Everest Here We Go

PMD director Paul Chapman sets out on his Mount Everst charity climb today. Day one and two is a flight from Heathrow to Kathmandu where he will start his adventure at an altitude of 1330M. Chip will be met at the airport and transferred to a hotel in Kathmandu. From this last cradle of civilisation before the trek, and after a briefing from the head guide that will be taking the group of adventurers on the challenge, Chip can eat and sleep in comfort while contemplating what the hell has brought him there.

Day 3 is leaving the hotel early and taking the transfer to the airport for an exhilarating flight to Lukla. Lukla Airport has a very short and steep airstrip, often compounded by hazardous weather, it has been called the most dangerous airport in the world. The single runway is 1,500 feet (460 m) long, 65 feet (20 m) wide and has a 12% gradient. The elevation of the airport is 9,100 feet (2,800 m). Due to the terrain, there is no prospect of a successful go-around on short final. There is high terrain immediately after the northern end of the runway and a steeply angled drop, of about 2,000 feet (610 m) at the southern end of the runway, into the valley below. We hope Chips’ suitcase is bigger than usual and he has all his spare underwear, not just his work boots and shorts.

Take off at Luklahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5-eE1pURS4&feature=related

Landing at Luklahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkIcUpWuYxY&feature=related

you can still donate to chips charity at

http://www.justgiving.com/PMD-Everest-Challenge