April ’26 update.

Exactly 12 months before I fly, here’s the April Everest Update: Things Are Getting… Concerning.

So, good news first — I’m now 16kg down since starting this whole Everest Base Camp adventure. That’s an entire airline carry-on bag… which is ironic, because I currently can’t actually book a flight to use one.

Turns out, trying to book to get to Nepal right now is like playing airline roulette. Every route seems to go almost where I need… before taking a hard left into “geopolitically inconvenient airspace.” Flights via Doha? Nope. Dubai? Forget it. Kuwait? Absolutely not. At this point I’m half expecting Ryanair to announce a route via the moon. I know this is a year out, and a lot can change in that time, but trying to get these flights to match up with the completely none flexible tour dates is now causing me some indigestion.

Speaking of survival… I’ve also now entered the world of searching for extreme sleeping bags. You’d think buying something rated to -20°C would be straightforward. It is not.
It’s a minefield of:

  • “Comfort rating” vs “Limit rating” vs “Are you actually still alive rating”
  • Bags that cost twice as much as my first car
  • And eBay listings that read like: “Used once. Possibly during an Arctic expedition. Stored in a shed. Smells like regret.”

I’ve spent more time researching sleeping bags than we did choosing a house.

And here’s the thing nobody tells you…

The fitter you get, the more real this all becomes.

16kg down sounded great when this was just an idea. Now it’s:

  • “Oh… I might actually have to do this.”
  • “That’s quite high, Everest.”
  • “Why is it so cold there – I thought April was spring?”
  • “Do I even like walking?”

There are moments — usually while comparing goose down fill power at 11pm — where I think: “This may have been a terrible idea.”

But then again… that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?

Anyway — training continues, weight continues to drop, flights remain elusive, and I’m one impulse purchase away from owning a sleeping bag designed for Mars.

Onwards. Probably.

Thanks as ever for your support – it means the world.

All the best, Rich.

#EverestBaseCamp #TrainingUpdate #WeightLossJourney #WhatHaveIDone #AdventurePending

Friday the 13th Good news

There seems to be something quite appropriate about writing an update on Friday the 13th.

For those who believe in bad luck, cursed dates and ominous signs… I’ve decided the best way to celebrate is by continuing my training for a 5,500m trek to Everest Base Camp. What could possibly go wrong?

The good news is that the training has at least started to show some results. I’m delighted to report that I’m now 13kg down since this whole Everest idea began. Given the date, I’m choosing to believe that this particular “13” is a lucky one.

When the training started, my fitness level could best be described as “enthusiastic but theoretical.” Most of my endurance came from sitting through meetings, and the only altitude I regularly experienced was the slight elevation of the office chair.

Since then, things have become a little more serious. There has been walking. Quite a lot of it. Occasionally uphill. Sometimes intentionally.

It turns out that preparing to walk 150km through the Himalayas requires slightly more effort than simply thinking about it while eating biscuits.

The goal, of course, is the trek to Everest Base Camp in April 2027, climbing to over 5,500 metres, where oxygen levels are roughly half of what we enjoy at sea level. This means even simple things like tying your boots can feel like a small Olympic event.

The good news is that every kilogram lost now is one less kilogram to drag up a mountain later. The bad news is that the mountain is still very much there.

The real reason for doing all this remains the same: raising money for Cancer Research UK. Like many people, I’ve seen first-hand how important their work is, and if a few long walks, sore legs and questionable life choices help contribute to that effort, it will all be worth it.

For anyone who wants to follow along with the training, the occasional questionable decision, and the slow realisation of what I’ve signed up for, updates will continue to appear here.

If nothing else, by the time April 2027 arrives I should at least be well practised at walking uphill and wondering whose idea this was in the first place.

(For the record, it was mine.)

Dates confirmed / Itinerary Confirmed

Right… deep breath. I’ve officially paid the deposit, which means this is no longer “a nice idea” — it’s happening.

I’m trekking to Everest Base Camp in April 2027, and the itinerary is now confirmed. For anyone following along (or just here for the inevitable blisters and questionable life choices), here’s the outline of the 14-day plan.

April 16th Depart London, arriving Kathmandu April 17th.

A fun day out for my birthday…..

April 17th. Day 1 — Arrive in Kathmandu

Land at Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu).

