This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
AN INTREPID traveller has not only smashed his fundraising target, he’s also climbed to more than 17,500ft above sea level – all for Seashell.
Michael Hartig has raised more than £7,000 after climbing to Everest Base Camp. The trek saw Michael and the hiking group facing temperatures of minus 22 and walking for up to six hours a day to complete the challenge.
Now back in much more comfortable conditions at home in Cheshire, Michael says it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience he’ll never forget.
He said: “It was tremendous fun and a great challenge.
“It was interesting to learn all about the culture around Everest. The first explorers to go there used a route which is still the one everyone uses today.
“On the route there are houses, but no cars or roads, so everything is carried up on a mule or you do it yourself. We saw someone carrying a three-seater settee on his back! Someone else was carrying a chest freezer.
“It’s not just like walking up a hill either – it’s up and down and very rough terrain. It’s remarkable how everything gets carried in.”
It’s not just the gradient, temperatures and terrain that climbers have to compete with. Scaling thousands of feet means challenge participants also have to acclimatise to the lower oxygen levels that come with altitude hikes.
For this, Michael wore a special mask at home, which imitated the type of air he’d be breathing when he headed to base camp. As well as the pre-event training, the group had “acclimatisation days” where they would hike higher, but then retreat to lower ground to sleep.
Michael said: “It was tough but actually you see so many people walking up and down, there is a real sense of community. And everyday you can see Base Camp ahead so that spurs you on.
“Although some days I just yearned for a straight incline with no variety! That would have been a dream.”
During the hike up, participants are advised to not eat meat, as the only sources available will not have been stored in a refrigerator for a few days. Instead they have to find other sources of protein including tinned sardines.
“Getting to Base Camp was just incredible,” said Michael. “It’s absolutely stunning and huge. It’s about one kilometre long and really spread out.
“When we got there they made us a meal and it was honestly the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. It was only a burger, cheese and coleslaw but after not having meat all the way up and obviously going through all that exertion…that burger was amazing.”
Of course the adventure isn’t over when you get to Base Camp – there is also the small matter of getting down again.
“It was 10 days to get there and three days to get down,” explained Michael. “With each step down you feel you’re getting closer to home and all the struggle is behind you.
“It was an absolutely fantastic experience – the sights are like nothing else. And doing it while raising money for Seashell was incredibly motivating, knowing there were people supporting me back home.”
Michael and his colleagues have been avid supporters of Seashell and he is on the appeal board for the Transforming Lives Appeal.
Michael JustGiving Page was originally set to £2,500 and later upped it to £5,000, but he remained nervous he wouldn’t be able to raise such a huge amount. But he’s now smashed his target and hit £7,000 on the page. His employers Barclays have also agreed to match-fund the first £1,000.
You can still sponsor Michael here. And if he’s inspired you to do your own challenge – either to Everest Base Camp or closer to home – get in touch with the Fundraising Team on fundraising@seashelltrust.org.uk
You can read the previous story on Michael before he set off here.