Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2006 | Page 47

SPORT & LEISURE

“The most thrilling month of my life”

Peter’s
awesome
Himalayan
trek
For Island Army man Peter
Skelley, the Wight Way was
about the most strenuous hike
he’d ever done – until he got the
chance to tackle a section of the
Himalayas.

as competing in horse riding and
showjumping events, says he chose
to join the Kings Troop so he could
mix the routine of the regular Army
with the prestige of ceremonial
duty.

Along with a group of colleagues
from the London-based Royal Horse
Artillery of the Kings Troop, the
former Sandown High School boy
jumped at the chance to undertake
the month-long trek that took them
through rainforests and hills to
breathtaking glaciers.

He has already taken part in salutes
and state visits, including the
Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations.

Says Peter, 22:
“We visited
monasteries and sacred lakes, as
well as witnessing the extreme
poverty of the people in India. It
was an amazing life experience to
go from sea-level to 4km above and
to see Everest and the surrounding
ranges with the help of yaks and our
Nepalese helpers”.

Main Picture: Gary McBride and
Peter Skelley at The Glaciers
at the base of the Himalayas.
Picture Above: Peter Skelley
with his favourite sweets,
Chocolate Eclairs.
Picture Left: First checkpoint
at Clare Hinge.

Peter, who used to play football
for Shanklin FC and Rugby for
Sandown and Shanklin RC as well

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