7,246m for the Children

The Project

Aide Nepal is supporting 20 disabled children at the Om Disabled Child Care Home in Kathmandu and 23 orphans and abandoned children at the Sister Care Home in Dang. It cost approximately £27 a month to support each child. The staff at the Om home provide loving car for children who would otherwise have an uncertain future. At the Sister home the children range in age from 3 to 11 years and are educated at an English medium school which will give them a real chance in life.

The Expedition

In the pre-monsoon season of 2022 Ang Dawa Sherpa and I will attempt to climb Mt. Putha Hiunchuli to raise money to support orphans and disabled children in Nepal. Ang Dawa is an experienced guide with 7 Everest ascents to his credit. Hopefully this will be his fourth ascent of Mt. Putha Hiunchuli.

Putha Hiunchuli, also known as Dhaulagiri Vll, sits at the western end of the Dhaulagiri Range and rises to 7,246 meters, making it the 95th highest mountain in the world. It was first climbed in 1954 by Lt. Col. Jimmy Roberts MVO MBE MC and Ang Nyima Sherpa.

The Challenge:

Putha Hiunchuli is not a technical mountain but at 73 years young, and without supplementary oxygen, it will be a serious challenge for me. It will take eight or nine days to reach Base Camp at 4,800m and a further ten days or so to complete the ascent. Above Base Camp we will establish 3 camps: Camp 1 at 5,450m, Camp 2 at 6,125m and Camp 3 at 6,600m. The effective oxygen level at Base Camp will be 11% (21% at sea level), at Camp 3 it will be 9% and on the summit 8%, a walk in the park for Ang Dawa but I will be puffing for sure!

On the mountain we expect to encounter winds up to 40 MPH and temperatures down to minus 20C. On a climb like this hydration is a major concern. When not actually climbing we will be resting in our tent, melting snow and drinking tea, lots of Yorkshire Tea!

The expedition is self-funded with some very welcome support from Turkish Airlines, Mountain Equipment Ltd, Berghaus Ltd, Altberg Ltd, Boreal Outdoor Ltd and Makalu Adventure Ltd, our in-country agent. All monies raised will go to the Aide Népal project.

My Himalayan adventures started in 1976 when, as junior member of the army's Mt. Everest team, I was bitten by the Himalaya bug. Over the years I have introduced many to the wonders of the Himalaya and think of it as my second home. Realistically this could be my last serious Himalayan expedition but I intend to continue trekking and supporting the needy children of Nepal.