Final Preparation for Everest
Day 36 – It’s Getting Real
Day Thirty Six: 15/03/23
Resting Heart Rate: 75bpm
Blood Saturation: 92
Long, slow and hard. Excruciating pain in my heels. New boots. I have a heel condition called; Hagland’s Syndrome. It’s a very mysterious but common condition also know a Hagland’s deformity and/or Pump Bump. It’s an abnormality of the bone and soft tissue around the heel of the foot – both feet. I struggled with this back in 2019 when I was walking up steep mountains preparing for Everest Base Camp. Probable causes can include a tight achillies tendon, a high arch of the foot and hereditary however the most common cause is when the large bony lump (bilateral) rubs against rigid shoes, like my high altitude boots.
Day 28 – Day 35
Day Twenty Eight: 07/03/23
Resting Heart Rate: 83bpm
Blood Saturation: 93
500m up and 500m down. Lots of stopping to chat to people.
10:48am: Snow Hike
Distance: 3.81km
Elapsed Time: 2hr14
Total Ascent: 536m
Total Descent: 530m
Average HR: 140bpm
Max HR: 170bpm
Calories: 741 cal
Day Twenty Nine: 08/03/23
Resting Heart Rate: 67bpm
Blood Saturation: 93
Rest Day.
Day Thirty: 09/03/23
Resting Heart Rate: 68bpm
Blood Saturation: 92
Rest Day.
Day Thirty One: 10/03/23
Day 27 – Simulating Summit Day
Day Twenty Seven: 06/03/23
Resting Heart Rate: 80bpm
Blood Saturation: 92
Long day today, 1000m elevation and 1000m descent. This is probably the closest I’ve been to simulating summit day. Obviously, I’ll have all the elements to battle up there, residual fatigue, lack of sleep, headaches, lack of recovery, losing energy to the freezing temperatures, struggling to move without oxygen, crazy emotions and, feeling dirty without a shower or change of clothes for days or weeks!
8:32am: Snow Hike
Distance: 12.54km Read More
Day 26 – One Foot in Front of the Other
Day Twenty Six: 05/03/23
Resting Heart Rate: 80bpm
Blood Saturation: 90
A tough day getting moving again. I just didn’t want to get out of bed this morning. I got up and put my base layers on and jumped back into bed. An hour later I got up and put my outer layers on – then jumped into bed again. I woke again and this time put my boots on, thinking I’d get out the door, no – Back in bed with my boots on!
Day 25 – Complete Rest Day
Day Twenty Five: 04/03/23
Resting Heart Rate: 80bpm
Blood Saturation: 90
Complete Rest Day. I got myself a bit reorganised today, ready for my last big climbing block before attempting to summit Everest.