Four Betws-y-Coed friends climb 18,000ft for charity

Feb 11 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

FOUR intrepid friends from Betws-y-Coed are celebrating after completing a walk to the world’s highest mountain base camp.

Everest Base Camp at 18,200ft is no mean feat, even for the most skilled walker, so when four friends from the Conwy Valley decided to attempt the ambitious trek it had to be for a worthy cause.

“Myself and my wife Marian and two other friends from Betws-y-Coed joined up with eight walking buddies to take part in the base camp trek in January,” explained Bernard Owen, who runs Mairlys Bed and Breakfast in Betws-y-Coed with Marian.

“Our friends were taking part to raise money for a hospice in Chester and we decided it was a worthy cause and a really good challenge, so made arrangements to join.

“After a seven-day trek of some 100km from an altitude of 10,000ft we arrived at Everest Base Camp at 6.30am, before sunrise.

“Ten of us made it to the base camp despite the altitude sickness, which only affected a couple of people.”

Despite freezing night-time temperatures of -20ºC and battling altitude sickness, Bernard, Marian and friends David Jones and Patricia Croach enjoyed their mountain trek.

“I organised the Snowdonia Walking Festival last year so I’m a very keen walker myself,” added Bernard.

“Nothing prepares you for how strenuous it is.

“But we made it to Kalapathar, the highest point you can reach without actually climbing Everest, and we are very proud of our achievement.”

Bernard and his friends had to fly in a propeller plane from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to Lukla, a small village at 11,000ft before they started their ascent.

The party stayed in tea houses each night of the climb to avoid the freezing temperatures and trekked in the day with their Nepalese guide Kamal, from Kathmandu.

“We were intrigued and surprised to find Kamal is an honorary Welshman and actually works in Beddgelert for three months of the year – it’s a small world!” he added.

samantha.castle