27-03-2012 - Trip info

Well with the departure date looming, I thought it would be a good idea to put some information together.

Itinerary:

Départ London Wednesday 28 March at 20:45, arrival Kathmandu Thursday 29 at 14:10

30 March - Chilling at the hotel

31 March -  Départ for Lukla by helicopter

1 April - Start trek for Everest Base Camp

9 April -  Arrival Base Camp, rest fort 4 days

19 April - Summit Lobuche (6,200m)

22 April - Start of ascension Everest

31 April  -Back from the summit

6 June -  Retour Kathmandu

Back in UK on the 8th latest, but might be much before.

Newletters:

Blog: http://pierreeverest2012.blogspot.com

Newsletter Himex: http://himalayanexperience.com/newsletters_page

Walking With The Wounded: http://walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/everest2012/

Weather:

To find out what kind of weather we’ll be having, here are some shortcuts to a useful site which predict weather on Everest at 3 different altitudes:

at 4300m:http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Everest/6day/bot

at 6500m: http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Everest/6day/mid

summit: http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Everest/6day/top

For example, tomorrow, the weather predicted at the top is -50DegC when including windchill!

Thinking that the weather at Kathmandu is a toasty 28DegC, that’s quite a temperature difference!!

Finally, another website with lots of Everest info:

http://www.alanarnette.com/

http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/category/everest-2012/

7-03-2012 Lake Disctrict

At last, I manage to have the full weekend free and I couldn't resist going up to the Lakes.

I love it there, long up hills, and more exposure. It's harder to find the path (for me anyway), and if you miss a turning, you could get in real trouble (or steep trouble).

Saturday starts sunny, and I enjoy a sandwich on top of Scafell Pike, but by the time I get down and back up to Esk Pike, its snowing and the visibility as reduced.

This, however doesn;t stop me from bumping into Duncan from work!!! How spooky!!! Even better, he has the result of qualifying and McLaren is on the front row, with MGP not far behind!!! Oh Yes!!
I finish my usual "lap"with Great Gable and it's very, very tiring descent.

I finish the day after 7:30 hours and 2100m of ascent, very happy to get back to the car for a long night sleep (after a very much needed curry).
Sunday stays sunny all day, and with heavy legs from yesterday, I still manage to get 1800m of ascent.
The view from the top of each hill is outstanding, with miles of scenery to enjoy.

That's the end of the training, in 10 days I'll be in the plane to Kathmandu.
It's not as much training as I would have liked, but between the ankle and work, that the most I could squeeze in.
Lets hope this will be "good enough" for the top of the world.

Either way, I'm still very much looking forward to getting there. Spending every day for the next 10 weeks trekking in the Himalayas, what a luxury, and what relaxation for the soul....

11-03-2012 Peak District, stepping up

A great day on the hills, still doing laps up and down Winhill.
I've managed 6 laps this time, and a total of 2200m ascent.
Training is going well, and the sun was shinning on me almost all day.. awesome!!

04-03-2012 Peak district walk, pushing further

Upgraded to a medium pack (20kg), doing "laps" around Winhill and managed to get 1500m ascent in almost 6 hours.
Each lap take me around 1 hour, with 25mins to get up Winhill (300m ascent).
It was cold, and by the end of the day, the ground look slightly white.

26-02-2012 Peak District walk

Feeling good after the 10km race yesterday, I'm off for a short walk in the Peak District.
Only 5 hours with a light pack, and 1200m of ascent. It's been a while, but very enjoyable to be back in the hills.

25-02-2012 10km race in Althorp

Been training quite hard, and after the race being delayed by 2 weeks, we're all good to go.
Manage to go running almost every evening whilst at the Barcelona test and thingsare not looking too bad.

On the day of the race, it's a little cold but the sun is shining.
Maxime is feeling the pressure a little, but the field is very small, and he finishes 2nd, 8 sec ahead of me.

  

He's very pleased with it, and so am I, after so much trouble with the ankle, it's good to get a good result, even though I'm still on pain killers :-(
Time to switch the training to walking.

21-10-2012 Ankle Arthroscopie

4 weeks before going to Manaslu Prof Ribbans recommended an arthroscopie to sort out a pain that I have been getting in my right ankle. 

As I would need at least 6 weeks to recover, we decided to schedule the op for when I got back.

Well, the op was very straight forward from what I saw (I was asleep :-) ).

Thanks to Tony for taking me back home after a last minute text for help, very much appreciated.

48 hours with foot off the ground, then start walking on it .... apparently.

Still got the arrow on my leg to ensure they operated the right one... that feels you up with confidence :-)

A week later, I was going in to remove the stitches, and 2 weeks later I was back at work.

turns out that might have been a little early as the ankle feels quite sore by mid afternoon, hopefully the physio sessions will help.