Mon, 17 Apr 2017 Heno

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-Why does man climb mountains?

-For millennia, the world's peaks

-have enticed people to conquer them.

-In 2016,

-Steff and I came to Snowdonia...

-..to prepare for

-the biggest challenge of our lives.

-Steff had booked a trip

-to the Himalayas...

-..to fulfil a dream and see

-one of the wonders of the world.

-And me?

-I went with him

-to see what all the fuss was about!

-This wasn't a holiday

-but twelve days of solid walking...

-..up and down...

-..with the aim of climbing 5,300m...

-..to the foot of the world's

-highest mountain - Everest!

-Everest has strong links with Wales.

-This colossus

-was named after a Welshman.

-He was Sir George Everest

-from Crickhowell in Powys.

-He's responsible for The Great

-Trigonometrical Survey of India...

-..in the 19th century.

-It mapped the country

-and the surrounding area.

-Everest is part of the Himalayas.

-This mountain range has India

-to the south and China to the north.

-It contains eight of the ten

-highest mountains in the world.

-Many have tried to conquer it

-and lost their lives in the process.

-Very few can say that they've stood

-on top of the world!

-In 1856, Everest was named

-the world's highest mountain...

-..and it was a race

-to reach the top.

-Which country would plant

-its flag at the top first?

-It was a matter of national pride.

-It was 97 years later...

-..that Sir Edmund Hillary

-from New Zealand...

-..and his Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay

-stood on top of the world.

-And yes, their story

-started in Wales.

-Just like any good story,

-it started in a pub!

-The Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel has welcomed

-climbers from across the globe.

-At less than a mile

-from Pen-y-Pass...

-..it's perfect

-for those scaling Snowdon...

-..or those who want a pint

-after their descent!

-The two British expeditions to

-conquer Everest came here to train.

-The first was in 1924

-and the second was in 1953.

-The hotel is full of items from the

-memorable and historic adventures.

-Two men who have experienced

-Everest's slippery slopes...

-..are Eric Jones,

-a highly-respected climber...

-..and Crag Jones, the first Welshman

-to reach the summit of Everest.

-Two pints, please.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-Very well, thank you.

-You've scaled the highest summits

-in the world.

-Many climbers

-start their journey here.

-What makes Snowdonia so special?

-It's steeped in history in terms

-of mountaineering in Britain.

-Some of the first climbs

-were developed in this area...

-..and it became a popular sport

-in the Snowdonia region.

-Why did the early adventurers

-train in Wales...

-..as opposed to the Lake District

-or Scotland?

-It isn't just ideal for Everest...

-..but Snowdonia is a great place

-to learn to climb...

-..for wherever you decide to climb.

-You get experience of scaling rocks

-and climbing in the winter.

-They realized that this site,

-especially in winter...

-..was perfect for training

-for expeditions to the Alps.

-Wales left her mark on

-the English climber, George Mallory.

-He was in the first British

-expedition to the summit.

-He named the Western Cwm

-because it reminded him of Wales.

-It's a burning issue as to whether

-he reached the summit.

-Many claim that his body

-still lies on Everest.

-Mallory had been invited here

-by Geoffrey Winthrop Young...

-..after World War I.

-He was one of the most accomplished

-climbers in Britain at the time.

-He climbed the rocks of Snowdonia...

-..and established a lot of the

-new routes that were very important.

-That is how

-Mallory's career started...

-..in the world of mountaineering.

-The next 20 years saw many attempts

-to reach the summit.

-In 1953,

-after training in Snowdonia...

-..a second British team

-ventured to Nepal...

-..and yes,

-they conquered the beast!

-The Welsh link

-came in the form of Jan Morris.

-She was a reporter for The Times.

-She was the link

-between the mountain and London.

-Her task was both massive

-and confidential.

-She had to inform London before

-anyone else learnt of the news.

-Jan, thank you very much

-for your time today.

-How did you end up

-on that 1953 adventure...

-..or expedition to Everest?

-I got into it

-because I was working for The Times.

-The Times had financed most of the

-previous expeditions to Everest...

-..and they were with this one too.

-They had a right to send

-a correspondent with the expedition.

-In the past, they used

-one of the climbers themselves.

-This time, since the competition

-was likely to be hot...

-..from other papers

-around the world...

-..they decided to send a

-professional along and that was me.

