Our first trip to Nepal was Youth to Everest in 1988, which involved an expedition to Chomolungma (Everest) with New Zealand climbers Lydia Bradey, Bill Atkinson, Rob Hall and Gary Ball. Lydia achieved the summit solo and without supplemental oxygen – which is still one of the greatest achievements in Himalayan mountaineering today.

In 1989 we managed an expedition which included Gary Ball and Rob Hall, with Sherpas Phunjo Norbu and Appa from Thame. Appa went on the climb the mountain 21 times – a record which stood until recently.

1990 was our second Youth to Everest trek, where 125 students collected and buried 3000 tonnes of accumulated waste from Everest Base Camp. Of the climbing team, Peter Hillary, Rob Hall and Gary Ball were all successful in climbing Chomolungma.

From 1991 until the pandemic struck in 2020, we had more than 2500 students and adults on our Youth to Everest treks, and over 500 on guided treks to Everest Base Camp. We are proud to have guided more people in Nepal than any other non-Sherpa.

Our history with Nepal, and the connections we’ve made over the years – both with people and the place itself – are an integral part of who we are.