The real heroes of this experience will be our trekking staff: Climbing sherpas, porters, cook and kitchen staff. They will facilitate our experience through their very hard work. Having been on many expeditions where I have carried loads, I so appreciate their efforts. They open the mountain trekking and climbing experience to those who couldn’t carry on their own. And in turn, we provide employment and livelihood to all the Nepali staff who accompany us.

Sherpa refers both to a cultural group of people who live in the Solu-Khumbu as well as the job of assisting climbing expeditions. Many climbing sherpas are Sherpa but not always.

Our sirdar, Phendan Sherpa, has summitted Everest six times. The sirdar runs all of the logistics of the expedition and supervises the staff. Our two guides are Tom and Neil, both from England. We have nine climbers on the team: five men and four women. Members hail from the UK, USA, and Canada.

Today we leave the comfort and ease of Lukla and head up and up and up. Catch you next from 3050 metres.

On the picture below, our porters are taking our trek bags away to organize loads. Each porter will carry two people’s camping gear.