Latest news with #trekking
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Dog bite and gorge fall - man's 8,000-mile Andes trek
Despite falling unconscious into a gorge, being bitten by a dog and getting mugged by a machete-wielding gang, Ollie Treviso walked more than 8,000 miles across the Andes in South America. The 29-year-old from Swansea trekked through seven countries from the southernmost point of Argentina to the Caribbean sea in Venezuela. "I'll never forget that feeling on the first day thinking, what have you done? I had a whole continent ahead of me, I had barely any money, I couldn't speak the language. It all felt so daunting to me," he said. He said he was motivated to take on the "life-changing" challenge following a "dark period" due to the loss of a family member. Marathon world record for teen with Down's syndrome The Welsh explorer who put Canada on the map Flurry of Welsh world records broken on St David's Day The novice adventurer set out with the ambition to raise funds and awareness for mental health charity Mind. But he said three months of preparation was not necessarily enough to fully prepare him for the adventure. From "hostile winds" and "bitterly cold" temperatures in the south of the continent to a tropical climate in the north, he said he had to "learn the hard way". His journey was tracked using a satellite phone which sent a signal every 30 minutes so people knew of his whereabouts. "I'm just a normal guy from an estate in Swansea and I wanted to show that normal people can do these massive adventures," said Mr Treviso. About 100 days into his journey he faced his first life-threatening situation after falling into a gorge in a remote part of Patagonia. "I lost my footing, slipped into a gorge, and I was dangling above a rock. I managed to jam my walking pole into part of the gorge," he said. "As I've gone to pull myself up, I've slipped, hit the floor and lost consciousness. I don't know for how long." Despite feeling "delusional", he managed to escape with a fractured foot and a "busted jaw" and walked more than 24 hours to the nearest village. "There have been so many challenges and dark days. I got some news from back home that my grandmother, who is by far the most important person in my life, had cancer, which really wiped me out emotionally." In Columbia, he experienced several setbacks and a few dangerous situations. After recovering from dengue fever, he was bitten by a dog and had hospital treatment. Soon after that he was mugged by three men carrying a machete and knives who took some of his money and his mobile phone. But Mr Treviso said giving up on his walk was "never an option" and for every bad thing that happened there was an even greater amount of kindness. "At times I had 30 or 40 [local] people walking with me in a day because they wanted to share. "At one point, over the course of 55 nights, I slept in 40 houses. I got given a bed 40 times. Bonkers, it's just incredible." As he neared the end of his journey, the final border crossing from Columbia into Venezuela was something he had been dreading for some time. He said: "I've had hundreds of messages of people telling me it is suicide. I'm sitting in this cafe in Columbia and seeing this headline saying this is the most dangerous place in the world and I was feeling sick in my stomach." He continued along the road towards the border, when a car pulled up and a man offered to help. "It was the place that gave me the biggest headache, really drained me thinking what am I going to do when I get there? Then there I am sharing pizza with this family in one of the most dangerous places in the world. "I just thought this is absolutely unbelievable. It just goes to show there are so many dangerous places in this world with a lot of bad things happening, but there are so many good people, so many brilliant people, amidst this chaos who want to help you out." Mr Treviso was joined by his father and brother during a "very emotional" final leg of the journey to the Caribbean coast. On his return to Wales, he plans to try to get his Andes walk officially recognised as the furthest anyone has gone on foot across the world's longest mountain range. He also hopes to continue to do work in his community with a local mental health charity before deciding on his next adventure. He said: "Life can be so short. I've lost a few friends due to mental health and I know it's a growing issue in the UK, particularly in men. "I just felt that this was my purpose and the way things worked out for me, the help I received when I needed it most just showed me I was doing the right thing." Cystic fibrosis didn't stop me rowing the Atlantic Hardest Geezer finishes running length of New Zealand Hardest Geezer: Runner completes Africa challenge


BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Swansea man believed first to scale Andes through seven countries
Despite falling unconscious into a gorge, being bitten by a dog and getting mugged by a machete-wielding gang, Ollie Treviso walked more than 8,000 miles across the Andes in South 29-year-old from Swansea trekked through seven countries from the southernmost point of Argentina to the Caribbean sea in Venezuela."I'll never forget that feeling on the first day thinking, what have you done? I had a whole continent ahead of me, I had barely any money, I couldn't speak the language. It all felt so daunting to me," he said he was motivated to take on the "life-changing" challenge following a "dark period" due to the loss of a family member. The novice adventurer set out with the ambition to raise funds and awareness for mental health charity he said three months of preparation was not necessarily enough to fully prepare him for the "hostile winds" and "bitterly cold" temperatures in the south of the continent to a tropical climate in the north, he said he had to "learn the hard way".His journey was tracked using a satellite phone which sent a signal every 30 minutes so people knew of his whereabouts."I'm just a normal guy from an estate in Swansea and I wanted to show that normal people can do these massive adventures," said Mr Treviso. About 100 days into his journey he faced his first life-threatening situation after falling into a gorge in a remote part of Patagonia."I lost my footing, slipped into a gorge, and I was dangling above a rock. I managed to jam my walking pole into part of the gorge," he said."As I've gone to pull myself up, I've slipped, hit the floor and lost consciousness. I don't know for how long."Despite feeling "delusional", he managed to escape with a fractured foot and a "busted jaw" and walked more than 24 hours to the nearest village."There have been so many challenges and dark days. I got some news from back home that my grandmother, who is by far the most important person in my life, had cancer, which really wiped me out emotionally." In Columbia, he experienced several setbacks and a few dangerous recovering from dengue fever, he was bitten by a dog and had hospital treatment. Soon after that he was mugged by three men carrying a machete and knives who took some of his money and his mobile Mr Treviso said giving up on his walk was "never an option" and for every bad thing that happened there was an even greater amount of kindness."At times I had 30 or 40 [local] people walking with me in a day because they wanted to share. "At one point, over the course of 55 nights, I slept in 40 houses. I got given a bed 40 times. Bonkers, it's just incredible." As he neared the end of his journey, the final border crossing from Columbia into Venezuela was something he had been dreading for some said: "I've had hundreds of messages of people telling me it is suicide. I'm sitting in this cafe in Columbia and seeing this headline saying this is the most dangerous place in the world and I was feeling sick in my stomach."He continued along the road towards the border, when a car pulled up and a man offered to help."It was the place that gave me the biggest headache, really drained me thinking what am I going to do when I get there? Then there I am sharing pizza with this family in one of the most dangerous places in the world. "I just thought this is absolutely unbelievable. It just goes to show there are so many dangerous places in this world with a lot of bad things happening, but there are so many good people, so many brilliant people, amidst this chaos who want to help you out." Mr Treviso was joined by his father and brother during a "very emotional" final leg of the journey to the Caribbean his return to Wales, he plans to try to get his Andes walk officially recognised as the furthest anyone has gone on foot across the world's longest mountain also hopes to continue to do work in his community with a local mental health charity before deciding on his next said: "Life can be so short. I've lost a few friends due to mental health and I know it's a growing issue in the UK, particularly in men. "I just felt that this was my purpose and the way things worked out for me, the help I received when I needed it most just showed me I was doing the right thing."


