A team of wounded servicemen who are aiming to conquer Mount Everest arrived at base camp on Monday, 9th April, having hiked through the Himalayas.
The inspirational team, who have all been injured whilst serving in Afganistan or Iraq, are led by Captain Mark Hewitt from Wilmslow, who completed the amazing Walking with the Wounded North Pole Expedition in April 2011.
The team has completed the first part of the Mount Everest Expedition which involved a trek from Namche Bazaar in Eastern Nepal to the Everest Base Camp, overcoming terrain that is a feat for even the fittest of trekkers.
Speaking yesterday, Martin Hewitt said "Our team is now well-established in Everest Base Camp and acclimatising to this new altitude of 5,263m. The walk in from Lobuche base camp was slow and steady to minimize the affects of walking at altitude. This approach seems to be working well as whilst we have one or two minor headaches here and there the team are on great form and looking forward to our first mountain climb.
"In 3 days we'll depart Everest Base Camp to climb Lobuche as part of the acclimatisation process.
"As we approached Base Camp I gazed on the Khumbu Ice fall for the first time. This phase of the climb is the most daunting for me as balancing over ladder crossings time and time again through the crevasses will be difficult. Luckily we've got a few extra ladders and I'll be spending plenty of time training and perfecting my technique. The area surrounding us in the base camp is barren and we're now on the snow line surrounded by a mixture of rock and glacial ice.
"We're now enjoying a chill-out period in Base Camp. Now I'm here I'm so happy we've been working with and trained by Russ, as his Himex team at Base Camp is simply awesome. We've got a toilet tent (sounds basic but is a impressive logistical infrastructure at this height), mess tent (for dining), shower tent and even...... a bar!"
Captain Hewitt, 31,was shot in the shoulder during combat in Afghanistan in 2007, the bullet severed an artery and all nerves to the limb, rendering it paralysed.
He is joined on the expedition by Jaco Van Gass, from South Africa, who was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Afganistan which caused the loss of his left arm. Jaco was also a member of the first team of unsupported war-wounded amputees to reach the Geographical North Pole last year.
The other team members are; Mani Raj from Nepal who received a gunshot wound through his right buttock and right groin whilst serving in Afghanistan; David Wiseman from West Germany who sustained a gunshot wound to the chest during a firefight with the Taliban; Francis Atkinson from Swindon who suffered a gunshot wound to his right upper arm whilst serving as a doctor in Afganistan; Andy Hawkins from the Wirral who was hit by an explosive device whilst commanding a patrol in Afghanistan; Karl Hinett from West Bromwich who received a direct hit from a petrol bomb whilst serving in Basra; Daniel Majid from South Shields who was hit by shrapnel whilst on foot patrol in Afganistan and Chris Gwilt from Dorchester - a rocket propelled grenade struck the wall behind Chris causing multiple shrapnel injuries to his back.
The team will shortly embark on part two of the challenge to successfully summit Mount Everest and put the team of wounded servicemen on top of the world.
Climbing Everest is one of the toughest challenges, climbers have to overcome narrow ridges with 3km falls; altitude sickness and immense fatigue; unpredictable weather and deep crevasses covered with treacherous snow bridges. It took 30 years of attempts to conquer the mountain, and over 200 people have failed to return from its jagged slopes.
The challenge of ice-climbing and negotiating crevasses will be all the more insurmountable for the team of wounded servicemen, as will the immense difficulty of daily tent-life: the drying of clothes, cooking of food and prevention of frostbite that is essential to keeping the body capable of this monumental task.
The charity campaigns to raise money to re-skill and re-train injured servicemen and women from the British Armed Forces. For further information visit the Walking with the Wounded website.
Photo: Captain Martin Hewitt, courtesy of Walking With The Wounded.
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