Fundraising trek to Everest Base Camp

ONCE IN A LIFE TIME TREK TO EVEREST BASE CAMP

Douglas Dawes is undertaking the trip to celebrate his 60th birthday.

Here in his own words is why he is doing this truly amazing trip and what is involved

Douglas' association with Canterbury Oast Trust is twofold. Firstly through family friends Debbie and Ken Chappell, whose son Christopher lives at the Rare Breeds Centre. The families have been close friends since Christopher was born. Also Douglas's wife Barbara has a cousin, Sherry Churchill, who also lives within the Trust.

Douglas will be accompanied by his youngest son Graham and 18 other trekkers undertaking the challenge on behalf of various charities. The Trip is organised by Charity Challenge who organise many such expeditions.

The trip starts by flying to Kathmandu, Nepal on 03 October. (Douglas celebrates his 60th Birthday on 02 October). After a day in Kathmandu take an exciting internal flight to Lukla, Nepal which has a grass runway the length of two football pitches! Elevation 2,800 metres (9,350ft).

Then trek through the Sagarmatha National Park for another 8 days to reach the Base Camp of Everest, Elevation 5357m (17,575ft), including a trek up Kalpatthar Mountain, 5647m (15,527ft). The trek includes 2 acclimatisation days to allow bodies to get used to the altitude. Nights are spent in tents erected alongside Nepalese villages.

The Everest Base Camp is the one used by all parties going on to climb the mountain and is at the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. It is higher than the base camp used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing Norgay in the first successful ascent of Everest.

The trek back to Lukla then takes only 4 days followed by an equally exciting take off from Lukla in the rarefied air to fly back to Kathmandu and then on to London.

Douglas will be setting up a page on the justgiving web site for sponsorship. Anyone who would like to sponsor Douglas please go to justgiving and follow the links. Alternatively, you can send a cheque to The Douglas Dawes Everest Trek, Fundraising Department, Canterbury Oast Trust, Highlands Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent TN26 3RJ. Cheques made payable to Canterbury Oast Trust.

When Douglas's trip is over we are hoping to have some exciting photos of his trip to share with you on this website.

If Douglas's trip has fired your imagination to do something similar, then please contact the Fundraising Department on 01233 860 806 or email ts@c-o-t.org.uk for more details.