-It was only me because everybody

-else on The Times was 80 years old!

-I was young and fit

-and extremely ambitious...

-..so I accepted the job

-with pleasure.

-How high did you

-get up the mountain?

-It gets higher every year!

-Higher than me and you, Steff.

-Higher than me and you, Steff.

-

-Yes.

-Tell us about this code, Jan.

-It's nearly as famous

-as the summit itself.

-The code, yes.

-Well, it was like this.

-From the beginning, we thought

-that there'd be competition...

-..from correspondents

-from around the world.

-The story was quite a big thing.

-At The Times,

-they produced a code for me.

-It was a code

-for which a word made nonsense.

-For example,

-summit might be flapjack!

-It was like that

-- totally different.

-I realized if the Nepali authorities

-who ran the cable base...

-..were presented with a message

-they didn't understand...

-..they wouldn't send it.

-And also, if they did send it...

-..people would realize it was a code

-and something was up!

-So what I did was,

-I devised a code...

-..which didn't seem to be in code.

-The message seemed to make sense.

-I remember the message to say

-Everest had been climbed was...

-.."snow conditions bad,

-awaiting improvement."

-It was a short code...

-..but I was able to say when it was

-climbed and who it was climbed by.

-That moment

-when Hillary came back down.

-The very first words he told you,

-what were they?

-"We've knocked the ******* off!"

-Brilliant!

-Can you tell us about this book

-we have in front of us?

-You took it with you

-on the expedition in 1953.

-It says so on the front!

-This is a book by W H Murray

-who was a mountaineering writer.

-He wrote it

-about the history of Everest.

-He only had a proof copy

-but somehow, it got into my hands...

-..and I took it with me.

-When I got there,

-I leant it around all the others...

-..when we were on the side

-of the mountain.

-They all read it and spilt tea on it

-and made a mess of it in general...

-..but then they all signed it.

-Ed Hillary there.

-Tenzing.

-The only word he could write.

-There's yours

-and there's something underneath.

-In those days...

-..I thought presumptuous to pretend

-I was a member of the expedition.

-I was anxious not to push myself in.

-When I signed, I put...

-"James Morris: The Times

-(who owns the book)"

-And so the years passed

-and we all grew old.

-In the end, very recently...

-..the only people to come

-to the reunions apart from me...

-..were the widows!

-And so they all signed it for me.

-There they are.

-But still, it's sad.

-Isn't it?

-They've all gone.

-But Jan Morris...

-But Jan Morris...

-

-..with something underneath.

-"Still owns the book!"

-When the news reached Britain...

-..the Pen-y-gwryd Hotel

-had a call from The Times.

-The owners and visitors

-were celebrating...

-..before the ink had dried

-on the national newspapers!

-The hotel's owners

-woke all their residents...

-..to raise a glass to the mission.

-Hillary and his team maintained

-that link with the site.

-They met every ten years

-at the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel...

-..to relive

-their adventures of 1953.

-The walls of the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel

-tell their story...

-..alongside the names of other

-climbers who reached the summit.

-Your name is up there, Crag.

-It sits with those

-who also scaled Everest.

-What's the appeal of the mountain?

-It was Doug Scott who said

-that if the opportunity arose...

-..to attempt to climb

-the highest point in the world...

-..then any climber

-would jump at the chance to do it.

-The air is very thin

-and the body starts to shut down.

-Did it ever bother you?

-There's a tendency to forget to

-breathe when you're at that height.

-It's because there's so little

-carbon dioxide in the air.

-Your partner in the tent...

-..is totally still and doesn't

-breathe for a few minutes...

-..so you find yourself

-shaking them into life!

-Yes, it does.

-It can create

-a very difficult situation.

-What did you see and how did you

-feel when you reached the summit?

-It looks as though you can see

-the curvature of the world.

-I felt very successful

-and it was wonderful.

-You've both reached

-the highest summits in the world.

-Some were

-more technical than others.

-Those ten seconds

-when you reach the highest point.

-What goes through your mind?

-What's it like?

-Is it jubilation, disappointment or

-do you look for the next challenge?

-Or is it a sense of relief?

-I often feel relieved.

-You think about a tough climb

-for months or even years...

-..so think you'll be happy

-when you reach the top.

-But you will have spent

-many days on the mountain...

-..you're cold, hungry, wet

-and can't wait to get back down.

