Date	Plan	Progress Report
Saturday October 30th - Depart UK	We plan to leave the UK for Nepal, via Qatar, on Saturday night.
Sunday October 31st - Arrive Kathmandu	We should arrive in Kathmandu (4,383ft - 1,336m) late on Sunday afternoon.	Arrived in Kathmandu - waiting for connecting plane.
Monday November 1st - Kathmandu	We will be exploring Kathmandu, buying any last minute deficiencies we discover in our kit and getting used to the change of climate as the temperature is around 25°C and humidity is 70%. It will be quite different to the UK.	Roads in Kathmandu are chaos - no white lines. Smog and cremations in open air!
Tuesday November 2nd - Kathmandu	We have arranged to visit the Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal's equivalent of our mountain rescue, for a briefing on the effects of altitude and acute mountain sickness. Following this will be a morning sightseeing tour of nearby Patan, an excellent introduction to the Nepalese people and their culture, which spans Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim.	Easy day - visiting shrines and sampling Nepalese and Tibetan food.
Wednesday November 3rd - To Lukla and Phakdingma	We will transfer to the airport for the half hour mountain flight, probably in a Dornier 228, landing at Lukla, recently shown on Channel 5 as the World’s most extreme airport and surely one of the most exciting runways in the world, at 9,274 ft (2,827 m). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqgZvb37NX0 There may be some delay at this point because Lukla can be shrouded in fog. Once we arrive there we will meet with our guide and porters and set off on the trek. We plan to overnight at the settlement of Phakdingma, a little lower than we started at 8,530 ft (2,600 m). Total walking is approximately 4 hours, a fairly easy day to break us in.	Safely arrived in Lukla.
Thursday November 4th - To Namche Bazaar	Today will be a bit tougher. We will walk alongside the Dudh Kosi (milk river) and then up through a steep forest to Namche Bazaar, at 11,286 feet - 3,440 m. We will need to walk slowly in order to acclimatise. Walking time today should be around 6 hours, plus the time we stop for photos, drinks and lunch. We may glimpse Everest during our ascent.	Now at Namche Bazaar - 3443 m. Thumping headache on the ascent, better now!
Friday November 5th - Namche Bazaar, acclimatisation	This will be an acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar, vital for allowing the body to adjust. We will explore the colourful market and monastery.	Acclimatisation - went up tp 3900 m and back down - had first view of Everest.
Saturday November 6th - To Phortse Tenga	Here we will part company with the majority of fellow trekkers who will head straight for Thyangboche on the ‘normal’ route to Everest. We are going into the Gokyo valley. We will be climbing swiftly before entering the valley and heading north to Phortse Tenga at 12,057 ft - 3,675 m. Total walking time will be approximately 5 hours.	We are at Kyangjum. Change of plan for Saturday, as some are struggling with the altitude.
Sunday November 7th - To Dole	Today will be fairly short, to help cope with the altitude we will arrive at Dole 13,288 ft - 4,040 m after a total walking time of approximately 4 hours.	Arrived in Dole, now above the snow line.
Monday November 8th - To Machhermo	Our destination is Machhermo (14,650 ft 4,470 m). Total walking time will be approximately 4 hours.	No news - out of range...
Tuesday November 9th - Machhermo, acclimatisation	Today we acclimatise at Machhermo, keeping our eyes peeled for the ‘Machhermo Yeti’.	ditto
Wednesday November 10th - To Gokyo	Today we will walk alongside the Ngozumpa glacier for around 4 hours to Gokyo 15,719 ft - 4,790 m.	ditto
Thursday November 11th - Ascend Gokyo Ri	We will get up at the crack of dawn for the 2,000 ft ascent of Gokyo Ri to give us the best chance of clear weather. The summit is at 17,550 ft - 5,350 m. Walking time will be around 6 hours. Naturally, we will halt to observe the two minutes silence at the eleventh hour.	ditto
Friday November 12th - Cross the Cho La to Dzonglha	Today will be a very long day. If the weather is good enough, we will ascend the glacial col of Cho La at 17,783 ft - 5,420 m and descend the icy route to Dzonglha at 15,847 ft - 4,830 m. It is estimated that the walking will take 8 to 12 hours. If the weather is bad, then we will have to retrace our steps and follow the conventional route. This could throw the itinerary out by two days.	ditto
Saturday November 13th - To Lobuche	If all is going to plan, then today will be much shorter to help us cope with the aching limbs from yesterday’s epic as we enter the Khumbu Valley. Lobuche is at 16,174 ft - 4,930 m and will be around 3 hours walking time.	ditto
Sunday November 14th - To Gorak Shep	If it is not cloudy then today’s walk will be spectacular. We will be surrounded by the world’s highest mountains as we walk to Gorak Shep at 16,864 ft - 5,140 m. Walking time is around 4 hours.	Approaching Gorak Shep on schedule. It’s been hard going. I’m okay; others suffering a bit.
Monday November 15th - To Everest Base Camp	The distance isn’t far, probably a 5 mile round trip, but at an altitude of 17,600 ft - 5.364 m, it will mean about 6 hours walking, plus any time you spend at base camp and resting.	I'm sitting at Everest Base Camp eating a tuna sandwich. Glorious sunshine.
Tuesday November 16th - Ascend Kala Patar, then walk to Pheriche	The views from Kalar Patar at 18,448 ft - 5623 m are said to be breathtaking. The ascent will take around 2 hours and this will be the highest point of the trek. After this it will be downhill to Pheriche at 14,000 ft - 4,252 m. Total walking time will be around 6 hours.	Descended to Pheriche.
Wednesday November 17th - To Thyangboche	Today our destination is Thyangboche Monastery 12,700 ft - 3,870 m, the most important place in the region for Buddhists. Total walking time approximately 6 hours.	Visited Tengboche Monastery then overnight at Kenjuma
Thursday November 18th - To Namche Bazaar	A fairly easy day with a total walking time of around 3 hours.	Walk to Namche Bazaar. Have heard that Lukla airport closed for 5 days due to low cloud...
Friday November 19th - To Lukla	Our last day’s trek. Total walking around 6 hours.	Stranded at airport, with 1000+ people. Very smelly, not sure where we'll be sleeping!
Saturday November 20th - Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu	Lukla airstrip is prey to unpredictable weather. Low cloud and mist can delay flights but when they do arrive, the control tower can often handle a dozen flights in half an hour, with planes touching down and taking off again within 10 minutes. We have allowed two days as a buffer for a problem with the weather.	We made it to Kathmandu.  Must be all those prayer wheels I turned...
Sunday November 21st - Kathmandu	All being well, today is free for more exploring in and around Kathmandu.	Shopping!  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Monday November 22nd - Kathmandu	Again, hopefully a free day in and around Kathmandu. In the evening we will be attending a reception as guests at the British Gurkhas Nepal headquarters.	Spent the morning visiting temples and watching cremations! Change of plan - reception tonight will be at the British Embassy plus a Ghurka curry.
Tuesday November 23rd - Depart Nepal	Flying back to the UK overnight, via Qatar.
Wednesday November 24th - Arrive UK	Arriving back at Gatwick on Wednesday morning.

NB The exact location of overnight stops on the trek may vary according to availability and the progress of the group. If any of the party suffers from the effects of altitude (Acute Mountain Sickness), then some or all of us may descend that night to alleviate the symptoms. Safety issues will take precedence over all other considerations.