Travel Daily News
6 days ago
- General
- Travel Daily News
The best treks in the Everest region: Ama Dablam to the Three Passes
Among all the treks in the Everest region, the Everest Three Passes trek is regularly considered the most challenging and fulfilling. It's a high-altitude circuit that interfaces the major valleys of the Khumbu region while crossing three major mountain passes—Kongma La (5,535m), Cho La (5,420m), and Renjo La (5,360m). The Everest region, domestic to the towering Mt. Everest (8,848.86 meters), is an arrival of awe-inspiring peaks, antiquated Sherpa culture, and world-renowned trekking trails. Trekkers from over the globe are drawn to this region not as it were for the excitement of standing in the shadow of the most noteworthy mountain on Soil but too for the wealthy embroidered artwork of scenes, sacrosanct cloisters, and the warm neighborliness of the good country communities. Among the numerous courses accessible, three treks stand out for advertising unmistakably mesmerizing encounters: the Everest Three Passes trek, the Ama Dablam Base Camp trek, and the Everest view trek. Each of these trails offers an interesting adventure—ranging from brief and picturesque climbs to high-altitude snow capped intersections. Together, they speak to the exceptionally best of trekking in the Everest region. Introduction to Everest region Trekking The Solukhumbu region, frequently alluded to as the Khumbu, is the door to a few of Nepal's most famous trekking courses. Its sensational view incorporates profound stream valleys, hanging icy masses, forested trails, and all encompassing views of a few of the world's tallest peaks—Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, and Makalu. Along with the dazzling scenes, the region is domestic to the Sherpa individuals, whose otherworldly and social ties to the arrival include a significant measurement to each trek. Whether you are a prepared high-altitude trekker or a traveler looking for a guide experience, the trails of the Everest region cater to all levels. The Everest Three Passes trek Among all the treks in the Everest region, the Everest Three Passes trek is regularly considered the most challenging and fulfilling. It's a high-altitude circuit that interfaces the major valleys of the Khumbu region while crossing three major mountain passes—Kongma La (5,535m), Cho La (5,420m), and Renjo La (5,360m). These passes connect the prevalent Everest Base Camp course with Gokyo Lakes and the inaccessible upper valleys close to Chhukhung and Thame. The trek regularly starts with a flight into Lukla, taken after by days of rising through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Dingboche. The to begin with pass, Kongma La, offers unimaginable views of Nuptse and Makalu some time recently slipping to Lobuche and proceeding to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar for the extreme Everest perspective. After EBC, the course veers west over the frigid Cho La Pass to reach the quiet Gokyo Lakes—a sacrosanct arrangement of turquoise lakes settled underneath Cho Oyu. The last pass, Renjo La, conveys an exceptional all encompassing vista some time recently slipping to Thame and rejoining the fundamental Everest trail. This trek requests physical continuance, acclimatization, and mental durability, but rewards trekkers with unmatched elevated view, less swarmed trails, and a sense of genuine Himalayan immersion. The Ama Dablam Base Camp trek Often eclipsed by its greater kin, Ama Dablam (6,812m) is considered by many to be the most excellent mountain in the Himalayas. The Ama Dablam Base Camp trek is a tolerably challenging experience that gives a more insinuated and less-traveled travel into the Everest region. It is idealized for trekkers who need to maintain a strategic distance from the tall heights and term of the Three Passes trek but still look for extraordinary mountain views and social insights. The course takes after the classic Everest path to Namche Bazaar, at that point branches off toward Pangboche, one of the most viewsonic Sherpa towns in the region. From here, the path climbs steeply up to the peaceful Ama Dablam Base Camp at around 4,600 meters, advertising dazzling views of the pyramid-shaped top and encompassing mammoths like Lhotse and Everest in the distance. Unlike more commercialized courses, this trek gives a calmer encounter and a chance to reflect in the midst of perfect nature. The visit to Tengboche Religious community, the most critical otherworldly center in Khumbu, includes a profound measurement to the experience. The mix of social inundation, less-trodden ways, and vicinity to a photogenic Himalayan peak makes the Ama Dablam Base Camp trek a covered up gem. The Everest view trek For those brief on time or not prepared for the requests of high-altitude trekking, the Everest view trek offers a superb elective. This trek captures the pitch of the Khumbu region in a compact schedule, ordinarily enduring 5–7 days. Beginning from Lukla, the path winds its way through the rich Dudh Koshi Valley some time recently coming to Namche Bazaar, the exuberant center of the Sherpa heartland. From Namche, trekkers climb to the Everest view Lodging, found at 3,880 meters. As its title proposes, this lodging boasts breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. The highlight of the trek is not the fair view but moreover the chance to involve Sherpa culture through visits to towns