I have never considered trying to raise money on any of my previous long walks mainly because I didn’t think it right if I was walking for my own pleasure but somehow I feel that Nepal is slightly different if not only because unlike long distance walks in the Alps and Pyrenees where one is walking in France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain etc. who aren’t exactly poor whereas Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world.  I have therefore decided to try and raise some money for the Himalayan Trust who are currently  developing Health Post and School services in the Taplejung and Khumbu districts of Nepal with ongoing forthcoming work including the rebuilding a health post that is at severe risk following a landslide and developing the teacher training programme initiated by the Himalayan Trust.  Nepal is still recovering from the earthquakes of 2015.

I will be walking a total of some 150 miles from Arughat on the east of Mount Manaslu to Syange on the west, reaching a height of 5135 metres at Larkya La Pass (a little higher than Pt Lenana on Mount Kenya which I climbed (walked up) almost 40 years ago).  I will be walking for a total of 13 days plus a few rest days to acclimatise for altitude when approaching 5000 metres.  Of course, if I waited a year I could claim that I was walking it at the age of 70 but decided not to take the risk and do it now whilst I can still walk!  I will be using a porter and guide unlike my walks in the Alps and Pyrenees.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the Himalayan Trust can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Everard. .  I won’t be offended if you don’t but if you are seeing this on Facebook perhaps you could share it with others.