April 18th — Fly to Lukla, the worlds most dangerous airport, + Trek to Phakding

The adventure properly starts: flight into Lukla, then the first hike to Phakding.

April 19th. Day 3 — Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,438m / 11,280ft) — the main hub of the region and the start of proper altitude territory.

April 20th Day 4 — Acclimatisation Day in Namche

A “rest” day (which usually means walking around to help acclimatise, not sitting in a spa unfortunately).

April 21st. Day 5 — Namche to Tengboche

Trek to Tengboche (3,870m / 12,697ft).

April 22nd. Day 5 — Tengboche to Dingboche

Trek to Dingboche (4,410m).

April 23rd. Day 7 — Acclimatisation Day in Dingboche

Another acclimatisation day to help the body adjust to the altitude.

April 24th. Day 8 — Dingboche to Lobuche

Trek to Lobuche (4,910m / 16,105ft).

April 25th. Day 9 — Gorak Shep + Everest Base Camp

Trek to Gorak Shep (5,140m), then on to Everest Base Camp (5,364m / 17,599ft)… and then back.

This is the big one.

April 26th. Day 10 — Kala Patthar + Down to Pheriche

Early trek up to Kala Patthar (5,545m / 18,193ft) (best viewpoint), then down to Pheriche (4,371m).

April 27th. Day 11 — Pheriche to Namche Bazaar

Back to Namche.

April 29th. Day 12 — Namche Bazaar to Lukla

Final long push back to Lukla (2,840m).

April 30th. Day 13 — Fly Lukla to Kathmandu

Return flight to Kathmandu (weather allowing — Lukla is famous for delays).

May 1st. Day 14 — Depart Kathmandu back to the loving arms of my family (?)

A short note to thank everyone for their support in helping me make this happen. This is one of those moments when I sit back, look at the screen and realise that ‘it’s happening…..

All the best everyone – until next time, Rich

8kg Gone: My Journey to Sustainable Weight Loss

Delighted to share that at the 1st month dreaded weigh in, I’ve now managed to wave goodbye to 8kg since training began in January. This hasn’t come without sacrifices – I miss my beer, and I sure as anything miss my chocolate oranges once a week. Overall 12 month plan is to lose 25% of my starting body weight ahead of the trek, on a sustained 0.6-1.1kg per week plan. It’s actually happening quicker than this currently, and weight loss is addictive. Having spent my life yo-yo’ing, I just need to be sure that this time….it’ll be different.

Training continues…

Progress on the weight front is actually ahead of the curve, and I’m happy about that. Minor change to itinerary to move trek forward to April to avoid flight changes in Kathmandu to Ramechhap. I didn’t fancy a nine hour connection cross country ahead of the trek.

Thanks everyone for donations so far. Pleased to be at £700 of £5000 so early on. It’s taken some of the pressure off.

12 months out…

Thanks everyone for giving the page a read. I’ve now had the 12 month training plan come through from hiking bees and it looks brutal.

12-Month EBC Training Plan Breakdown (Richard Hayes)

Months 1-3: Foundation & Core (Build Consistency)
Goal: Build a solid base without injury.
Activities: 2-3 days of light cardio (hiking, walking, running) and 2 days of strength (core, lunges, squats).
Focus: Start wearing your hiking boots to get used to them.

Months 4-7: Strength & Aerobic Endurance (Increase Volume)
Goal: Build stamina and leg strength.
Activities: 3 days cardio (longer walks/runs) and 2 days strength (weighted step-ups, leg press).
Focus: Begin hiking with a 5-8kg backpack, gradually increasing weight.

Months 8-10: Specificity & Back-to-Back Training
Goal: Simulate trekking conditions.
Activities: Long hikes (4-6 hours) on weekends, preferably in hilly terrain.
Focus: Back-to-back training days (e.g., long hike Saturday and Sunday) to prepare for consecutive days of trekking.

Month 11: Peak Intensity
Goal: Maximum training load.
Activities: Longest, heaviest hikes.
Focus: Ensure you can comfortably hike for 6+ hours with a 10kg pack.

Month 12: Taper & Recover
Goal: Reduce fatigue, prevent injury.
Activities: Reduce training volume (fewer sets, shorter distances).
Focus: Rest, stretch, and ensure full recovery before travel.