"We climbed towards Camp One on Mount Everest, moving single-file on a fixed line connected to our harnesses. It was around 5:00 a.m. First light just appeared when we heard the crash to our left. Avalanche. There were twelve of us: four ex-UK special forces, including me, and eight Sherpas. Our goal was ambitious: Fly from London to Nepal, climb to the summit of Everest and back, then arrive back home in seven days."
"The snow slid down the mountain towards us. I couldn't disconnect from the line; it was the only thing connecting me to the mountain. The other option was to turn and run back, but by the time I did that, and because of the sheer size and scope of the avalanche, it would have been a waste of energy. So I took a knee and a couple deep breaths, had a look around, and made sure I was secured to the rope."
"We had oxygen masks on, so suffocating wasn't a concern. We were more worried about how deep we'd be buried, and how long it'd take to be found. Fortunately, a huge portion of the avalanche fell into the crevasse. After 30 or 40 seconds, we were able to stand up through the snow. We did an immediate headcount, a bit of a shakedown, and then we moved on to Camp One."
A team of twelve, including four former UK Special Forces members and eight Sherpas, climbed single-file toward Camp One on a fixed line. The team's ambitious plan was to fly from London to Nepal, summit Everest and return home within seven days. At first light an avalanche crashed nearby, sending snow toward the climbers. The group remained clipped to the fixed line and used breathing oxygen, reducing suffocation risk. Much of the avalanche fell into a crevasse, allowing the climbers to stand up through the snow within 30–40 seconds. The team performed an immediate headcount, assessed everyone, and continued onward to Camp One. The expedition emphasized risk awareness, mental composure, and testing physical limits while validating high-altitude gear.
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