EveRRest 2022 - The quest for Base Camp!

  Three and a half weeks to go A couple more county tops done since the last update. We headed east last weekend and did Black Hill which used to be the highest point in Cheshire. It’s now about 20 miles from the boundary with Cheshire. This weekend we headed north to do Whernside, one of the Yorkshire three peaks and formerly the highest point in the West Riding of Yorkshire. We’re now at a total of 22,586 feet and two more big ones will get us to the Everest summit at 29,032. We’re hoping to fit Snowdon and Aran Fawddwy in before we head for Everest.       W e’ve been using these longer walks to try out some of the things we’re planning for the trek. This weekend on Whernside we gave trekking poles a go (the verdict’s still out) and also sterilising tablets and hydration powders in our drinks (just about palatable). Will give the poles another outing on Snowdon. The fundraising is also going well. Not too far to our target now. Any support at this l...

  5 weeks to Everest - an update from Edward The countdown is on to our trek to Everest base camp and we’re stepping up preparations. Most of the kit has been bought now but after chatting to someone on Sunday's walk we’re going to get some trekking poles and give them a go. Two walks last weekend. 8 miles walking home to Adlington from Smithills and then 9 miles today doing Kinder Scout from Hayfield. This gave us a lot of the elements we’ll face each day on the trek: 6 hours of walking – check 600m of climb – check Cold and windy – check The one thing we can’t prepare for is oxygen levels ranging from 75% of UK levels at the start of the trek to 50% by the time we reach base camp (fingers crossed) Two more county tops done since the last update, Cleeve Hill In Gloucestershire as part of the British Night Orienteering Championships and then Kinder Scout on Sunday. It’s going to take some going to reach 29,000 ft of climb before we go but if we get a decent spell of w...

  An update on our EveRRest trek. Due to the ongoing uncertainty around Covid, particularly around entry rules to Nepal, as well as people being unable to make the trek for various reasons, Reuben's Retreat decided last week to defer the EveRRest Trek to next year. Edward is unable to make the trip next year so we tried to move our booking to still go this year with the same travel company. Edward has managed to secure the last spot on a trip so he can still complete the challenge as planned this April and I will be travelling with the charity group next year. Whilst we are disappointed not to be able to face the challenge together, we are committed to completing it so this is the best solution we can find. I am looking forward to cheering Edward on from afar and getting all the tips for my trip and I have an extra year to get ready now as well. Thanks everyone for all your support so far and every penny raised has been a help to this wonderful charity. We are at 82% of our fundrai...

Hi everyone! Ed and Vicki have been busy over the last month, fundraising and training for the big trek. First up, Edward has been adventuring in the snow. Here's an update from him: As some of you will know, we’re raising money for a local charity, Reuben’s Retreat, and taking on a trek to Everest base camp in four months. Doing some preparation by climbing a selection of the old county tops. After a break over the autumn, managed a trip up to Cumbria over the weekend and with a break in the weather on Sunday, took on Helvellyn. The weather was benign at the head of Thirlmere but definitely not benign on Helvellyn where it felt like being in a snow globe! As if the Everest Base Camp trek isn't a big enough challenge, Vicki has spent the last 6 months or so getting in shape and training for a marathon culminating in a very picturesque 22 miles in the Derbyshire Dales followed immediately by 4 miles of objection from her body for the previous 22 miles. She managed to finish it a...

With just over 6 months to go (new departure date and flights are confirmed for April 7th), we have had notification that Virgin Money Giving, the platform we were using for our fundraising, is closing at the end of November this year. This is a shame as it was a convenient way to fundraise but there is some good news: All the donations so far are safe and will be passed to Reuben's Retreat as planned so no need to worry and as always we remain very grateful to everyone who has supported us and Reuben's Retreat so far.  We have a brand new fundraising site on JustGiving. I know a lot of people are used to JustGiving as well so hopefully it will make it a bit easier for people to donate as well.  We have put the total raised so far as the 'offline total' on JustGiving. We are well over halfway to the target and still over 6 months to go until we set off.  Our flights are booked!  The new site is: https://www.justgiving.com/team/EveRRest22 It will ask you to choos...

A hard act to follow Vicki’s last, brilliant blog but a quick update from me, Edward, about preparations and Reuben’s Retreat.     Like Vicki, I also had the chance to visit Reuben’s Retreat earlier this year. I was amazed to see the scale of the project taken on by one family and how far along the road they are to creating a facility for  children with life limiting conditions and their families or those families who have tragically been bereaved . It was a lovely sunny day when we visited and with Howard Park adjacent to the old cottage hospital which is being converted, it does offer a brilliant location for the charity.   Anne and I have been working out way through some of the old county tops with the idea of climbing a selection of them that together will make up the height of Everest. It’s taking longer than we thought but we did start with Linco l nshire  (26ft!)  and Norfolk  which together only made up about 650 feet. We’ve moved on to more s...

First off, thank you so much to everyone who supported our prize draw either by donating prizes or buying tickets. We raised over £400 from it so thank you again especially to our prize donors: Anthony Collins Solicitors Jewson Builders Merchants Real Axe Bolton Stannah Stairlifts Studio 82  in Radcliffe Chrome Beauty & Skincare MoonGazy Holistics Zumba Astley Nice Work Run Ruth Bridges Jewellery   Grumpy Old Surfer Vicki's friends Helen Harrell and Baz Massey Last Thursday I got the chance to see what a difference the money so far is making to Reuben's Retreat with a tour round with the effervescent Becca. It really brought it home to me just what valuable work the charity carry out and the passion the team have for making a difference is overwhelming. From its beginnings in Nic's (Reuben's mummy) spare room, they now have a site on an old hospital once famous for being the place where L. S. Lowry saw out his final days. The Lodge is the completed part of the devel...