In 2015 I returned to Nepal on another Mount Everest expedition with Tim Mosedale, along with Ellis, David and Aeneas. We arrived in base camp on the 17th April after trekking in over three weeks, crossing the Renjo La pass and climbing Gokyo Ri.
After an early familiarisation visit in the Khumbu Icefall we left base camp early on the 25th April to make our first rotation to stay at Camp 1 (6,050m) for one night before spending a few nights at Camp 2 (6,400m). Whilst in the Western Cwm, about 30 mins from Camp 1, the Nepal earthquake struck.
With most of the team already at Camp 1, I was alone when a powder avalanche hit the Western Cwm below. Fortunately we were unharmed but our team of 12 were now trapped at Camp 1 whilst base camp below was devastated by a much bigger avalanche, triggered by the earthquake. We were evacuated to base camp by helicopter two days later. Sadly three of our team, cook Pasang Temba Sherpa, cook assistant Kumar Rai and climbing Sherpa, Tenzing, in the avalanche at base camp that took 21 lives in total.
We spent 2 days at base camp assisting with the clean up before trekking down to Lukla and returning to the UK.
Mount Everest 2015 Earthquake: What really happened
Settling in at Everest Base Camp
Living the dream
Hitting the trail
Found a way and made one.
Seven Days!
A day in the life of an Everest climber-to-be…
Reviewed: the Invisible Tent
Ice ice baby…
No snow? Never mind – there’s plenty on Everest…
The Everest dream remains afloat!