Wirral Life January 2022 | Page 14

TRI-4-LIFE MOUNT EVEREST CENTENARY CHALLENGE 2022
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TRI-4-LIFE MOUNT EVEREST CENTENARY CHALLENGE 2022
In May 2022 a group of local friends will be retracing the famous steps of George Mallory in a centenary celebration of the 1922 British Mount Everest expedition . This was the first mountaineering expedition with the aim of making the first ascent of Mount Everest .
This was also the first expedition that attempted to climb Everest using bottled oxygen . The expedition would attempt to climb Everest from the northern side out of Tibet as the south side out of Nepal was closed to Western foreigners . In an uncanny twist of fate and following four years of preparation by the team , the Tibetan route has now just been closed , so the team will attempt to summit from the southern side out of Nepal .
George Mallory was the only participant on all three Everest expeditions in 1921 , 1922 and 1924 and had discovered a route which , in his opinion , would allow an attempt on the summit .
Although the summit was never reached that year , the expedition did establish a new world record climbing height of 8,326 meters which was subsequently exceeded in the 1924 expedition .
As young boys , the tri-4-life team played on the same streets as their childhood Everest hero ’ s . Team Director Liam Hanlon said : " It will be a huge honour to follow in their footsteps exactly one hundred years since their pioneering endeavour .
" It is hoped that this 100 year tri-4-life story will capture the imaginations of the charitable fundraising , community involvement and philanthropic efforts of the challenge , bringing together the cultures , beliefs and humanity from around the world with respect in ‘ Remembrance & Friendship ’ for all those that have walked before us ".
The 2022 team will be supported by Adventure Peaks and will be raising funds for Community Action Nepal , Wirral University Teaching Hospital & Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust .
tri-4-life team- ' Almost on top of the world '
The team have recently returned from five weeks high altitude training in the Himalayas as they tested themselves in preparation for their attempt on Mount Everest this year . At around 4000 metres the air gets thinner , and each step gets harder and harder , headaches , loss of appetite , sleep deprivation and shortness of breath are just a few of the challenges they faced to tackle the high peaks of Mira 6500m and Baruntse 7200m , but as the weather really closed with high winds and huge snowfall , the summits were not reached . However , it was the altitude training that was most important preparing them for the big one in May this year .
Mount Everest is about another 1500 metres higher , but the team is confident in their preparation , discipline , fitness , and ability and feel well prepared for Everest . The expedition will be raising funds for a Sherpa museum in Nepal as well as shelters for the mountain porters . For now , it ' s back to training in the UK and keeping those fitness levels up before returning to the Himalayas in March for the crack of Mount Everest in May .
The tri-4-life Centenary Challenge Team consists of : Liam Hanlon , Phil Walton , Martin Pritchard Howarth , Steve Hayes , Jonathan Fairhurst & Paul Cubbins .
To follow the teams progress or donate to the charities visit : https :// uk . virginmoneygiving . com / MartinPritchardHowarth
14 wirrallife . com