The more important things in life

(Tuesday September 1 22.40 Beijing time)

(We have changed to Beijing time now that we're travelling in Tibet but we will revert to Nepali time when we're at Cho Oyu basecamp as that is more representative of the daytime.)

Today was centered around our first acclamatisation trek. Proper acclamatisation is critical to us doing a summit attempt on Cho Oyu. This involves 'shocking' the body to adjust to the decreased amount of oxygen in the thinning atmosphere that comes with altitude.

Yesterday, we shocked the body by going up from 1,800m to 3,750m in just over two hours (driving from the Nepali-Tibet border town of Khodari to Nyalam where we slept last night). Today, we shocked our body to 4,300m by doing a six-hour trek up the mountains around Nyalam.

One may think that climbing big mountains is exhilerating and an adrenaline-generating sport. In reality it is quite 'boring' - in the sense that apart from enjoying the spectacular scenery you are concentrating on the next step for six hours or more. One step after another for hours on end. The only source of entertainment is your MP3. This situation, however, gives ample time for reflection... reflection on one's life, loved ones, work, and the very essence of being alive.

In the hectic world we live in, it's not often that we get this opportunity. In fact, I can honestly say that I very seldom take a second off my hectic schedule to stop and appreciate the more important things in life. And for this I'm sorry.

Therefore, I must say that I am deeply indebted towards my wife Jo for letting me embark on this unique opportunity of climbing Cho Oyu (and Everest); I am convinced that this experience will make me a better man and more appreciative of her (and my family's) love, support and patience.

The real heros are our wives and girlfriends who wait anxiously for scraps of news of their loved ones from one of the most remote and inhospitalble places on earth. For this we will be indebted forever. And I think I can speak for the three of us.