If you are thinking of coming along on an expedition of course I would tell you to come with me and that it will be safe, well executed, great fun and an amazing experience. But really you need to hear it from a third party.

So … I have just received the most amazing feedback from Dr Abi who was on the recent Everest expedition. She came along for the 3 week acclimatisation trek and stayed with us for a further 4 weeks as our Everest Base Camp doctor:-

‘I have known Tim for many years and had the privilege of working with him on a couple of expeditions.

I cannot recommend him highly enough in all aspects. He is a highly professional mountaineer and guide in addition to being a very approachable, energetic and personable fellow. He undertakes the organisation and planning of an expedition with the utmost diligence and meticulousness. This excellent preparation makes for a smooth running, well balanced, flexible trip that ensures safety is paramount, both from a mountaineering and medical perspective.

The medical kits on his trips are second to none, and Tim has a broad lay understanding of how to manage acclimatisation and minor medical problems. In this sense, he really stands head and shoulders above other ‘non medical’ guides.

Tim has a wonderful ability to enthuse and encourage team members even when the task at hand is tough. He provides a highly professional and supportive service throughout a trip tailored to each individual’s needs as the expedition evolves, and for the team as a whole.

I have had the opportunity to see how other larger commercial teams function on mountaineering expeditions and Tim’s professionalism, meticulous organisation and enthusiastic support of individual team members is above and beyond any other company out there by far.

Added to which, even though you will be undertaking a serious expedition, you know you will also have an incredibly enjoyable experience. Tim goes that extra mile to ensure that when you have ‘down time’ to relax at base camp, it’s made as enjoyable and entertaining as possible.

Personally, I would not go on an expedition with anyone else.’

So there you have it – praise indeed. Have a look at my Ama Dablam and Everest expedition pages for further testimonials and information.

Why look further?

I don’t read The Daily Mail myself – but I was interested to see this article about good old Trip Advisor.

Organising a trip to see a client in London and the train tickets are £38 for 2nd class or £29 1st class. Now let me think about that one for a few minutes.

I’m not quite sure what is so special about Monday 4th July (apart from in the USA of course) but for some reason I received an unprecedented 5 enquiries about this year’s expedition to Ama Dablam. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, but I’m just surprised it was 5 all on the one day rather than being spread through the week.

A couple of them are for the regular KTM to KTM trip but the rest are for bespoke itineraries taking in a bit of trekking initially and then meeting at Base Camp so I’m cracking on with those schedules today. There’s now only a few places left so if you are thinking of coming along then please get in touch sooner rather than later.

This is on top of the 3 enquiries I’ve had about Everest 2012 just last week so at this rate it looks like it’s going to be over subscribed. There are also folk interested in Everest 2013 and ’14!

Helped out on a Bob Graham leg 5 a couple of weeks ago – a great family event with loads of kids involved from Littletown back to Keswick. But commiserations to the friend of Roel and Kerry (Ama 2009) who completed in 24 hours and 8 minutes.

The B&B is looking pretty busy for July and August with some weeks having limited or no availability. Our housekeeper Suzanna is doing a sterling job and maintains the highest standards, as you would expect from a 4* establishment.

As ever I’ve had the usual calls selling advertising in far away counties, or buying top places on the interweb, so I’ve added a couple of links on to the Elm Tree Lodge home page for advertisers and webmasters to click. Perhaps when they read that we are already on Page 1 or high on Page 2 of Google, and that over 60% of our enquiries are from search engines, of which 50% are our organic listing on Google, they will leave us alone. We’ll see.

Another busy day. Looked after the kids because Ali was on the 10 in 10 event (10 mountains around Buttermere in under 10 hours raising money for MS. Unfortunately in the pouring rain and thick mist). Met up with them fleetingly at Honister.

Took a booking for Ama Dablam so that expedition is now nearly full. And have managed to get some more pics from the 2011 expedition on to the Everest 2012 website.

More to follow …

Have finally managed to get round to uploading some proper pics from the recent Everest expedition.

Check out the first instalment.

Gave a small slideshow presentation … for Grace’s class. Really great to manage to show them all what it is that ‘Grace’s Dad’ does when he goes away. Just kept it short as they are 5 & 6 year olds but it was nice to get them answering questions about what they thought the various pictures were of like; ‘what’s in the cylinder?’, ‘so why do we use oxygen?’, ‘what’s that animal?’ etc etc. Loads of questions at the end as well – so they seemed to have been interested in it all. Which is cool.

Have eventually managed to get back to being on the top page(s) of Google and Yahoo again. Hadn’t realised that being away for 2 months would have such an impact on the various websites and we were on a lowly page 3 and even Page 4 for some keyword combinations. Yikes!

Launched a new website last week and we’re on Page 1 of Yahoo and Page 3 of Google already. Yip yip. Page 1 here I come.

Well it’s been a while but I’ve managed to clear my post Everest in tray, catch up with the family and start to get out and about a bit.

Supported Fiona Grove on her Bob Graham Round and what an effort she put in. I was sort of (post expedition high) tempted to join her but I’m glad that I didn’t. Supported leg 5 and when we got in to Keswick it felt like I’d done 3 or 4 of the legs back to back. Absolutely nothing left in my legs after being severely depleted on Everest.

Have had quite a few Ama Dablam enquiries for this year and next (the mailing list for enquiries for Ama 2012 has topped 20 already) and have met various people for the next couple of expeditions.

Got out climbing with Ali the other day and turned up to the crag without my harness (it’s been a while. In fact this was my first summer rock route since last September). So I tied in around my waist and climbed old school – but I tell you what you don’t half feel vulnerable when you haven’t got a comfortable padded harness on. So we pootled up Eve and had a great time.

Have managed to get some interest for me to do a lecture circuit next winter. Not quite sure how many venues but it will probably just stay in county. Although, as I write, I’ve just remembered a couple of venues who were showing interest before I went away. So I’ll get that lined up and publish a programme accordingly.

Am also in talks with various people and comapnies regarding ‘Project X’ – a massive personal undertaking that I have planned for next year.

In the meantime don’t forget to check out the various video clips from the recent Everest expedition (embedded in the Blog – see below) and I have added a 5 part series to YouTube of an hour long film I made of the expedition. If you are interested in having your own copy then get in touch and I’ll drop it on to dvd for you (there’s a £5 charge to cover P&P).

Sit back and enjoy the show.

And lest we forget there’s the B&B. We appointed Suzanna as housekeeper to run the show whilst I was away and are keeping her on until the autumn. She is doing a terrific job and keeping the place in tip top condition. This is great because not only does it mean that we can go away for our first ever summer holiday, but it also frees me up for the climbing bookings that I have throughout summer and will make the run up to the next Ama trip that bit easier as well. Plus plenty of time and energy to devote to ‘Project X!’

Watch this space.

Always thought TripAdvisor was flawed and open to abuse. Interesting piece in The Times today. Made me delve further and guess what … loads of articles about the site being undermined by fake reviews (both +ve and -ve) by people either bigging up their own site or undermining the opposition. I guess I’ve always been wary of single entry comments.

Check out bit.ly/bUW98N, thetim.es/QpKmR, bit.ly/jSTfHA, bit.ly/iyowE0 & The Times today.