'Everest' Lecture

(l-r)Alan Mitchell, Emily Bromage,Edward Green,Andy Chapman,Peter Howle and Daisy Ticker

He talked the pupils through the different stages of acclimatisation needed over several weeks to be able to get to the summit and the equipment needed (8,000 kg with eight yaks carrying it all). Andy also explained how there were only a few weeks of the year that it is possible to attempt an ascent as the mountain is so high in the jetstream.

He showed humour and determination and said that '...although his choice of career as a mountaineer was dangerous, he wouldn't miss it for the world"

The photographs that he had taken showed in great detail how they got across the glacier on ladders set up by Ice Fall Doctors and how important the team of sherpas were to the groups ascent. The four sherpas accompanying them are part of a family of seven brothers who between them have ascended Everest  forty-eight times.

Andy has not been resting. He has just returned from climbing Mount Kenya and has plans for several other expeditions this year to Bolivia, Scotland and India. Indeed he hopes to return to Everest to lead an expedition himself.

This was a very memorable talk and as Andy said mountaineering is all about 'time and patience'.

Please click on his Everest expedition for more details of his climb.