the Khumbu Glacier

... made it! ... Everest Base Camp (5357m)