Two intrepid young men from Perth were challenged to their limits when they set off to Nepal to climb to Mount Everest Base Camp.
Digital company founder Andrew Donaldson (29) and his pal Michael Atherton (26) made a 13-day journey to the Himalayas to raise money for Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) “because November 2022 marks 10 years since we lost Sean”.
Every year since Sean Wallace’s death, Andrew, who works at his own digital start-up company www.ajddigital.co.uk in Perth has done something in his childhood friend’s honour and this year marked a decade since Sean passed away.
The extraordinary trip he made with Michael – who works for SSE – to the world’s tallest peak has raised around £8500, with a total of £7870 currently showing on the fundraising page but much more coming in from generous local businesses.
Andrew and Michael are back safely in the Fair City having had many adventures and mishaps.
“We would like to thank all of our friends and family for their generous donations and in particular our 12 corporate sponsors for their support,” said Andrew.
“We’ve raised a superb amount so far and it definitely made all of the hard work on our trip more than worthwhile.
“The money raised is not only a fantastic tribute to Sean but it will also go a long way in supporting the work that SAMH do to support people in Scotland struggling with mental health issues.”
Both men work full time but used their weekends to practise climbing Munros in preparation for the mission.
Michael kept a blog beginning on October 8 and in it detailed flight delays, his unfortunate mid-air food poisoning, Andrew’s debilitating cold caught from the air conditioning in a Delhi hotel, as well as blisters, insects and bag laden treks in torrential rain when road transport couldn’t continue.
They finished off their mission with a stopover in India which took them to the Taj Mahal and then returned to Perth last month.
At Heathrow, Michael and Andrew had to spend four hours on the tarmac, then Michael got food poisoning and spent the last three hours of the flight fighting feinting and cold sweats.
The delay leaving the UK cost them dearly, missing the connection to Nepal, losing them a valuable day that would have been used to acclimatise.
In Kathmandu, bad weather meant the Perth pair were unable to fly to Lukla so had to drive for over 18 hours by jeep on scary single track roads through the Himalayas.
At 6am on day three, Andrew and Michael met their team of 12 other foreign walkers – a mix of Americans, Canadians, Spanish, German, Danish, and Belgian.
But one of the vehicles the group were in started falling apart and the 12 were crammed into one truck with all their baggage.
“We ploughed ahead as it was our only hope of continuing the trek,” the lads posted. “Going back would take over a day and finish any hopes we had left of making base camp.
“We were on the brink of having to admit defeat and call it quits on our base camp effort – after the mostly hellish experience so far … that was really tough to take. Morale was at an all-time low.”
When wheels would go no further, they had to march.
They walked 32km over 15 hours of walking on a climb to 2800m.
“Really intense. Worst terrain I’ve ever experienced. Torrential rain, legs in bits,” reported Michael in his blog.
Worryingly, Andrew had a bad cold developing, not helped by the rain.
Michael took up the story: “Conditions escalated Andy’s cold symptoms to full-blown flu symptoms, his already dodgy knee also gave in to the demands.
“I’ve never seen a more genuinely broken looking guy than the Andy I saw in a sleeping bag that night shaking, sheet white spluttering with every word.”
A turning point it the challenge came on day five, Andrew seemed on the mend and now they'd reached the start of the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trail.
And day six was beautiful. Michael blogged: “Got our first glance of the ‘roof of the world’ today. Unbelievable scenes.”
But then as they continued on the trail, Michael sickened with Andrew's cold which was worsening his growing altitude sickness.
On day 10 they climbed to 5364m and set eyes on the Base Camp marker stone.
“It was an emotional approach to EBC – don’t think there were many dry eyes in the team. We all had our reasons for doing this trip and none of could have expected the challenges we’d face together.
“When we made it, everyone took a seat on the rocks to reflect on the journey. Everest towered above us, as did the Khumbu glacier and ice fall. The whole group got behind our SAMH banner,” recalled Michael.
Andrew and Michael took a helicopter down to Namche (around 3500m) to save time and effort. “What a place for my first chopper ride,” wrote Michael. “It will take us on the scenic route around Everest.”
Touching down, they found relief and some civilisation.
Michael recalled: “Headed straight for the teahouse and one by one had our first hot shower in several days. Treated myself to first shave of the expedition. I came out of the shower a new man.
“We headed straight out for food and beers. It wasn’t long before we found ourselves in the highest Irish bar in the world sinking cans of ‘Nepal Ice’ beer.
“We met a Swedish family. When our new friend Leo learned we’re from Scotland, he advised us ‘I’ve only been to one place in Scotland, you’ve probably not heard of it, Perth, I went to Loft Nightclub when I was 16.”
The flight out of Lukla in a tiny aircraft was memorable.
“For those from Perth, we had the length of the Newhouse Road hill to play with, with similar incline.
“The challenge would be whether we make it home or our faces end up planted in the roundabout at the bottom. Just as we ran out of tarmac, we took off.”
Next they stopped for rest in India.
The timing of their stop in Delhi was fortunate. It was during the start of Diwali. The next day they went to see the Taj Mahal.
On return to Perth, the two lads shared their adventures with Sean Wallace’s parents who live in Perth and had a special evening of togetherness after the mega effort made in his name.
The following sponsors made the EBC trip possible: McLeod Glaziers, Meldrum Joinery and Building, Chiropractic Life, The House of Edgar, Direct Shine, Everest Inn, Sainsbury & Sons Furniture Aberdeen, Flonix, Keepsafe Storage, Scotloo, Castlecroft, SoaperStars and The Kirkside Bar.
DAS Signs kindly printed and manufactured trip T-shirts and large banner, free of charge.
Michael was chuffed when two more firms helped: “We’ve just had generous donations confirmed from my own employer, SSE, as well as Level Offshore.”
Anyone moved to donate to their fundraiser should go the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-donaldson93
