Inverness friends' Mount Everest base camp challenge for Highland Hospice
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Two Inverness pals are in training for an extremely challenging high+ altitude hike to raise thousands of pounds for Highland Hospice.
David Philips, operations manager with Asda and offshore worker Ryan Mann, both aged 40, will next month fly out to Lukla in Nepal before setting off on a 12-day trek to Mount Everest base camp.
However this will not be the end of their efforts as the plan is to then scale Kala Patthar (5,545m) and witness the breathtaking views of 8.848m Mount Everest it affords.
This is David's third and biggest challenge in aid of the Inverness based Highland Hospice, but it is a massive step up from the Great Glen Challenge and even his 250k husky sled expedition through Lapland.
Like so many in the north, David has had family members who ended their days in Highland Hospice, which gives specialist care and support to terminally ill patients and their families.
David said: "They do wonderful work and must rely on donations to keep going. It is such a worthy cause.
"We have been upping our training for this big hike, but we cannot really replicate the energy sapping altitude.
"Thankfully we will be accompanied by Sherpa guides who will keep a close eye on us and lead us down to lower ground at night until we become acclimatised to altitude.
"Going to Nepal / Mount Everest has been a dream of mine since I was very young, but the challenge itself will be done in a difficult climate and at altitudes I’ve not experienced before.
"Once we reach Everest base camp we will then hopefully summit Kala Patthar and witness incredible views of the sun rising behind Everest."
New dad David added: "It would be great one day to tell my daughter that her dad has fund-raised for a great cause and got to base camp of the highest mountain in the world.
"Ben Nevis the highest mountain in the UK at 1,345m matches the altitude of Kathmandu... and that’s our starting point."
He said he is more of a hillwalker with some climbing experience while Ryan has more climbing experience, but they have both been honing their skills on Highland Munros in preparation.
Father of two Ryan said: "Going to Everest base camp Base camp and Nepal region has been a dream of mine for a long time too, and when David asked if I'd like to join him and help raise money for such a great cause, my answer was simple - where do I sign up?
"We will have to hike daily in difficult climates and at altitudes that make simple trekking very difficult.
"I have two amazing girls that have a passion for adventure, so this challenge of reaching base camp of our planet's highest peak is a great way of showing them and everyone else, that anything is possible if you work hard and put your mind to it!"
David and Ryan's JustGiving online donation page with its target of £10,000 can be reached here.
