A Date with the Himalayas — Locking in May 2027 for Everest Base Camp
Some adventures don’t start the way you expect them to.
Back in October 2024, I won the chance of a lifetime, a trek to Everest Base Camp with Evertrek. My heart was already halfway to the Himalayas. I imagined setting the date straight away, launching myself into training, prepping my gear, and wondering how my body would deal with the altitude. But life, as it often does, had other plans.
Not long after the competition ended, my grandad fell ill and over the week, his health got worse, and sadly, he passed away on Remembrance Sunday.
It was a heavy pause; it changed everything. He was someone I looked up to with awe, not just because he was family, but because he was, in his own quiet way, an explorer too. He’d spent his younger days diving into the unknown, quite literally, as a deep-sea diver. While others were content to stay at the surface, he went down into the depths of our oceans, curious, fearless and full of wonder. I grew up hearing his stories, wide-eyed and dreaming of my own wild places to explore. I think, in a lot of ways, my love for adventure was born from those stories, from him.
So, for a time, planning a journey, even one as huge as the Everest Base Camp Trek, didn’t feel right. I needed time. To grieve. To remember. To sit with the loss of my hero.
with his memory in my stride
Now, with clearer skies emotionally and practically, I’ve locked in May 2027 to stand at the foot of the world’s highest mountain. It feels like the right time, a fresh chapter, a firm step forward, and a tribute all at once.
This trek isn’t just a tick on the bucket list anymore. It’s for Grandad. It’s for that little boy who sat on the carpet listening to the tales of sea creatures, sunken wrecks, and silent worlds beneath the waves. It’s for the man I’m still becoming, someone who finds meaning in the great outdoors, who is learning to carry both grief and grit into new landscapes, with his memory in my stride.
Preparing for the Journey
With the date now set, training begins immediately. I’ll be sharing the highs, lows, sore legs, gear tests and everything in between as I work towards standing at Everest Base Camp in 2027.
Each month, I’ll be sharing updates here. Expect honest reflections, behind-the-scenes of my training, gear choices, family life, and the gradual build-up to the trek itself. I’ll talk about the challenges of getting fit again, staying motivated, and balancing all this with everyday life. If you’ve ever thought about doing something big but felt overwhelmed, I hope this blog gives you a bit of encouragement.
Whether you’re planning your own Everest Base Camp adventure or just curious about what goes into preparing for it, you’re more than welcome to follow along.
A Tribute and a New Chapter.
This trek is no longer a prize I won, it’s become a way to honour my grandad's spirit of exploration. I carry him with me into every step of training, every climb, every breathless moment on the trail. And come May 2027, when I finally reach Everest Base Camp, it won’t just be my boots on the path, it’ll be both of us.
Until then, I’ll keep walking. Keep climbing. Keep remembering.
I love you, Grandad, thank you for everything.
x
In loving memory of my hero!
Edward Ernest Francis
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Coming Next Month…
In the next post, I’ll be diving into where I’m starting from: my current fitness levels, what’s working, and what I’ve found hard. I’ll share the workouts I’ve started with, and how I’m adjusting my lifestyle around this new goal.
Thanks for being part of this journey; it means the world.