Namche team put Trek A through their paces

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The Namche Team finally achieved completion on Wednesday in time to put trekking group A through their paces at Namche. Jim returned from his lab at Pheriche to join Monty, Liesl, Helen, Jo and Goli. Dick who was passing through on his way to Everest Base Camp decided to lend a hand (but only the one!).

Thursday and Friday were the testing days for the trekkers at 3400m. The lab a hive of activity from 6.30am and by 7.30am the trekkers had completed their daily diary entry and started the testing. Testing then runs all day on a tight schedule until 5pm after which tidying and preparation is done for the next day. Namche is still pretty cold, and the lab is no exception; staff and trekkers alike are mostly kitted out in clothes usually seen on a snow covered mountain side. The team have even developed a fingerless glove to accommodate a sats probe!

Under these conditions conducting testing all day has proved challenging not only for the staff but the equipment too. Some gremlins were revealed in the equipment. This was always expected despite extensive testing in the year running up to the expedition. With perseverance however, almost all the tests were completed on schedule.

The group showed great resilience and everyone attended their testing sessions with enthusiasm. This was only out done by the children enrolled on the Smiths Medical Young Everest Study. The children achieved their own summit at Tengboche on Tuesday. Another cause for celebration was Patrick Mythen?s great achievement of climbing to 4900m with mum Kate. On his return he took just 1 day to trek from Pheriche to Namche, normally a trek reserved only for the more hardy adults! The whole of the Namche team would like to congratulate the children and Patrick on their achievements.

It isn?t all testing and after an exhausting 13hours exercise testing, blood processing, and neurological evaluation the team commenced project ?evening entertainment? with the inaugural film ?Dead Poets Society? at Club Namche cinema. Some of the trekking group were so excited bed time was delayed until the Xtreme time of 11 pm! The winner of the first Namche photography competition was Olivia Hayward with an excellent photo of Yaks crossing a precarious rope bridge. The clapometer judging system ensuring fairness despite Goli?s best attempts to get her hands on the prize!

Saturday was also marked with a high profile visit by the Managing Director of Smiths Medical. The occasion was marked with the official opening of the Smiths Medical Laboratory.

In light of the excellent company and Club Namche, Dick made up some excuse about a poorly hand and decided to delay his trip to Everest Base Camp forcing Liesl to take his place at EBC for the next 2 weeks to allow his hand to recover a bit more.

Jo Simpson

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