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One of my great loves in life is climbing, which started over 15 years ago and led to some fantastic adventures. I've worked at Ellis Brigham for a total of six years, across a variety of roles from in-store to customer service, and now in despatch, where I handle international deliveries.
I first visited the Annapurna region in 2015, hoping to climb Tharpu Chuli. But with limited preparation and experience, we had to turn back. That trip came early in my climbing career, and looking back, I can see just how underprepared I was for the demands of the Himalayas. What I did discover was a love for Nepal and its incredible mountains. I promised myself I’d return one day.
Now, nine years later, I finally did. This time, I convinced my climbing partner Joe to come along, and together we set our sights on the Khumbu Valley. There, we found Kyajo Ri—a striking peak surrounded by the highest mountains on Earth. It offered exactly what we were looking for: a challenging alpine climb, ambitious but within reach.
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The next day, we boarded our Yeti Air flight, ready for a white-knuckle ride to Lukla. Known as one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to its short runway, steep slope, and precarious location.
The atmosphere in the cabin was tense, thick with apprehension. We flew up a narrow gorge with towering walls on either side, Lukla just visible in the distance. Landing was imminent. The cabin held its breath. With a few bounces, we rolled up the steep runway—and were met with a round of applause for the pilots.
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We were treated to a warm meal and a very roomy tent at camp. We took a much-needed rest day to recover and acclimatise. The weather was holding, with only light snow forecast. Most of the day passed in and out of the tent, reading and chatting with the basecamp team. Over the radio, we heard the group ahead had summited and would be returning the next day.
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Encouraged by our lodge host, a former climbing Sherpa with ascents of Cho Oyu and Mount Everest to his name, we felt confident this was a good plan. Making the most of the rest day, we soaked up Khumjung’s sights, including the temple with the famed yeti scalp, feeling hopeful again.
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I spent the afternoon in constant pain and glued to the toilet, surviving on Dioralyte and sheer willpower. After speaking with our friend Andy T, a seasoned Himalayan climber and ex-doctor back in the UK, we visited the Pangboche clinic the next day based on his recommendation. The doctor prescribed a strong mix of medications, and I committed to a full rest day. That evening, I slowly began to come alive again and joined Joe and Firos in the common room for a small dinner. While I stayed close to bed, Joe hiked to Ama Dablam basecamp, and we reunited that evening to swap stories.
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Having taken in the moment, we finally returned to Lobuche again to decide on our next steps. The plan was to climb Lobuche East, but I was worse than ever. spent most of the day in bed while Joe, still inexplicably healthy, kept the energy up for the rest of us. Climbing felt like a distant dream, and for now, all we could do was rest.
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After a gruelling climb, we reached a rocky terrace at 5,300m and set up camp, securing the tent against the wind. Though we were burning energy fast, the altitude killed our appetites; my rehydrated chicken tikka was hard to stomach, but Joe kept me going. We drank as much as we could, crawled into the tent, and set alarms for 2 am. The summit push lay ahead.
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Each year, members of the team can apply for an Expedition Grant to help them do what they love the most.
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