like Khumjung and Phortse. Because of its generally moderate elevation and shorter term, the Everest view trek is perfect for families, apprentices, and travelers looking for a loose encounter in the Himalayas. It moreover makes for an amazing acclimatization trip some time recently endeavoring longer treks in the region. Shared Highlights: What Makes These Treks Special Despite their distinctive levels of trouble and term, these three treks share a few common highlights that make them favorites among trekkers: Panoramic Mountain views: Each course conveys jaw-dropping views of the Everest run, counting Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse, and Lhotse. Sherpa Culture: From supplication banners and mani dividers to cloisters and chortens, you'll witness a dynamic otherworldly and social scene formed by Tibetan Buddhism. Diverse Trails: From rhododendron woodlands and frigid moraines to snow capped lakes and frigid passes, the normal assortment keeps each day of the trek outwardly new and rewarding. Teahouse Consolation: Indeed in farther valleys, warm and cozy teahouses give dinners, shields, and a put to share stories with individual trekkers from around the world. When to Go: Best viewsons for Everest region Treks The two primary trekking viewsons in the Everest region are spring (Walk to May) and harvest time (September to November). Amid these times, the skies are for the most part clear, the temperatures are guide, and the mountain views are unobstructed. Spring offers blooming rhododendrons and mellow climate, perfect for photography and longer treks like the Three Passes. Autumn brings steady conditions and marvelous clarity, making it the most well known time for trekking to Ama Dablam Base Camp or Everest Viewpoints. While winter (December–February) sees less swarms and fresh views, the cold can be extreme and a few passes may be closed due to snow. Rainstorm (June–August) trekking is debilitated due to overwhelming downpours and landslides. Fitness and Planning: Getting Prepared for the Trails Your wellness level ought to adjust with the trek you choose: Three Passes trek: Requests tall continuance, past high-altitude trekking involvement, and the capacity to handle long days of climbing at heights over 5,000 meters. Ama Dablam Base Camp trek: guide wellness is adequate; the path incorporates unfaltering climbs and acclimatization days. Everest view trek: Fundamental wellness is sufficient; it's perfect for those modern to trekking. Regardless of the trek, legitimate acclimatization, hydration, and layered clothing are significant. Contracting a nearby guide or watchman not as it were underpins the nearby economy but moreover upgrades your security and experience. Responsible Trekking and Sustainability As the ubiquity of the Everest region proceeds to develop, so does the significance of dependable trekking. Trekkers are energized to: Use refillable water bottles instead of buying plastic bottles. Stay in eco-friendly lodges that prioritize sustainability. Follow the Take off No Follow standards to ensure the delicate snow capped environment. Respect nearby traditions and culture, particularly in devout destinations like cloisters and stupas. Choosing the Right trek for You Adventurer or Elevated Master? The Three Passes trek is the extreme test of perseverance and high-altitude trekking skill. Nature Significant other and Picture taker? The Ama Dablam Base Camp trek offers postcard-perfect views with less crowds. First-Time Trekker or Family Traveler? The Everest view trek is your portal to Himalayan enchantment without the physical strain. You can indeed combine these treks or amplify your travel by counting side trips to Gokyo Ri, Island peak, or Thame for a more comprehensive Himalayan experience. Final Considerations Trekking in the Everest region is not fair around coming to a destination—it's approximately the travel itself. It's almost the early morning alpenglow on snow-capped peaks, the sound of yak chimes resounding through the valleys, the warmth of butter tea in a Sherpa kitchen, and the stillness of a starlit Himalayan night. Whether you cross tall passes, look at Ama Dablam's rich edges, or taste coffee with Everest in location, each path offers a one of a kind opportunity to interface with the mountains, the culture, and yourself. From the elevated passes of the Three Passes trek to the otherworldly excellence of Ama Dablam and the available charm of the Everest view course, these treks offer something for everybody. In this arrival where legends climb and supplication banners shudder on the wind, your enterprise awaits—one step at a time. FAQs 1. How troublesome is the Everest Three Passes Trek? It is one of the most challenging treks in Nepal, including long days, tall elevations, and specialized passes. 2. Is the Ama Dablam Base Camp trek reasonable for beginners? Yes, with guide wellness and legitimate acclimatization, this trek is open and rewarding. 3. What's the best brief trek in the Everest region? The Everest view trek is perfect for short-duration travel with awesome mountain views. 4. Do I require grants for these treks? Yes, you require the Sagarmatha National park Section Allow and the Khumbu Country District Allow for all treks in the region. 5. Can I do these treks without a guide? While conceivable, contracting a guide is exceedingly suggested for security, social knowledge, and navigation—especially on the Three Passes trek.


