Climbing the Everest mountain range for Podencos in Spain

You may remember at the beginning of November I published a story about a British couple climbing in the Everest mountain range to raise funds for the Podencos of Spain. Well, they completed their climb and this was their update 11 November. (Sorry, there are so many stories to post that I get behind in some of the less urgent ones!!)

’11/11 Hello lovely people! We are back from Kyajo Ri and just about defrosted. The past five days were the hardest and most intense of our lives. We have been pushed to the limits mentally and physically. This was no walk in the park. We made it to 6,000 meters after four gruelling days of ascending the mountain.

Devastatingly we had to turn back just 180 meters before the summit. The technical rock sections which come just before the snowy summit were coated in ice, this made climbing up them very difficult and very slow. The fixed rope was also coated in ice which meant the jumar didn’t slide as it should. After many attempts and many falls (legs are black and blue) we decided to turn back. Kalden (our guide) said we were just too late in the season, winter had already come to Kyajo Ri!

I do like a summit (who doesn’t?!) but safety and respect for the mountain must come first. Getting so cold that you can’t move your hands or form sentences is no condition in which to keep on going up. On the plus side Kyajo Ri and its valleys were the most mesmerisingly beautiful place we’ve ever been. Whilst it was a nightmare to get to we had the valleys and mountain all to ourselves.

We wanted to say the biggest heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated, commented and supported our trip. Truly it means more than anything. We did this trip because we wanted to make a small statement and stand against the disgusting and sustained abuse of Spanish hunting dogs. We also wanted to stand in solidarity with all the amazing individuals who are doing their bit (however big or small) to improve animal welfare generally.

Fostering, adopting, educating and the million and one things in between. You are the superheroes. It is not easy to stand up for animal rights in the world in which we live and to keep on going against the endless tide of abuse, abandonment and political inertia. Truly this one was for you.’

Sponsorship is still open – pay by paypal on this page.

Below are some of the stunning photos from their facebook page.