Training

Apart from moving to the mountains (above 10 000 feet) there is no real way to train for the trek to base camp Everest, North Carolina where i live is as flat as Belgium, All i can do now is to walk enough to loose weight, I am currently around 200lb so a 20lb drop would be nice before i leave, Its always nice to have a record of what you have done and where, I have been using the Runkeeper app on my cell phone for the last couple of years, Its free and works great giving pace, distance, calories burnt etc, It works via GPS so is very accurate, You can set it so that it gives you information every 10,20 minutes etc, By having the info given at set times you can challenge yourself to get personal best times or distance, I will continue to use the app as i can also claim money back from my wifes health insurance who have access to my data, Its a win win
I have been searching the web to see how others train for high altitude, There are a couple of ways that can help, The first is a face mask with valves which restrict air flow, Whilst this may help to increase lung capacity it will not make you increase your red blood cell count that is needed, You can hire a bed chamber which will give you all the effects of altitude but at around $700 a month it does not come cheap

Dave

Why Everest?

This trip has been a long time coming, It was in late 2012 that i told my wife that i wanted to walk the Camino De Santiago and she asked why? I jokingly told her that i was too old to climb Mount Everest and this would challenge me, When i came back from the walk my friend and neighbor Chuck asked what was next, I told him that since 2000 i have wanted to hike to Base camp on Everest, Chuck has been on the summit of Everest twice and said that both he and his wife Eden would like to go there and the plan was formed, In 2000 my wife and i traveled through South East Asia, We spent 3 months in India and then traveled for the next 3 months covering Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra, The trip was mainly wildlife focused and we were very fortunate enough to photography Tiger, Elephant, Rhino and Orangutan in the wild amongst others, It was really a trip of a lifetime and one we still talk about today, When you become a traveler you get a nickname, Mine was Tiger man and wife was project tiger lady, We met 'china man' a young guy traveling on his own, I think he was American and got the name as when we met him he had just traveled across China and mentioned to me that he had been to base camp on Everest, It hit something deep inside and has remained in my thoughts, When walking the Camino De Santiago i also met with a group of young Americans, One of the girls had also just hiked to base camp, Something was telling me it was time to do it,
 Last week was the first week that i managed to get some miles under my feet, Nearly 30 total, I did 2 10 milers and a couple lesser amounts, I am pleasantly surprised how easy i walked the 10 milers and in good time as well, I am still getting over shoulder surgery so the walks were on pavement, It will be another 3 weeks before i attempt using trekking poles and walking more technical routes but i am pleased with how things are going so early on,

Some images from back in the day traveling around Asia

All images were taken on slide film that had been carried around Asia for 6 months in heat and humidity, I am surprised how well they came out, Would love the opportunity to do it all again with today's digital cameras

Dave

Finally getting started

The last couple of months have been hell health wise, Firstly i broke my small toe, Nearly ripped it off running through the house with no shoes on, I caught it on the door post, No extended walking for 6 weeks i was told by my doctor, My wife has had heart problems as well as carpal tunnel, So she had a double carpal surgery meaning she did not have the use of either hand so that meant she relied on me 100%, Then when she was fit to go i went in for a triple surgery to my right shoulder, Its been less than 3 weeks since my surgery but things are looking good, I have good movement although i still cannot lift a heavy load, Another 4 weeks until my shoulder should be pretty much 100%, So today i had a walk around my neighborhood, 4 miles on tarmac roads, Not very inspiring but a start, I tried my new boots for the first time, Even though the weather is too hot for them (leather and gortex) i was happy in that they are very comfortable, Its the first time i have had a proper pair of heafty hiking boots, My biggest problem being that my ankles are very skinny and high boots tend to rub there, I am glad to say that my new boots have very soft leather around the ankle, I will take some time to break them in properly but i have a year and with cooler weather on its way i should be able to get some miles on them over the next few months in proper trail, conditions, I purchased the boots from REI, A great place to buy any outdoor gear as being a member you get a year to take it back if it does not fit your needs, The boots are made in Italy are made by Zamberlan, At around $300 they are not cheap but they ooze quality and look like they will last an awful long time, So far so good

 Whilst i was in REI i noticed that they had some North Face thermoball jackets for sale and i quickly nabbed one in TNF red which will nicely match my North face TNF red shell, The thermoball jacket in the Northface store is $199, I paid $138, I have the equivilant from Eddie Baur which i love but it seemed too good a price to miss, As will all things North face its very good quality and its always nice to snag a bargain

Dave

A New Adventure

It doesn't seem 5 minutes ago i was starting to train to walk the Camino de Santiago, The old pilgrimage route that runs across Spain, But that was now around 2 years ago, I found for that walk that you cannot train enough, I live in the flatland's of North Carolina, The mountains are a good 3 hours from my house , So most days when i walked it would be a circuit near my home on either road or trail, Getting to Base Camp Everest will be totally different, The distance will be much shorter but its all up hill and then of course there is the altitude, I have only ever felt the effects of altitude twice before, The first time was when i went up the cable car on Mont Blanc, France, On getting out i took 2 steps and nearly fell over through a lack of oxygen, The second time was when i was photographing in Colorado at 14000 feet on mount Evans, This you can drive up and after 10000 feet you can feel the air getting thin, The first day i had a blinding head ache but things eased within a couple of days which goes to show that acclimatizing to the altitude is very important, Slow and sure is the way to go, When walking the Camino i was walking around 18-20 miles a day, On Everest it will be 5-6 miles at around 1 mile per hour, It will be a challenge for sure just a different type but one i am really looking forward to doing, When i lived in Switzerland i loved to be up high above the clouds and Everest will be no different
Over the next few weeks/Months i will do a gear breakdown, I have started to buy new gear and already have some good cold weather gear that i use for my photography
One of the big thoughts i have is what camera gear to take, I have a year to work that one out, The new Sony A7RII looks the biz but its all down to budget, My main goal will be to raise as much as i can for Cancer research, My last attempt manged just shy of $7500, It would be nice to hit $10 000

Mont Blanc, France

 Mount Evans, Colorado

Mountain Goat on Mount Evans

Dave