Flying out

Today I depart for Heathrow for Kathmandu. This last year and a half of my life has been crazy. Frantically training, fundraising for WaterAid, writing for Oxfam, sponsoring Moris in Kenya and campaigning on environmental issues which indirectly increase poverty.

Ironic that the pinnacle of this challenge is to climb to Base Camp as in a way it feels like I've been climbing all year.

If anything I hope I've managed to show that actually individuals can make a difference.

Thank you to everyone who has helped out. Together we have managed to change the lives of over 200 people by enabling WaterAid to provide clean water and sanitation. Hard to believe all this came from a visit to a pit latrine at Glastonbury festival and watching Live 8!

I passionately believe that everyone should have access to clean water. Everyone deserves the opportunity of life. Dirty water is a bigger killer than AIDS and in the coming weeks I'll gain first hand experience and appreciation of clean water because more than 73% of the population of Nepal do not have access to sanitation, which spreads disease through unhygienic living environments.

My stomach will no doubt bear the brunt of this. Fortunately for me I have access to medicine, many do not.

Nepal is one country WaterAid works in to redress this balance and whilst I won't be directly doing any work for WaterAid in Nepal this will be at the back of my mind.

WaterAid's work in Nepal

I have no doubt whatsoever that this trip will be amazing. Absolutely stunning. Breathtaking. Fancinating. I could go on .... ( and will when I return :) )

I'm going to have an absolutely fantastic time, but it seems appropriate at this time of year to say 'least we not forget'



My itinerary:

DAY 1: Depart , fly to Kathmandu
DAY 2: Arrive Kathmandu, transfer to hotel in Thamel area
DAY 3: Tour around Kathmandu
Day 4: Stunning early flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, gateway to the Everest region
DAY 5: Trek Namche Hill and on to Namche itself
DAY 6: A rest day in Namche; explore the markets and acclimatise
DAY 7-9: Namche to Dingboche (4100m) including an acclimatisation day
DAY 10-12: Dingboche to Lobuche and on to the highest point at Kalapata(5545m)
DAY 13-15: Lukla, via Pengboche, home to Khumbu’s oldest gompa, and yeti relics
DAY 16: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
DAY 17: Free day in Kathmandu
DAY 18: Depart Kathmandu
DAY 19: Arrive London

See you in Nepal !

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