H o w i c k & Pa k u r a n g a Profiles, travel, fashion, health and beauty, food, interiors and more VOL 53, NO 15 | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024
www.eastlife.co.nz
www.times.co.nz
AIMING FOR MT EVEREST BASE CAMP By CHRIS HARROWELL
N
ine intrepid Kiwi adventurers are on their way to a remote location forever linked to New Zealand’s most famous mountaineer. Among the group who departed the country on April 16 destined for Mount Everest base camp in the Himalayas is east Auckland couple Wesley Upfold, who runs a successful food truck business, and primary school teacher Nicki Reid. The campsite is used by people during their ascent and descent of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, which was first summited by Kiwi Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953. Their group includes several of Upfold’s family members and several of their friends. “We’re flying to Singapore and then Kathmandu, and then we’re on a five-hour deadly bus ride, which goes along the sides of the mountains to Ramechhap,” Upfold says. “Then we fly to Lakla, which is world’s deadliest airport. If there’s any bad weather it’s a no-go. “If you can’t fly in you’re either delayed or you have to book a helicopter. It flies from Kathmandu but that’s US$300 extra. Once we land in Lakla we start straight away. We have a three- to five-hour walk and then we go every day.
“It’s between six to eight hours on foot.” Upfold says the group will start walking first thing in the morning and finish depending on how far they have to go. They stop for lunch at about 10am. “That’s because you’ve had breakfast early and you can’t walk in the heat of the sun when it’s 23 degrees. “As soon as the sun drops the temperature goes negative. It’s eight days there and four days back.” Reid says the group won’t get to linger at base camp for long. “The day we go there we start at one of the tea houses. We walk for three to four hours to base camp and we’re only there for 30 minutes to take photos. Then we walk back to that same tea house to sleep that night. They don’t let you hang around there because they’ve got all the tents set up for the people who are summiting Everest.” Porters will carry up all of the group’s luggage and everything they plan to eat and use. It’s Upfold and Reid’s first trip to base camp and has been his bucketlist adventure for some time. “I’ve always wanted to go and when my brother-in-law said he and his sister are going ... and the group can go up to 10 people and would I like to come, without even asking my wife I said, ‘yep, done, I’m eager!’.”
Turn to page 5
East Auckland couple Wesley Upfold and Nicki Reid are on their way to Mount Everest base camp in the Himalayas. Times photo Wayne Martin
SPECIAL OFFER HELP KIWIS STAY ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE PLEASE DONATE TO OUR RED SHIELD APPEAL. THANK YOU.
ON LEGAL FEES FOR SALES AND PURCHASES OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Kelly Flavell Law
10%
discount
Assisting In Your Success PROPERTY. COMMERCIAL. ESTATES. WILLS. MATRIMONIAL.
For an appointment please call 09 535 2150 18 Uxbridge Rd, Howick | kellyflavell.co.nz
JH16448-V5
0800 53 00 00 SalvationArmy.org.nz/RedShield
for Super Gold Card Holders