BBC News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Salt Path: Melton woman who inspired film relives emotions
A woman who travelled across the South West Coastal Path with her terminally ill husband has said a film depicting their journey took her "right back" to those difficult Winn, a writer who grew up on a farm in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, said she lost her dream home in Wales in 2013 after a financial dispute just days after her husband Moth was diagnosed with Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD), a rare brain nothing to lose, the couple set off on a 630-mile trek from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and journey across England's largest uninterrupted path has now been made into a film - The Salt Path - featuring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. "As we were preparing to leave the house, and the bailiffs were knocking at the door, we were hiding under the stairs. We were not ready to go," Mrs Winn said."It was in those last moments that I saw a book about someone who had walked the coastal path with their dog."In that desperate time, it just seemed like the most obvious thing to do. All we wanted to do was pack our bags and take a walk." Five years on from the adventure, in 2018, Mrs Winn released her memoir entitled The Salt received nationwide acclaim, and was shortlisted for the 2018 Wainwright Prize, an award that celebrates travel-based writing."We had nowhere to go. We knew that when we stepped out of the door, we were going to be homeless."Moth's illness had no treatment, or no cure. I was drawn to following a line on the map. It gave us a purpose, and that's what it was all about." 'Huge in emotion' Just a few months after her book was published, Mrs Winn said she was approached by a producer and filming of 'The Salt Path' started in the summer of 2023."It makes no sense. I remember the day we met. There was a knock at the door, and there was Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs outside."They told me to put the kettle on. That's not what is supposed to happen to a girl from Melton Mowbray," she Winn said the film took her "straight back to those emotions that were so difficult". "The producer and director have created something that's sparse in dialogue."It's huge in emotion and it urges anyone to focus on the now. Just focus on now and all will turn out differently tomorrow," she said.

Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Flat whites and underfloor heating: How I got to Everest Base Camp in complete comfort
I'd always been puzzled by the idea of trying to reach the bottom of a mountain, rather than the top. Yet Everest Base Camp seduces thousands each year. On a mission to understand why, I set out from Lukla. At 2,860m, Lukla is the legendary gateway for trekkers and climbers heading off to sight – and sometimes summit – the highest Himalayan peaks. Lukla is not connected by road to anywhere; however, the flight from Kathmandu is one of the world's greatest (and most dangerous), weaving between snowy peaks landing at a short, steep runway. I arrived in high season (April to June), and the tiny airport, named Tenzing-Hillary, was abuzz with Twin Otters and helicopters. The highest point on the planet On arrival, most trekkers start walking immediately. But, I was travelling with Mountain Lodges of Nepal, with a less frantic schedule. We had time for an alfresco breakfast at their nearby hotel before setting off. It felt good to be on the trail, walking poles in hand, pack on back, moving in a steady rhythm, one boot after another, at times on stone paths, at others on packed earth. There were trekkers moving in both directions – the ones facing me visibly weary after their two-week journey to Everest Base Camp. Columns of donkeys and jhopkya (a yak-cow cross) bore saddle bags, often strapped with cooking gas cylinders. I was most struck by the porters though, often no broader than me, carrying unwieldy weights — wooden doors and window frames, and heavy-duty gas pipes — up to 140kg. I hardly dared utter ' namaste ' for fear of distracting them. Then, there were the surroundings: below, teal glacial rivers charging through valleys strung with suspension bridges like bunting, and rising above us, the monumental peaks. I imagined the motivation for this journey might be revealed slowly, at walking pace, but in fact, I almost instantly understood the allure of where I was. I recalled books I'd read as a child — from George Mallory to Dervla Murphy to Jan Morris. This journey felt like an homage to those writers, even more so the Sherpas, mountaineers, merchants and monks, who have navigated this range. The trail to Everest Base Camp is about engaging with the most significant trekking route in the world, its Sherpa and Buddhist culture, history of exploration, and our enduring fascination with the highest point on the planet. Hot showers, underfloor heating and helicopter hotlines For decades, the route to Everest has been for the hardcore but it is now opening up to others. Mountain Lodges of Nepal has been operating for over 30 years but they've recently upgraded their properties, and opened a handsome new one in Deboche, nearly halfway along the trail. Yet for me, it wasn't the hot showers, underfloor heating, good food and thoughtful service; what their skilful itinerary offered was the gift of time – to pause for longer in Sherpa villages, monasteries and museums, and to speak at length with locals. Trips like these can end up a scramble with early wake-up calls, rushed repacking, and back-to-back acclimatisation treks. Then, the weather closes in, or someone feels unwell, and all plans change. But we had extensive back-up support, a number of guides on call, even hotlines to helicopters, which allowed for greater flexibility. The Goretex generation I took advantage of this time and space, chatting to the chair of the Khumbyula Women's Group, an organisation of women in the Khumbu's villages who look after local affairs. 