Bristol to Base Camp is our annual campaign that has been running since 2019. On the 22nd of March, our 2023 campaign team set off from the UK to Kathmandu to begin the challenge. They will be embarking on a 20-day round-trip journey to Mount Everest Base Camp to raise funds for PHASE Worldwide so that we can continue to support Rural Nepali communities through health, education, and agricultural projects. Each member is aiming to raise £5,364, which is £1 for every metre climbed! They won’t be doing it alone though, they are supported by our trekking partners at Jagged Globe alongside local guides, staying in lodges run by local sherpa families.
We wanted to give you an update on the team’s progress so far and some pictures of the trip alongside an overview of the itinerary for the rest of the trip.
We have 6 people completing our Bristol to Base Camp challenge this year. This includes Nick Cragg, Chair of Trustees here at PHASE Worldwide; Sam Robinson, Ryan Gledhill, Alexander Chiu, Bethan Hall, and Dawn Limbu. So far, they have raised an amazing £27,146 of the £32,000 target thanks to their hard work and dedication to raising money for PHASE Worldwide!
The team left Heathrow Airport on the 22nd of March and will be returning to the UK on the 10th of April 2023. This is the itinerary they will be following, including some pictures of the parts of the journey they have completed as of the 2nd of April!
Day 1-2: The team travelled from London Heathrow on the 22nd of March, and safely landed in Kathmandu the following morning, before spending some time recovering from the journey
Day 3: This was a chance for the team to relax from the flight and prepare to start the trek. The team also visited our partner PHASE Nepal’s office to have lunch with their team and learn more about the work they are fundraising to support!
Day 4: A long day of travel – they drove to Ramechhap, flew to Lukla and had their first experience of trekking to Phakding. On this day the team gained 2,610m of elevation and officially started their trek to Everest Base Camp
Day 5: The first day of heading along the trail. Following along the Dudh Kosi river, they made it to the Khumbu National Park entrance. After gaining 800m elevation to 3,400m, the team were rewarded by arriving to Namche Bazaar – the capital town of the Khumbu region where you can try Yak Steak or visit the highest and most remote Irish pub in the world!
Image 1: The team at the National Park Entrance.
Day 6: The team had 3 nights of acclimatisation in Namche, including daily walks to higher altitudes to acclimatise to the altitude, as this helps the later parts of the trek. In the morning the team walked up 500m to the Everest View Hotel, before coming back down to experience the local markets and culture of Namche Bazaar.
Image 2: Nick, Day 11 on the way to Lobuje.
Day 7: Another acclimatisation day, in which the team walked to the Sherpa village of Thame, the hometown of the ‘Super Sherpa’, Apa Sherpa, who has summitted Everest 21 times! Then it was back down to the lodge in Namche for the final night of acclimatisation. Whilst in Namche the team are facing temperatures as low as –3 degrees Celsius, with highs of 7 degrees Celsius.
Day 8: Early in the morning, the team headed straight onto the main Everest trail out of Namche. They did the steep climb up to Thyangboche Monastery, the region’s most important monastery, for a break before dropping down to the lodge in Deboche. On this day 300m of elevation were gained.
Image 3: The team at Thyangboche Monastery.
Day 9: On day 9, they trekked to the high altitude of 4,410m to the picturesque farming village of Dingboche with a stop to admire Ama Dablam (Mother’s Charm Box). Once in Dingboche, they met Pemba, a local Sherpa, who has summitted Everest 4 times! They sat around his Yak Stove and listened to his tales of his climbs.
Image 4: The team in Dingboche, where they met Pemba, a local Sherpa who has summited Everest four times.
Day 10: A day of high-altitude acclimatisation to prepare the team for the ascent to the upper Khumbu Valley and approach to Base Camp. About an hour’s walk away is the town of Pherriche, where the Himalayan Rescue Association gives daily talks on altitude and how to best acclimatise to make the journey as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Image 5: The team in Dingboche with Sherpas, warming up around a Yak Fire.
Day 11: After having time to acclimatise, the team will leave Dingboche and trek to Lobuje, which sits at an elevation of 4940m. On the way, they will stop at the Sherpa memorial, before settling down at the lodges in Lobuje. Our latest update is that they have reached Lobuje and are preparing for the climb to EBC in the next few days.
Image 6: The team ready to embark on the 1000ft assimilation trek before heading back to Namche Bazaar.
Day 12: The trek to Everest Base Camp! On day 12, the team will drop their things off at a lodge in Gorak Shep and then make the 1 hour and 40-minute-long trek to Base Camp. This will take them to an altitude of 5,600m
Day 13: There are two options for day 13, the team can either climb to Kalar Pattar to watch dawn or sunset; or can take a second opportunity to visit base camp before they start making their way back to Lobuje.
Day 14: The team retrace their steps down the Khumbu Valley, stopping in Pherriche for lunch and staying in Pangboche for the evening. Nearby there is a Buddhist gompa that they can visit to see traditional Sherpa homes.
Image 7: Sherpa guides.
Day 15: To see a more authentic side to people’s lives in the area, the team will spend a night in Khumjang, where many locals make a living from agriculture like those involved in our work in Rural Far West Nepal.
Day 16: Rather than going directly back onto the trekker’s route to Namche, the team has the opportunity to visit the local hospital in Khunde to support the improvement of the indigenous locals’ medical welfare. Afterwards, they will arrive in Phakding, which is the first night on the outbound trek.
Day 17: This day is a day of easy trekking back to Lukla, with various tea shops along the way. The team will get to experience Nepalese village life one final time as they celebrate the end of the trip and say goodbye to the Sherpas who guided them along the way.
Image 8: The team on the way to Lobuje.
Day 18: Travelling back to Kathmandu.
Day 19: A day to rest after the trek, the team has the chance to visit local temples or the old city of Bhaktapur.
Day 20: Flying back to London! The team will touch down at Heathrow on the 10th of April after completing the trip.
At the time of writing this update, the team are in Lobuje so will be approaching Base Camp in the next few days. We look forward to bringing you more pictures and updates of the team’s progress as they continue the campaign. If you would like to donate to the fundraiser, there is still time to donate to the fundraising page here.
A huge thank you to all of those who have donated to the campaign so far! Your donations are helping us continue to provide vital services to families in Rural Nepal.
If you would like to support the work of PHASE Worldwide and help us to continue empowering people living in isolated regions of Nepal the best way to do so is through regular giving. Even the smallest amount a month can make a huge difference. As a regular supporter you will receive exclusive updates and will become part of the PHASE family. You can set up your regular gift easily and securely online.
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