Everest Challenge Expedition

Website: www.everestchallenge.org.uk   Raising Money For Marie Curie Charity

Route: South East Ridge

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Kenton Cool and Dr Rob Casserley

EXPEDITION NOW FINISHED

26th May: The team have set out from Everest Base Camp for there long journey back to the UK.

24th May: Exhaustion has forced Sir Ranulph Fiennes, to abandon his attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. At 12.45am (Nepalese time) the Base Camp radio cracked into life with the news that Sir Ranulph was back at the South Col, having turned back due to exhaustion. Sir Ranulph was expected to be back in Base Camp late afternoon today. Kenton Cool and Rob Casserley reached the summit at approx 8am.

23rd May: At 5pm UK time the team had left the South Col for the summit.

22nd May: Just before lunchtime today (Nepal time) the team safely reached Camp 3. They left Camp 2 at 5am and began the long trudge, on fixed lines, up the steep Lhotse Face. They will leave tomorrow morning at 7am and should arrive at Camp 4 early afternoon.

20th May: The team left Base Camp at 3am this morning for there ascent to the summit. By lunchtime the team had arrived at Camp 2, were they will stay the night. Tomorrow will be a rest day before the team push on for Camp 3. They are expecting to summit at about 3am GMT on Saturday, May 24.

13th May: The team arrived back into Base Camp just before lunchtime today after leaving Camp 2 at 6.30am. They will rest at Base Camp for several days waiting for a window of good weather before heading back up for the summit.

12th May: After a night of heavy snowfall, the team left Camp 2 and made the ascent to Camp 3. Their aim is to ‘touch’ Camp 3 and then retreat down the mountain, spending the night at Camp 2 before leaving for Base Camp the following day.

10th May: With Everest now open again the team left Base Camp at 4am this morning. They intend to head straight up to Camp 2, where they will stay for the night. Sunday morning they hope to push on for Camp 3.

1st May: Mount Everest has today been officially closed. The Nepalese side of Everest is closed for two days, May 1 and May 2, to allow the Olympic flame to reach the summit of the mountain – from the Chinese side. As with all the other expeditions here, we will wait for the all clear before going back up.

28th April: The team have arrived back in Base Camp after a three night trip to Camp 2. The acclimatisation trip proved to be a tough one. Some of the climbers have got what is known as the Khumbu Cough, a dry, tickly, hacking cough that is difficult to shake.

27th April: Yesterday, Saturday 26th, the team spent there first night at Camp 2. They plan to stay at Camp 2 again tonight and back down to Base Camp tomorrow.

25th April: No rest day as planned. At six am this morning the Team left Base Camp for a three night trip to Camp 2. They will spend tonight at Camp 1 then the next two nights at Camp 2 before heading back down to Base Camp.

24th April: Having spent their first night at Camp 1 the team are now safely back at Base Camp. Ranulph said "I found it very hard work indeed, I am going to find the bits higher up harder work still". They now have a few rest days before there next trip up through the Icefall.

20th April: The team has headed into the Khumbu Icefall up to Camp 1. This is the third time they have ventured into the notorious Icefall

18th April: The team has made there first trip into the Khumbu Icefall today with no real problems

14th April: Sir Ranulph Fiennes and the team have now arrived at Everest Base Camp