Ken Meek's Everest adventure

20 June 2023

Ken Meek has raised £2,000 for SSAFA Wiltshire by climbing Everest. He talks to Gill Sharpe about his experience.

Sore knees, icy sleeping quarters, freezing temperatures and oxygen deprivation, but Ken Meek, an ex Army Warrant Officer from Rudloe in Wiltshire, enjoyed every minute of his epic Everest adventure. Now home after the 150 km trek to Everest Base Camp and back, Ken has not only achieved a lifetime ambition, but has also raised a massive £2,000 for SSAFA Wiltshire. The funds raised will go to provide continued welfare and wellbeing support for the Armed Forces community.

“It was hard going" said Ken "Day 2 was probably the worst physically, we trekked from Phakding to Namche Bazaar, about 800m climbing, practically all up steps, then down again on the return leg. It was brutal on knees and ankles, and we were all affected physically. Altitude sickness also hit us all at some point on the journey, dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, loss of energy. It didn’t delay us, but we certainly knew about it!”

"The weather worsened the higher we climbed, and by the time we reached Base Camp, which incidentally covers over 1km, the conditions were pretty bad, very cold and snowy, so we only had an hour there, not really enough time to explore."

It’s the busy period for the Base Camp expeditions, and though Ken and his party were well prepared, he saw trekkers from other groups being evacuated or helicoptered off the mountain. “It’s really tough" he said "not just the walking and climbing, the accommodation is incredibly basic, we all went ‘veggie’ as the meat couldn’t be guaranteed, and loss of appetite meant keeping calorie levels up was hard. Carrot cake was a life saver!”

And the very best bits? "Meeting new people, seeing the enormity and beauty of the mountains, and that very first glimpse of Everest…just breath-taking! And the porters, he said, are simply superhuman. Literally running up and down between groups, carrying extreme weights, it’s just awesome to watch, plus all credit to the beasts of burden they use to support the logistics, just amazing."

Ken laughed when he recalled how the group tried carrying the ‘duffels’ that the porters transport for them. “I have no idea how they do it", he said, "none of us got more that 10 metres!” Would he do it again? "Yes" he said, without hesitation, "it was one of the best experiences of my life. To anyone considering it…just do it. Train on steps, up and down, up and down. Go slow, and when you think you have gone slow….go slower! However tough you might think it is, trust me, it’s tougher!”

So, Mr Meek, what’s next on the horizon? “Nothing planned", he says with a grin, "but Machu Pichu looks interesting!"