• Home
  About NTSU
  Our Mission
  Our Ethics
  Your Exec
  Where to find us
  Work for us
  Links & Downloads
  Transport
  Teaching Awards
• Advice & Support
  Student Advice Centre
  Housing
  Community & Safety
  Drugs & Alcohol
  Finance
  Your Health
  LGBT
• Student Voice
  UGM
  Your Representatives
  Course & School Reps
  Have Your Say
  Elections
  Campaigns
  International Students
• Employability
  Societies
  Sports Clubs
  Varsity
  Initi8: Volunteering
  RAG: Raising And Giving
  Stride: Student Training & Development
  Trent Media
• Social & Entertainments
  Bars & Cafes
  Campus Shops
  Entertainments
  Freshers Week
• NTSU Awards 2012
• Grad Ball

► Big Climb Diary: Everest

RAG Officer Liz McCluskey shares her experiences of taking part in RAG's Everest basecamp Big Climb last summer in support of Childreach International:

"After months of cake sales, bucket collections, raffles and badgering of friends and family my fundraising was complete and now I was to face my next, even bigger challenge, Everest base camp itself.

These months of preparation had almost overshadowed the reality that I would in fact be flying out to Nepal, to embark on an 8 day climb over half way up the highest mountain in the world. As I packed my rucksack and headed for Heathrow I did question myself: Would I be fit enough? Would I suffer from altitude sickness? And would I have to return and break news to my sponsors that I had failed and not made it?

But these worries were soon set to rest when at Heathrow I met the group of 17 other students from Trent who I would spend this 3 week experience with.

Our days of walking were at some parts long and hard but this was easily ignored as we wound through the beautiful Nepalese landscape of lush greenery and waterfalls. We passed through secluded villages where we were greeted by friendly locals and crossed enormous suspension bridges over vast drops.

As we ascended higher it did become obvious day by day that the air was thinning and we were taking in less and less oxygen, but the climb was gradual which aided our acclimatisation.

Our days started early but we were lucky to wake each day in basic but pleasant lodges. We were set to go with a large breakfast of yak’s milk rice pudding and Nepalese bread covered in the sweetest, brightest coloured jam and on a good day a hard boiled egg.

We would then stop for a lunch en route and walk until 3pm or 4pm. The evenings were spent amusing each other with silly games, cards and my personal favourite bingo, where we were sometimes in the running for a few hundred rupees (a couple of £’s). It was then a very early night so we were prepared for our next day of walking.

On the day we were attempting to reach base camp we again woke early and walked until lunch before our final last push. This day was a struggle, the walking was technically no more difficult but I found every step became an overwhelming effort; the lack of oxygen drained me of all energy and trying to stay upright seemed a challenge. But by this point in the journey there was no stopping me. As a group we had now become great friends and leaned on each other for encouragement, each person pushed the other as we were determined we would arrive as a complete group.

I am proud to say all 17 of us made it to base camp! Our 8 days of climbing had paid off and we could all return home happy knowing we had not only achieved our walk to Everest base camp but had all raised thousands for the great charity Childreach International.

It tires me now to think back through all the months of fundraising, organising and then the eventual nerve racking travel to Nepal to take on the climb to base camp. But I couldn’t be more proud of the friends I made, the fun we had, the money we raised and the accomplishment I achieved. It was a truly a remarkable experience!"

For more info about RAG's upcoming Big Climbs (Everest, Kilimanjaro, Great Wall of China) and how to sign up, visit Childreach International's website.