-This is the most dangerous time.

-The adrenalin keeps you going

-when you're on that difficult climb.

-After reaching the summit,

-you're struck by exhaustion...

-..and the descent is dangerous.

-The Eiger is the perfect example.

-More climbers have died on the

-easy route than the difficult one.

-Has it ever crossed your mind...

-..where you've wanted

-to call it a day?

-I remember the Spiral Stairs on an

-early climb in the Llanberis Pass.

-There was a difficult part

-that was tough for a beginner.

-I thought I'd be happy

-if I could go back and do it...

-..but I soon found that there was

-always something else to conquer.

-Thank you for chatting with us.

-Today, we face the highest summit

-in Wales so thank you.

-Good luck to you.

-Without oxygen?

-Without oxygen?

-

-We'll see!

-Thank you.

-We didn't repeat their feat because

-Base Camp was enough of a challenge.

-Snowdon was good enough

-for Hillary, Crag and Eric...

-..and us too!

-When we return,

-we leave Wales' highest mountain...

-..for the highest in the world.

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-We're climbing

-the summit of Snowdon.

-It's six months since we walked

-to Everest Base Camp.

-We're here to learn about

-the special links...

-..between Wales and the world's

-highest mountain - Everest.

-Many paths lead to the summit of

-Snowdon and we're on the Pyg Track.

-It's easy to start at the foot

-of this mountain in Wales.

-In Nepal, the journey to the path

-to Everest Base Camp...

-..starts in the capital

-of Kathmandu.

-You can't compare the tranquillity

-of Llanberis with Kathmandu.

-It's in the centre of Nepal.

-It's a busy, lively city

-that's home to 1.4 million people.

-I wanted to show you the rush hour!

-Oh, it's absolutely bonkers.

-It's very colourful.

-It's like Cardiff at night.

-Yes, it's like Caroline Street

-on a Saturday night!

-The festival of Dashain is

-celebrated in September and October.

-It's a 15-day Hindu celebration...

-..where bright colours

-fill the streets and homes.

-A taxi driver said it was

-the quiet period in Kathmandu...

-..because everyone

-was visiting their families.

-This was the start of our journey

-but we had time to be tourists!

-We used traditional means

-of transport and sampled the food.

-Well?

-Well?

-

-Lush!

-Whilst in Kathmandu, we realized

-something wasn't quite right.

-We're walking down a street full of

-people but don't know where we are.

-We haven't got a clue!

-It's lucky that we found a guide

-in the form of Jyoti.

-She's originally from Aberystwyth.

-She now lives and runs

-a Fairtrade jewellery business.

-There's so much beauty in Nepal

-and I love living here...

-..and working here.

-It has such a rich culture.

-There's so much to see

-and do and experience here.

-As we walked around,

-we saw the remains of a disaster.

-Two years ago...

-..an earthquake that measured 7.8

-on the Richter Scale hit the area.

-It's the worst natural disaster

-to strike Nepal in 80 years.

-Almost 9,000 people were killed

-and 21,000 people were injured.

-The earthquake struck

-at about midday on a Saturday.

-Many people were at home eating or

-spending time with their families.

-We're lucky that it struck

-on a Saturday...

-..so the children weren't in school.

-You can walk down any street...

-..and see reminders

-of that earthquake.

-A lot of people are still homeless.

-People from other areas came

-to Kathmandu after the earthquake.

-They expected the support

-to come to Kathmandu.

-Hundreds of thousands of people

-are yet to return to their homes.

-They still live in tents

-in the city.

-The country's culture

-is still feeling the scars.

-A lot of iconic buildings

-were destroyed...

-..especially in

-the Kathmandu region.

-This was the site of an important

-building called the Kasthamandap.

-Kathmandu takes its name

-from this building.

-It's believed to have been built

-in the tenth century.

-It was a public rest house

-and people just spent time here.

-The city is still dealing

-with the disaster...

-..but the strength of the people

-shines through.

-Everybody just tried

-to carry on with their lives.

-For me, personally...

-..I tried to start work

-as soon as possible...

-..so that my crafters and staff

-could earn some money.

-We wanted to find some normality.

-During those difficult times...

-..it's very important

-to keep working and making money.

-I don't think about the earthquake

-that much now.

-We do get the odd tremor...

-..every fortnight to three weeks...

