While on the trip to Island Peak in 2011 I met an Australian group who were climbing the same peak. They were with an organisation called Trek Climb Ski run by Nick Farr. We did the usual things that you do on holiday at 6200m and swapped email addresses and the promise to share photographs and video footage. The surprising thing is, we actually did and here’s a link to some of the footage he took on the final section of the Island Peak ascent.

The reason I mention Nick is because he’s been extremely helpful with the preparations for my trip to Cho Oyu. He’s offered to lend me his down suit and boots, rather than me having to purchase new, knowing full well that anything I bought new would only get used the once and for probably only a few days of the 44 day trip. He’s also given me advice on insurance. The advice being don’t worry about it above 6,500m, because if you get ill or injured above that height, basically you’re buggered!!! He’s sent me his kit lists and suggested that I ring him closer to the trip for any further advice.  I’d like to take this opportunity to publically thank him for all his help and I hope his baby, Max, has started sleeping through the night!!!

The one thing Nick did say to me is that from the summit of Cho Oyu, there is the best view of Everest from anywhere in the world……and that once I’ve seen it, I’ll want to climb it. All I ask is that Carolynn shoots me first!!!