June Update: Apparently This Is Actually Happening

A strange thing happened this month.

People have started looking at me and saying things like, “Rich, you’ve lost a lot of weight.”

Now, being British, my natural instinct is to immediately dismiss this, make an awkward joke, and change the subject. But the reality is that the scales don’t lie. Since January, I’ve now lost over five stone.

Five stone.

That’s roughly the weight of a medium-sized Labrador, a sack of cement, or one of the rucksacks carried by some Everest trekkers who ignored all the kit advice.

The funny thing is that while everyone else seems shocked, I still mostly see the same bloke in the mirror. The only real giveaway is that my trousers appear to be engaged in a long-term campaign to fall down at inappropriate moments.

The training continues to gather momentum.

One of my favourite moments this month hasn’t actually involved training at all. My daughter Isla has become unexpectedly invested in the whole adventure. We bought a world map and have started putting pins into all the places of interest from Lukla to the base of Everest. It’s been lovely including her in the journey and seeing the excitement through her eyes. Every new overnight stopping point that appears on the map becomes a little event in our house. The trek itself might be taking place in Nepal, but thanks to the support, encouragement and interest from people around the world, it increasingly feels like we’re all on the journey together.

This month I’ve been walking more than I have in years. What started as a few tentative miles has become regular six-mile walks, often on consecutive days. Earlier in the year, six miles felt like a proper expedition. Now it feels like something I can fit in before deciding what’s for dinner.

I’ve covered hundreds of miles since starting this journey and, more importantly, I’m actually enjoying it.

That’s perhaps the biggest surprise of all.

A few months ago, the idea of voluntarily walking uphill for fun seemed utterly ridiculous. Yet here I am actively seeking out hills, checking elevation profiles and wondering whether I should add weight to my pack.

Who even am I anymore?

The Everest Base Camp trek is still many months away, but it’s starting to feel less like a dream and more like a very real event that’s sitting there on the horizon waiting for me.

Which is both exciting and mildly terrifying.

The kit collection has continued too.

If you’ve followed this journey for any length of time, you’ll know that I have developed what can only be described as an unhealthy relationship with outdoor equipment.

Normal people buy a coat.

I spend three weeks researching insulation ratings, fill power, fabric technology, weather resistance and whether a Sherpa in Nepal would approve of my purchasing decisions.

Every delivery arriving at the house now generates the same reaction from my wife:

“What have you bought this time?”

To be fair, she’s been remarkably patient considering the hallway increasingly resembles a branch of an outdoor equipment retailer.

The good news is that I’m now approaching the point where most of the major gear is sorted. The sleeping bag saga alone deserves its own chapter in a future book. I can only imagine the amusement of outdoor retailers watching me repeatedly check stock levels like a man tracking shares on the stock market.

Alongside the physical preparation, I’ve spent a lot of time learning about the Himalayas, altitude, acclimatisation and what life is actually like on the trail.

One thing I’ve discovered is that Everest Base Camp isn’t really about Everest.

It’s about everything around it.

The villages.

The people.

The culture.

The landscape.

The challenge of putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, while surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth.

And, of course, trying not to resemble a stranded walrus every time the trail points uphill.

The fundraising continues steadily.

Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far.

Every contribution, whether large or small, genuinely means a lot.

Many businesses and individuals have already stepped forward to support the challenge, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

The website continues to attract hundreds of visitors every week, which is both encouraging and slightly alarming. Apparently quite a few people are now following this slightly mad idea.

For those who don’t know, this trek isn’t just about reaching Everest Base Camp.

As part of the challenge, I’ll also be taking part in the “Take It Home” initiative. The aim is simple: remove more rubbish from the mountain than I take onto it.

The Himalayas are one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and if I’m fortunate enough to walk through them, I feel a responsibility to leave them a little better than I found them.

So while I’ll be carrying my own kit up the mountain, I’ll also be carrying waste back down.

It’s hardly glamorous, but neither is littering at 5,000 metres.

As for how I’m feeling right now?

Honestly, better than I have in a very long time.

I’m fitter.

I’m lighter.

I’m sleeping better.

I’m more active.

And for the first time in years, I’m doing something that genuinely scares me in all the right ways.

There are still plenty of miles to walk, plenty of training to do and no doubt several more expensive pieces of outdoor equipment that I’ll somehow convince myself are absolutely essential.

But we’re getting there.

One step at a time.

Thank you for following the journey.

July’s mission is simple: keep walking, start introducing some strength training, continue building endurance, and avoid buying any more kit unless absolutely necessary.

Although let’s be honest.

That last one probably isn’t happening.

Love to you all….

Rich