-..so we can't forget it and always

-have reminders of the earthquake.

-Chatting with Jyoti

-was a real eye-opener.

-It was a reminder that Mother Nature

-is both dangerous and unexpected.

-The earthquake was even felt 100

-miles up the valley at Base Camp.

-After finding our way around

-Kathmandu, thanks to Jyoti...

-..the next task was to pack!

-We're ready to get packing.

-This is all our kit.

-That belongs to Steff.

-And this is my kit.

-How long has this got to last?

-Twelve days?

-Twelve days?

-

-Twelve days.

-And all of this

-has got to fit in there!

-The next morning...

-..we went to Kathmandu airport

-for the next stage of our journey.

-It's 7.30am.

-We've arrived

-at Kathmandu airport...

-..and we're on the

-most dangerous plane in the world.

-Where are we going to land, Steff?

-Lukla.

-It's the world's

-most dangerous airport.

-Are you excited?

-Are you excited?

-

-I'm a bit nervous now.

-We didn't have a departure time

-as they take off when they want.

-So... here we go!

-It was a 30-minute flight to Lukla.

-It's the starting point

-of our journey to Base Camp.

-I'd heard a lot

-about Lukla airport...

-..and its famous

-527-metre-long runway...

-..and hadn't thought much about it.

-But your feelings can change very

-quickly when you actually see it!

-Look how close we are to the end.

-That was quite an experience but I

-was glad to be back on solid ground.

-Our challenge had started.

-Bags on and off to go!

-Here we go.

-We're leaving Lukla

-to start our twelve-day-trek.

-Let's go.

-Lukla is 2,860 metres

-above sea level.

-That's three times the size

-of Snowdon.

-The path to Base Camp took us

-through many towns and villages.

-We were far from any city but still

-spotted a number of familiar sights.

-It doesn't matter where you are

-or how remote you might be...

-..you'll always find a Starbucks

-and an Irish pub!

-I started thinking...

-..that this journey wouldn't be

-that difficult after all.

-It isn't too hot.

-The sun isn't too strong

-and we're in the Himalayas!

-It's pretty.

-Daf enjoyed the scenery.

-But I was here

-for the amazing landscape...

-..and to study the climatic changes.

-I was lucky because these things

-seemed to pop up everywhere!

-I've found something interesting

-over here.

-You might disagree with that.

-There's a sign

-for GLOF risk management.

-GLOF means glacial lake

-outburst flood.

-Thanks to global warming,

-the risk of GLOF is far more real.

-Should I be worried about it?

-Should I be worried about it?

-

-I hope not!

-You would get a massive wave

-of water flowing down this valley.

-We wouldn't really stand a chance

-so let's hope it never happens.

-There's nothing like one of

-Steff's facts to boost your spirits!

-There's no danger

-of that happening in Snowdon.

-Having passed Bwlch y Moch...

-..we realized why Mallory

-compared Snowdonia with Everest...

-..and why early adventurers chose

-Snowdonia as a training ground.

-Let's take a break.

-Oh, that's nice.

-Do you know what's even nicer?

-Do you know what's even nicer?

-

-What?

-This is the perfect example

-of the effects of glaciers.

-Crib Goch is behind us

-and Y Lliwedd is over there.

-There's a massive corrie lake

-in front of us.

-If we were sitting here

-10,000 years ago...

-..it would resemble what we saw

-en route to Base Camp in Nepal.

-I've been around the world

-studying glaciers...

-..and nothing beats Wales

-because it has everything.

-You've tried to explain these

-geographical facts many times.

-I do show an interest but I love

-the stories linked with this area.

-Let me tell you a story.

-Bwlch y Saethau

-is just around the corner.

-Many believe

-King Arthur was killed there.

-Before he took his last breath...

-..he took his sword, Excalibur

-and threw it into the Glaslyn Lake.

-The hand of the Lady of the Lake

-rose from the water...

-..caught the sword

-and took it into the depths.

-How's that for a story?

-They also say a massive beaver

-lives over there!

-Don't let facts spoil a story!

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-We're following the Pyg Track

-to the summit of Snowdon...

-..six months after climbing

-to Everest Base Camp.

-This will only take a day but we

-spent twelve days climbing in Nepal.

-We landed in Lukla

-after an interesting flight...

-..and walked to our first stop

-which was the village of Phakding.

-We've walked for 90 minutes

-but it has been downhill.

