My childhood dreams were to represent the UK, cycling at the Olympics, or climb the highest mountains in the world.

I have missed the London Olympic cycling team for 2012, but still want to challenge myself in the spirit of the Olympic moto: Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger).

On March 30th I will begin my journey to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patar in the Himalayas. I aim to reach a maximum height of 5554m or 18,200 feet where there will be half the amount of oxygen available in Cheshire.

I will be trekking for two weeks and will be posting pictures and diary entries on this blog, to record my journey and share my experiences with my wife Jill, my family & friends and the Hartford Manor Community.

Alongside the trek I hope to raise money for the "Make a Wish Foundation", who will be supporting one of our Year 6 pupils, Alfie Rogers, and his family. Alfie wishes to visit "The World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios, Florida, with his family with support from the Foundation.

Alfie has been absent from school since July 2011, as he continues to receive treatment for bone cancer. Alfie is responding well to his treatment and has just started visiting school, to work in a small group with his classmates for up to one hour a day.

Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, is a charity with a single purpose - granting wishes to children and young people aged 3-17 fighting life-threatening conditions.

If you want to sponsor my attempt to reach Everest Base Camp and Kala Patar, and help make Alfie's wish come true, please visit my "Just Giving" page using the link on the right.

Donations through "Just Giving" are fast and totally secure. Your details are safe - they'll never share them with anyone or send you unwanted e-mails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. They'll make sure Gift Aid (an additional 28%) is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer, too.

This is not an organised charity trek, I am self funding this trip and all donations will go directly to the "Make a Wish Foundation".

Thank you for your support

Simon Kidwell

Friday, 13 April 2012

Ascent and Descent

Apart from the walking the three main challenges you face on the trek to Everest Base Camp are the  cold, altitude and basic living conditions.

Walking
When you travel to over 2800m it advisable to ascend a maximum of 300m a day to allow the body time to acclimatise to lower air pressure. It is also important to take a rest day for every 1000m gained in altitude. This can make a trek like Everest Camp slow going. Challenging days walking in the Lake District or Snowdonia can see you ascend over 1000m.  It is much harder going up when there is less oxygen ,but most trekking days when you are climbing are short compared to days in the British Mountains.
However, this changes when you descend! Today I dropped 1300m in altitude and walked 13miles. The air gets richer as you descend and you really notice the fitness benefits you have gained.

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