"Talking to Adrian Hayes is an adventure in itself " says Phil Blizzard with this episode taking you, via your "Airpods' from the comfort of your 'zone' to the frozen, almost, vertical rock face close to the 8,586m summit of Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas.
Adrian Hayes is heading back to the Himalayan 8000m giants with an expedition to attempt the majestic Kanchenjunga - the little known, 3rd highest mountain in the world, located on the Eastern Nepal and Indian border. We start by talking about the preparations for the expedition and the challenges to be faced.
In this conversational journey we reflect on his previous major expeditions and his collection of world records - including the Three Poles Challenge. Climbing Mount Everest and walking to both the North & South Poles! Which, when talking about bringing up a teenage daughter he said "was more demanding than summiting Everest and reaching the two poles "!
Our common connection with the Middle East comes into the conversation - with my memories of him dragging car tyres across the beaches of Dubai for some reason or other! How the UAE and the delightful Oman offers so much to adventurers. Plus recollections of 'The Soldier of Arabia - David Neild' and so much more, including the special affiliation Adrian has with the Gurkha regiment.
Adrian also talks about his other life - that as a professional speaker - human development and what adventuring brings to that table, and vice versa.
Finally a concluding piece which Adrian Hayes has provided about the forthcoming expedition.
‘Kanch’ rises to a height of 8,586 m (28,169 ft); is huge, remote, steep and technical, with a near vertical rock face near the summit and, above all, the longest summit push of any 8000 m mountain on Earth. The fact that there are only approx. 25 climbers attempting it this year, compared to the hundreds that will shortly be on Everest, testimony to it being one of the least climbed 8000ers.
It has always held a special place with me, being located in my former Gurkha regiment’s recruiting heartlands of Eastern Nepal; having first seen it in the early 90s on a welfare trek whilst serving in the Brigade; and long having ambitions to climb it. On the trek in I will be visiting 7th Gurkha Rifles pensioners and their families gathered for their annual reunions in the Gurkha Welfare Trust Welfare Centres of Phidim and Taplejung - a role I undertook in 2022 which was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had in the country.
It’s 18 years since I climbed Everest, 10 years since summiting K2 and nine since our aborted attempt on Makalu (the 5th highest mountain in the world). And following last year’s return to high altitude mountaineering and our ‘warm up’ attempt of the difficult Pumori (7181 m), I have been preparing and planning ever since - the joys, total absorption and complete focus of a major goal!
For further information visit www.adrianhayes.com
7 mins