-Our destination

-is on the other side of the valley.

-It's around the corner

-from those red roofs.

-It should take 90 minutes.

-We'll have lunch and that's it

-so I can't complain!

-This was green, fertile land.

-Clear paths had been created

-for all the walkers.

-The majority of the population

-in Kathmandu are Hindu...

-..but the mountain people

-are Buddhists.

-The trail was scattered

-with stupas and prayer wheels.

-Phakding is 200 metres

-lower than Lukla.

-We had to sleep at a lower height

-than when we were walking...

-..to avoid altitude sickness.

-At the end of a leisurely day one,

-we arrived in the sleepy village.

-This was our home for the night.

-Unfortunately,

-it wasn't a five-star-hotel!

-Push that across.

-And that's it.

-Home sweet home!

-This is our home for the night.

-It's day two, Steff.

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-

-Good morning.

-Day two is our first day

-of walking about seven miles.

-Yes, something like that.

-Today, we should see Everest

-for the first time.

-Namche Bazar was our next town.

-We had to climb 800 metres

-over six to seven hours a day.

-The slow pace

-prevented altitude sickness.

-We also crossed a suspension bridge

-for the first time.

-It's lucky

-we're not afraid of heights!

-We had crossed the border

-into the Sagarmatha National Park.

-Everest is called Sagarmatha

-in Nepal.

-Life is simple here.

-Traditional methods

-are still practiced...

-..despite the heavy wave of walkers

-in May and October.

-We finally arrived in Namche Bazar.

-The town is 3,400 metres

-above sea level.

-This was our home for two nights

-to allow us to acclimatize.

-At Namche, we had our first sighting

-of Everest...

-..behind a statue of the first

-Sherpa to reach the summit in 1953.

-Tenzing Norgay.

-This moment really affected Steff.

-I'm quite emotional

-and didn't expect to feel this way.

-That's the highest point

-in the world.

-It's incredibly beautiful and

-surrounded by all these mountains.

-I want to enjoy the moment

-and never forget it.

-Yes, it was a very special moment.

-The major cities were days away but

-there was no escaping the walkers...

-..or the feeling that tourism

-dominated this unique place.

-The one thing that surprised me

-in Nepal...

-..was the hundreds of people

-on the track.

-It's similar to Snowdon...

-..and isn't exclusively

-for professional climbers.

-It wasn't half as difficult

-as it was for those first climbers.

-You could say it takes the romance

-away from the first climbers.

-They hacked their way

-through the ice to reach the summit.

-The financial benefits are important

-to Wales and Nepal...

-..as our guide told us.

-Nepal is a poor country

-that relies heavily on tourism.

-It keeps the mountain people

-in work.

-Following the earthquake

-two years ago...

-..earning an income through tourism

-became even more important.

-The earthquake struck in the tourist

-season and many people were killed.

-As a result, many people

-left Kathmandu and went home...

-..because they thought that

-the tracks had all been damaged...

-..and the hotels lacked facilities.

-The autumn season

-was very poor too...

-..because the headlines

-were still talking about the damage.

-The tourists have now realized...

-..that the trails

-aren't as badly damaged...

-..the hotels have been rebuilt...

-..and are safe to visit.

-As a result,

-things are very slowly returning...

-.. to how they once were.

-People come to this place

-for a number of different reasons.

-Some enjoy the scenery

-whilst others want a challenge.

-I came to see one of

-the geographical wonders at work.

-Khumbu is the

-world's highest glacier.

-It starts at 7,600 metres

-in the Western Cwm...

-..and flows for 17 kilometres

-down to 4,900 metres.

-It erodes the rock

-and shapes the land...

-..and results in this

-stunning landscape.

-How could you not be enthralled

-by it all?

-I have to admit that I was

-disappointed with that glacier.

-I know it was one of your

-main reasons for going there...

-..but I was expecting it to be

-a massive blanket of ice...

-..not just stones in a valley.

-That's fair enough because

-a lot of glaciers are like that.

-I promise that what happens under

-a glacier is really interesting!

-Look around us here.

-There are steep and rugged slopes.

-At one time, this whole area

-would have been covered with ice.

-It's this very process

-that Everest is experiencing now.

-Do you understand?

-Do you understand?

-

-No.

-We'll take this

-and I'll show you something.

-Right, Daf.

