Introduction to Everest 2005

Gavin has climbed Everest twice before, yet never actually stood on top of the world. Yet. hopefully this will be a case of third time lucky!

But there is far more to it than that: this expedition is all about climbing one mountain to move mountains for some very special people in the foothills of the Himalayas. There is a very specific goal in mind and we offer you the opportunity to take part in various aspects of both the expedition and the project.

The first time Gavin Bate climbed Everest was on the south-east ridge in 2000 he turned back at the South Summit, just a 100 vertical metres from the top. That was part of a 7 Summits odyssey, to climb the highest peaks on the seven continents in one year for the Millennium. The team used full Sherpa support and bottled oxygen and were the first to summit Everest in the year 2000. In all respects it was a successful expedition but one that personally left Gavin with unfinished business.

The second time he tackled Everest by the Northeast Ridge in 2002 with Northern Irish friend Will Canning. This time no bottled oxygen or climbing support was used, and they tackled the harder north ridge from Tibet. It was a tough trip and they reached the Second Step, just 200 metres from the summit, when Will dislocated his knee in a freak accident. It took the two men four days to descend back to Advance Base Camp, much of it in the teeth of a Himalayan storm.

In between those two expeditions Gavin founded a charity called Moving Mountains which helps street children in Kenya and promotes community projects in a number of villages in the Solukhumbu region of the Himalayas. He did this after years working and living in Kenya and Nepal and seeing first hand the effects of poverty and marginilisation.

Now Moving Mountains is an established charity helping many people and Gavin uses the profile of his expeditions to raise awareness and funds. More than simply raising funds, he is keen for people to see the work of the charity first hand and to experience how the charity works.

The interest in the villages of Khari Khola, Bumburi and Bupsa in Solukhumbu began with friendships formed during many expeditions into the Himalaya. Babu Chiri Sherpa, Ang Rita Sherpa and Chhongba Sherpa are all from that area. Babu became an icon of Nepalese mountaineering, when he made the fastest ascent of Everest in just 16 hours from Base Camp.

Unfortunately Babu died in 2001 on Everest, but the rapport between Ang Rita, Chhongba and Gavin is now a formidable team which runs a joint operation between Adventure Alternative in the UK, High Country in Nepal and the often for the benefit of the Moving Mountains Trust.

Not only do their treks, expeditions and teaching or medical placements offer a very special experience in this incredible country, they have pioneered a charter for the rights of porters which it is hoped will spearhead a change in the industry.

For Gavin’s third expedition to climb Mount Everest he will again be attempting the South East Ridge, this time without bottled oxygen or Sherpa support. With him will be friend and Moving Mountains trustee Chris Little, who will be using bottled oxygen. They go to Everest in April 2005.

The expedition has a purpose, to raise funds to complete two major projects in the region that will improve the lives of the people who live there. These people are identified as underprivileged, living a largely subsistent lifestyle with no welfare from the state and no donor support. The money will help:

• Install a micro hydro electricity plant in the small village of Bumburi (cost £30,000).
• Pay for running costs and refurbishment of Khari Khola hospital for 3 years (cost £5,000).

Gav says: "I have been exploring and expeditioning all my life now and have seen some remarkable things along the way. But time and again I return to the people I have met, both in the slums of Kenya and in the rural villages of Nepal, whose lives and friendships have so deeply affected my own.

"If my expedition to climb Everest, and finally succeed in completing the Seven Summits for all that is worth, can make these projects happen with the Moving Mountains Trust then all my efforts will have been worth it.

"For me, as far as personal achievement is always going to be a major motivation, far more powerful is the desire to use this expedition for a more worthwhile purpose."