'We have a lot of families to help, disputes to settle, villages to keep clean, mani walls (Buddhist structures) to maintain,' Dolma Dekyi Sherpa told me. Another day, I met 78 year-old Angphuba Sherpa, up a ladder painting his house; his first mountain was Annapurna in 1969. 'Back then, we had leather boots and cotton tents, now there's Goretex,' he said, with a toothless smile. Many of the old Sherpas speak excellent English because of their time with British and international expeditions. 'I know foreign people want a quiet place when they come here, but we want a busy place. 'If lots of people come here, my grandchildren don't need to go to Europe to make money leaving only old people in the village.' I met another Sherpa with blistered cheeks coming down from Everest. 'Where are you heading?' I asked, imagining he'd say 'home'. 'K2,' he replied, with a grin. It was these moments that stood out, not to mention the many hot chocolates and apple pies I ordered en route at teahouses with reliable Wi-Fi, where I'd search up migrant birds and identified some purple blooms as primula denticulata. The Everest Base Camp trek is not about going off-grid, it is about connecting in more ways than one. 'Losing our way of life' Case in point is the former trading post of Namche Bazaar, now a high-altitude global village with baristas pouring flat whites, mountain gear shops and an Irish pub. As I approached the bowl of pretty coloured houses, I stood amazed at how this settlement had been built on the backs of men hauling everything in, from bags of cement to lengths of rebar. Here, I whiled hours away at the Sherpa Culture Museum. 'I saw we were losing our way of life, that's why I built this,' founder Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa told me. My own guide, Pasang Tshiring Sherpa was documented here, the second Nepali to climb K2. I also visited Sagarmatha Next, an art space and hub of waste management. 'Until 15 years ago, Everest had a reputation for being a dumping ground,' co-founder Tom Gustafsson told me. 'Then we had some major clean ups, the Carry Me Back initiative to get rubbish off the mountain.' The trail is near-immaculate, well managed by local NGO, Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee. On Mount Everest itself, they told me there is still trash to be brought down, such as tarpaulin and tent poles; they're testing cargo drones, set to be a game-changer. Day on day, we climbed, becoming familiar with the thinning air. We rose up above rhododendron forests, hearing prayer flags beating in the wind, spotting shaggy Himalayan tahr on precarious ledges and the electric blue flash of a Himalayan Monal pheasant. There had been some exhilarating routes, confronting the stony face of Ama Dablam, jagged Lhotse, and Everest with its flick of snow signifying high winds at the summit. Welcome to Base Camp I wondered if it was the journey hooking me, not the destination. Yet I fell for Everest Base Camp; at 5,364m, it felt like the closest I might get to a lunar station with its geodesic domes, solar arrays and tunnel tents among the otherworldly ice and moraine. Different camps are marked by national flags and banners. Helicopters whirred in and out of the two heli pads, yet not drowning out the ding-dongs of yaks' bells. Beneath my boots, the glacier was alive, cracking and groaning. By night, tucked into my sleeping bag, I heard avalanches and icefalls, while I snuggled my hot water bottle. I unzipped the tent to look at the stars, inhaling the clean tight air, to see a chain of head torches ascending the Khumbu Icefall off to the summit. Some argue the Everest Base Camp trek has become too busy, but I didn't find it so. Trekkers should not come to find serenity but to find energy. Still, there have been efforts to rein in numbers by mandating guides; requiring proof of climbing experience; capping helicopter landings. The latter was pertinent to my own itinerary, with two helicopter flights, including back to Lukla. These hybrid heli-hiking trips can allow for a slower pace on the ground though, more bonding with Sherpa teams and the community. The greatest challenge coming for us all is the climate crisis, of course. Many of my conversations with Sherpas were about the shrinking glacier, drier conditions and the fragile future of climbing. This felt more a pilgrimage than a trek, and an ephemeral one at that. How to do it The Ultimate Travel Company has a 14-night Everest in Comfort trip from £7,485 per person, including international flights from London to Katmandu with Qatar Airways, private airport transfers, three nights at The Dwarika's Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast, one day private sightseeing in the capital with an English speaking guide.