-Let me explain what happens.

-The ice presses down on the land

-and will eventually start to move.

-When it starts moving...

-..it pushes all the rocks and rubble

-down the valley.

-This will all melt and leave us

-with what we can see today.

-Yes, Snowdon is just like Everest.

-Cwm Dyli, the steep slopes

-of Crib Goch and Y Lliwedd...

-..are proof of the strength

-of the ice in the last Ice Age.

-But that is the past.

-The Himalayan Glaciers

-shapes the valleys...

-..and are important in the lives

-of those lower down the valley.

-The glacial water feeds the land

-and provides drinking water.

-The Himalayan Glaciers sustain over

-a fifth of the world's population.

-Only the Arctic and Antarctic

-have more ice.

-In recent decades, these important

-glaciers have started to melt.

-It's linked to the increase in the

-world's temperature and CO2 levels.

-I can't believe that some still deny

-the effects of global warming.

-It isn't too busy

-but there's some snow on the summit.

-Yes, but this is how I like it.

-This is a quiet route but the path

-from Llanberis can be busy.

-Shall we go and have a look?

-Shall we go and have a look?

-

-A few zig zags and we're there!

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-We're climbing

-Wales' highest summit...

-..which is 1,085 metres

-above sea level.

-It isn't as high

-as our trip in October...

-..when we had eight days

-to climb 5,364 metres...

-..to the foot of the world's highest

-mountain - Everest.

-This final section along the Pyg is

-quite a trek with all this snow...

-..but at least we don't have

-to worry about the altitude.

-Steff knows all about that!

-Come on.

-We're laughing about it now but it

-was very different six months ago...

-..when we had a few fragile hours.

-We've been in an area

-called Dingboche for a few hours.

-It's the middle of the night.

-This is the highest we've been

-at about 4,400 metres...

-..and the altitude is affecting us.

-I've just fainted.

-I've just fainted.

-

-I've got a cold and it's freezing!

-Yes, Daf isn't feeling great either.

-Tomorrow is our day

-for acclimatization...

-..so we hope to feel better

-by tomorrow night.

-The next day, and we did get

-some sleep after all that palaver...

-..so headed to Lobuche.

-The metres slowly increased

-and the landscape started to change.

-The trees and plants were replaced

-with a bare and barren land.

-It signalled that Base Camp

-was on the horizon.

-We'd been lucky,

-apart from the cold.

-Our destination was Base Camp

-after all!

-We passed many who were suffering

-as a result of the altitude.

-They either turned back

-or were taken home by helicopter.

-As we followed the rocky path

-to Lobuche...

-..we were reminded

-of the harsh realities of Everest.

-This place has memorials for those

-who lost their lives on Everest.

-The most well-known is Scott Fischer

-who died on Everest in 1996.

-Walking around and reading

-the messages from the families...

-..sends shivers down your spine as

-they chose to place the stones here.

-We finally reached Lobuche.

-This tiny village was just under

-5,000 metres above sea level.

-Tomorrow,

-we only had to climb 350 metres!

-We had some free time so we

-walked along the Khumbu Glacier...

-..and Steff was over the moon.

-The night was closing in early,

-our feet were aching...

-..and we had a long day ahead of us

-so we headed for bed.

-It's the night before.

-It's the night before.

-

-The night before Base Camp.

-We're going to Base Camp tomorrow.

-Everest Base Camp.

-If you haven't figured it out,

-we're going to Everest Base Camp!

-We're leaving at 5.30am.

-At 4.00pm,

-it was about 2 degrees Celsius...

-..so you can imagine

-how cold it is outside now!

-The room is quite warm.

-It's the warmest room

-we've had to date.

-Yes, that's right.

-We've been very lucky and don't have

-any altitude sickness at the moment.

-No, touch wood!

-Let's hope

-it lasts through tomorrow.

-Yes, but tomorrow will be

-a long, 11-hour-day.

-We'll go up and come straight back.

-We'll be out of here!

-It's about 8.30pm and we're going

-to have a good night's sleep...

-..so that we're ready for Base Camp.

-Yes, bring it on!

-Goodnight, Steffan.

-Goodnight, Steffan.

-

-Goodnight, Dafydd.

-You can turn the lights off.

-Goodnight!

-So, here we are.

-The big morning!

-It's 6.00am so it's very early.

-Yes, but it's nice and fresh.

