The call that changed everything
I still can’t quite believe it. One moment, I was mindlessly scrolling through my phone, casually entering an Everest Base Camp competition with Evertrek, and the next, I was taking a phone call that changed everything:
“Congratulations, you’ve won a trek to Everest Base Camp!”
For a moment, I just stood there, frozen, trying to process what I’d just heard. But before I get ahead of myself, let me take you back to where this dream began.
THE DREAM THAT NEVER FADEd: my everest inspiration
It was October 2005. I remember it vividly, sitting in my dad’s white Vauxhall Vivaro, stuck at a red light on the A12, heading home after a long day’s graft. We were talking about the great pioneers of Everest, the men who risked everything to be the first to stand on top of the world. I imagined what it must have felt like, passing through remote Nepalese villages, pushing through the thin air of high-altitude camps, and finally standing at the summit, looking down at a view no one had ever seen before.
I told my dad then and there, I didn’t want to climb Everest, but I wanted to see it. To stand before it, to follow in the footsteps of those great explorers, and to witness that legendary mountain with my own eyes. He was supportive and even said he’d love to go on that adventure too.
And then, in the middle of that conversation, my phone rang.
It was Kirsty, my girlfriend (I should mention that we’re still together). I answered, and she said two words that changed my life forever:
“I’m pregnant.”
Just like that, Everest faded into the background. My world shifted. A new adventure began.
A SECOND CHANCE AT THE DREAM
Fast forward to late September 2024. I was scrolling through Facebook when I stumbled across a post about trekking to Everest Base Camp. It was from a company called Evertrek. They had a blog detailing what the experience was like, what you’d see, how you’d feel, and the challenge of it all.
Reading that post took me right back to that conversation with my dad in the van all those years ago. The dream resurfaced.
Then I noticed they were running a competition: a chance to win a trek to Everest Base Camp. The entry process was simple: like their social pages, share the blog, and spread the word. I figured, why not? I was going to share it with my family anyway.
I entered and then, to be honest, I completely forgot about it.
THE moment THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING: my winning call from evertrek
It was October 18th, a typical autumn Friday. The kind of day where you get that one last chance to mow the lawn before winter sets in.
I was in the garage, reaching for the lawnmower, when my phone rang. An unknown number. I almost ignored it and figured it was just another spam call. But at the last second, I answered.
“Hey, it’s Andy and Dave from Evertrek.”
For the next few moments, I barely processed what they were saying. They were in the middle of a livestream, announcing the competition winner.
And that winner was me.
I stood there in my garage, my free hand on the back of my head, completely speechless. Never in a million years did I think I’d actually win. Andy and Dave must have sensed it because they kept the call short, letting me process the moment.
As soon as I hung up, I called Kirsty at work. She was just as shocked as I was. Then she reminded me she’d forgotten her lunch. So, still running on adrenaline, I rushed to drop it off, completely forgetting about the lawn.
BREAKING THE NEWS: telling my family about the trek
Kirsty asked if I’d told anyone else yet. My mind was racing, so I called my mum.
Now, you should know my mum is a worrier. We live 50 feet apart (according to Google Earth), and if she hears sirens, she’ll call to check if we’re safe. She even makes me track my sister’s iPhone if she’s a minute late leaving work. So, telling her that her eldest son was heading to Everest? Yeah… she didn’t take it lightly.
Later that evening, I gathered my family at my house. No one knew I had entered, so I decided to let them find out in the best way possible. I played the Evertrek livestream on the TV, with everyone watching.
The moment they realised what was happening was priceless. Champagne was popped, it may have seemed a bit over the top, but for me and my dad, this was huge.
We spent the rest of the night flicking through my signed copy of There and Back by Jimmy Chin, the legendary climbing photographer and Oscar-winning filmmaker. He’s one of my biggest inspirations for why I chose to seek a career in adventure photography.
And before the evening was over, something even more incredible happened.
My dad, my brother Jake, and my sister Courtney all decided they were coming with me.
a dream that’s now reality
For years, I’ve dreamed of standing in the shadow of the world’s tallest mountain, camera in hand, capturing the beauty of the Himalayas.
Now, that dream is real.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I wanted to start this blog series by sharing just how much this journey means to me. And if you wanted to check out how that call went in that livestream, I’ve posted a video below for you to check out.
The Road Ahead: preparing for Everest Base Camp
Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing my journey here, from training and preparation to the gear I’ll be using and, eventually, the trek itself. Whether you’re thinking about your own adventure or just curious about what it takes to trek to Everest Base Camp, I hope you’ll follow along as I prepare for what promises to be the most challenging and rewarding journey of my life.
This is just the beginning.
If reading this has sparked your own sense of adventure, why not start your own journey? EverTrek offers a range of incredible trekking experiences, from Everest Base Camp to Kilimanjaro and many more. Click the link below to explore their treks and see where your next adventure could take you!