From Southwell to Everest

Local resident and climber, Stewart Millar from Southwell recently braved the inclement weather in Nepal to reach Everest Base Camp, raising funds for the Helumbu Schools Project and the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team in Scotland.

The expedition team set out from Kathmandu flying into the notorious Lukla airport before making the climb to Everest. The team experienced the tail end of the storm that killed many people in Annapurna and had to retreat from their attempt to climb Goyko Ri and the Cho La pass at over 17,000 feet due to blizzard conditions.

The team after descending and changing route reached Everest Base Camp on Saturday 18th October and later attempted a second climb on Ama Dablam which stands at some 6,318 metres in the Khumba region of the Himalayas. After returning from the climb, Stewart was fortunate to meet Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmund Hillary in Lukla before flying back to Kathmandu.

The Union Jack and St Andrew’s Cross flags were flown at Everest Base camp after family and friends had written good luck messages including patrons of The Coach House in Southwell where the Union Jack was displayed before the expedition. Both the Union Jack and the St. Andrews Cross were presented to the schoolchildren on the team’s visit the school’s project in Helumbu.

The team is still raising funds for both the Helumbu schools project in Nepal and the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team in Scotland – you can make a donation at one of the following ‘JustGiving’ sites:

Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team – www.justgiving.com/smillar-everest

Helumbu Project, Nepal – www.justgiving.com/smillar10summersleft

Stewart and the expedition team would like to thank everyone for their generous donations to the charities.