-We're starting our way to Base Camp.

-But at least we can pelt it down

-all the way back.

-We'll be down in no time at all.

-We left before sunrise, so could

-arrive early at Base Camp...

-..and experience it

-without the other walkers.

-The sun, temperature and metres rose

-over our final hours...

-..and we thought about

-our adventure.

-Right, we're almost there.

-I'm out of breath

-but it's to be expected...

-..as we're over 5,000 metres above

-the sea level.

-The air is thin.

-It's difficult to walk

-and talk to you at the same time...

-..but it's lovely.

-The sky is blue.

-It's fresh.

-It's just like an autumnal day

-back home in Wales.

-The scenery around us

-is totally and utterly epic.

-Unlike Steff, I came out here and

-knew very little about this area...

-..and everything around us

-is incredible.

-We can just about see Everest

-somewhere over there.

-It's there somewhere.

-It's fantastic.

-I'm feeling very proud

-to be here at the moment.

-I'm glad we did it.

-This has been

-an unforgettable adventure.

-I don't know if I'd do it again

-but I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

-It's the last 20 minutes and I'm

-excited about reaching Base Camp!

-After eight days of trekking through

-the country's amazing landscape...

-..it took one final push up

-and then down through the stones...

-..before the foot of the world's

-highest mountain came into view.

-We've arrived!

-Finally.

-Hallelujah!

-There it is.

-Base Camp!

-It's not bad, is it?

-How do you feel?

-You're interested in the area.

-I've read about the mountains

-and glaciers for many years.

-It's lovely to see them

-with my own eyes.

-I'm glad to tick it off

-my bucket list!

-We bought some Everest beer

-especially for this occasion.

-Cheers, Steff!

-It's been one hell of a journey!

-Cheers to Everest Base Camp.

-Let's go back to have a hot shower.

-Oh, yes. Four days to get down.

-Let's go!

-It's a year since we thought about

-going to Everest Base Camp.

-We trained in Snowdonia.

-Six months since being at the foot

-of the world's highest mountain...

-..and we're back

-at where it all started.

-Here we are, Steff.

-Here we are, Steff.

-

-Yes, we've done it.

-We're at the top of Wales.

-It's lovely.

-We've been lucky to have blue skies

-and a few clouds.

-It's exactly how it was at Base Camp

-so what are your highlights?

-I've had time to think about it

-and I've got three.

-The first is seeing Everest

-for the first time.

-You realize it's the highest point

-in the world.

-It's steeped in history and

-so many people have died up there.

-The second

-is reaching Base Camp itself.

-Yes, that was a highlight.

-You think about all the expeditions

-that have left Base Camp.

-There's so much history

-and I'm proud to be a part of it.

-The third is back in Wales.

-You realize what you have

-on your own doorstep.

-Yes, we're very lucky.

-What about you because your reasons

-were very different to mine?

-One thing I'll never forget

-is seeing all those memorials...

-..for those people

-who had lost their lives on Everest.

-It sent shivers down my spine

-to see it.

-I'm not saying

-that was a highlight...

-..but visiting Asia

-was on my bucket list for 2016.

-I did that.

-The second one is obviously arriving

-at Base Camp.

-It was the tranquillity.

-It was the tranquillity.

-

-Yes, it struck you.

-It was lovely

-when we were the only ones there.

-The third thing was arriving back in

-Kathmandu and having a hot shower.

-I'd been waiting

-twelve days for that!

-It's a small thing

-but it made me happy.

-The whole thing was...

-I never thought

-I'd do anything like that.

-What now, Daf?

-A pint?

-That's the best idea

-you've had in ages, Steff!

-Down we go.

-It's been a hell of a journey and

-we've learnt a lot about ourselves.

-We saw Nepal and Wales

-at their best.

-And met

-some truly inspirational people.

-Before you ask...

-..no, we didn't kill each other.

-All in all it was great.

-Do you think our names

-will ever be up there, Steff?

-It might happen one day.

-It might happen one day.

-

-One day.

-Where next?

-Where next?

-

-Where do you want to go?

-Amazon?

-Amazon?

-

-No, too many spiders.

-South America?

-South America?

-

-Snakes.

-Antarctica?

-Antarctica?

-

-No, it's too cold.

-What about a beach somewhere?

-S4C Subtitles by Tinpolis

-.