Everest Expedition 08 is Launched

I’m (Kenton) back in the UK now from my home in France in the build up to this years Everest trip. All day Thurs was spent in London tying up loose ends and attending meetings. 8am saw Rob Casserley, Sir Ran Fiennes and myself at Tower 42 in London for the press conference and official launch of the expedition. There were a number of people from the Marie Curie Cancer Care Charity (the charity who we are climbing for) and members of the press. But for me the coolest people there were the Marie Curie Nurses, the people who do all the care work for the patients. There was maybe 8 or 9 of these hardworking ladies present and they were all full of fun, giggling when we had our photos taken together and presenting Ran with various books to sign. With out doubt these ladies are what makes Marie Curie such a great Charity. The Launch went really well, lots of pics and a few probing questions from the press, but it was all great fun. Then it was in a taxi and across to the ITN studios for a crash course in the film equipment that we hope to broadcast from the summit with. It was great to meet up with Rob and Phil again. It was these two dudes who filmed the Eiger ascent last march and I’ve not seen Rob since. They showed us round ITN and we even got to sit in the News at 10 chair….how cool was that!!!. We had one or two hiccups getting all the kit to work but after a few hours we left with a huge case of expensive laptops and cameras (god knows what the excess baggage will be come wed). Then it was home for about 30mins to throw a suit on before the evening event. We had been invited to the Foreign Office for a reception. I had never been there before and WOW what an amazing building. Both Jazz and myself were very impressed by how beautiful it was. The eve was a simple affair with a few drinks and nibbles followed by Ran saying a few words about why we’re climbing for Marie Curie, and then myself talking about the forth-coming expedition. Afterwards I got to meet some really interesting people some who climbed, some who skied and a few who had impressively powerful jobs (I’m easily impressed!!). As ever the eve came to an end all too quickly but it was super cool walking out into the cool of the late evening and the guarded courtyard. We felt like 2 people in part of a bond film. Not an average day for a mountain guide but a very interesting day and one where I met some very very dedicated people, a day I shall never forget in a hurry.