THE PREPARATION
Training that got us to Nepal
The training and preparation behind our completed Everest expedition.
Months of preparation
The Mourne Mountains had been my training ground for months. The preparation included long mountain days, aerobic work and strength training. The goal wasn’t just to arrive in Nepal — it was to be fit enough to enjoy the challenge.
That preparation proved valuable, even when the original plan fell apart.
Long days, strength and recovery
Long mountain days, steady aerobic sessions and strength training helped build the fitness for consecutive days on the trail. Boots, layers, water treatment and walking in the dark all had a trial at home.
The Seven Sevens brought several things together: a long day, a pre-dawn start and treating stream water with a Steripen. The final descent was a reminder to prepare for getting down as well as going up.
Fitness helped with the work. Our guide’s judgement, time to acclimatise and the willingness to change the route remained essential.