"Standing on the summit of Everest is the most beautiful and the most hideous experience of my life," said British TV personality Ben Fogle. <br /><strong><em>Click through the gallery to follow his journey up the world's highest mountain.</em></strong>
"Standing on the summit of Everest is the most beautiful and the most hideous experience of my life," said British TV personality Ben Fogle.
Click through the gallery to follow his journey up the world's highest mountain.
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Fogle set off to summit Everest with former British Olympian, Victoria Pendleton in April 2018 in support of the British Red Cross.
Fogle set off to summit Everest with former British Olympian, Victoria Pendleton in April 2018 in support of the British Red Cross.
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Fogle and Pendleton began the expedition by trekking to Everest Base Camp, 5400m above sea level.
Fogle and Pendleton began the expedition by trekking to Everest Base Camp, 5400m above sea level.
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To acclimatize to the ever-decreasing levels of oxygen, the team did several rotations to Camp 1 and 2, reaching an elevation of 6,400m.
To acclimatize to the ever-decreasing levels of oxygen, the team did several rotations to Camp 1 and 2, reaching an elevation of 6,400m.
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But the expedition was dogged by problems along the way. Pendleton, who struggled with altitude sickness, was advised to cut her trip short. <br />
But the expedition was dogged by problems along the way. Pendleton, who struggled with altitude sickness, was advised to cut her trip short.
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"It is a dangerous mountain and the reality is that a lot of it is a bit of a gamble," said Fogle, who also suffered from setbacks at extreme altitude.
"It is a dangerous mountain and the reality is that a lot of it is a bit of a gamble," said Fogle, who also suffered from setbacks at extreme altitude.
Ben Fogle
At about 8,500 meters, well into the Death Zone, Fogle's oxygen regulator and tank exploded. "Up at that height, the air is very thin and most of us need supplementary oxygen," said Fogle. "You can imagine the fear and the terror when that suddenly explodes."<br />
At about 8,500 meters, well into the Death Zone, Fogle's oxygen regulator and tank exploded. "Up at that height, the air is very thin and most of us need supplementary oxygen," said Fogle. "You can imagine the fear and the terror when that suddenly explodes."
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Fogle said it was the selflessness of the Sherpas that saved him. "Ming Dorjee, one of our Sherpas, gave me his regulator and his oxygen tank and he returned down to a lower level."
Fogle said it was the selflessness of the Sherpas that saved him. "Ming Dorjee, one of our Sherpas, gave me his regulator and his oxygen tank and he returned down to a lower level."
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After six weeks on the mountain, Fogle managed to summit on May 16. He dedicated his Everest expedition to his son who was delivered stillborn in 2014.
After six weeks on the mountain, Fogle managed to summit on May 16. He dedicated his Everest expedition to his son who was delivered stillborn in 2014.
Ben Fogle
"When you hold a little life that was never able to be. The breath was never -- he never had a breath. I think I resolved then and there that I wanted to live my life brightly."
"When you hold a little life that was never able to be. The breath was never -- he never had a breath. I think I resolved then and there that I wanted to live my life brightly."
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"In many ways, I feel I'm living a life for two now," said Fogle. "I was never lonely when I was out there bizarrely, even in the dead of night when we were traipsing through the very dangerous Khumbu Icefall. I felt his presence and it was very powerful."
"In many ways, I feel I'm living a life for two now," said Fogle. "I was never lonely when I was out there bizarrely, even in the dead of night when we were traipsing through the very dangerous Khumbu Icefall. I felt his presence and it was very powerful."
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