Hello all and welcome to my Just Giving Page.

If you are here you have either seen me or heard about my journey so firstly from the bottom of my heart thank you for taking the time to read about this impactful and worthwhile cause.

I thought it best and more prudent to just give you a bit about me as a person and why I am doing what I am doing.

Me: - My name is Paul and I am 41 yrs old. I am a devoted Dad to Olivia who is 14 (Although she does think she is 30 most days!as I am sure most of you can relate!) Olivia is my only family and everything I am is because of her. 

Over the last two decades I have had the most amazing experiences and being fortunate enough to work for some of the most complex Mega Projects that the world has ever seen from Nuclear Power Plants in the Middle East  to major defence contracts both foreign and domestic. This has enabled me to accomplish some of the most amazing feats of climbing and Mountaineering Mother Nature has put before me. 

Below are some examples of the expeditions I have been a part of, many have been life changing but all have been hard work and have required determination and mental ability which I never knew I had and have included:

MT DENALI

MERA PEAK

ISLAND PEAK 

MT LHOTSE

MT FUJI

AMA DABLAM

MT ELBRUS

MT BLANC

MT VINSON

MT KILIMANJARO 

These are some but not all that I have climbed. I have achieved 5 of the 7 summits and these are just some of the well known peaks that I have had the grace and good fortune to summit over the last two decades. 

I am also a petrol head, an art lover  (who would have thought!) and a comedy lover also. 

Charity : -

Why MANUP?

From the first moment I heard about them I knew I had to do something for them to continue there amazing work they do for Men.

How do I relate : -

Over the last 2 decades I have struggled in peaks and troughs with my own mental health issues from raising my daughter to my career and even my personal life and partners, yes I even contemplated suicide in my darkest hours, days  and years. Yes Indeed a dark time for me and certainly one which I hope never happens to another man ever. I had literally no one to help me as a Man, Father, Friend or colleague and this charity hits the spotlight on all of these issues and are helping men daily. It is quite staggering just how many Men are not “ok” but the stigma which is still ever present in society today still prevents men talking about mental well-being if not to each other but to anyone. 75% of all suicides in the Uk are men, but even more staggering still is that the biggest killer for a male in the uk under the age of 50 is not heart disease or Cancer or murder or crime but of suicide. Yes preventable! If we can stop just one Man taking his life and feeling like I once did by talking about these issues, in my eyes this expedition will be worth the pain and sacrifice. My struggles came in all guises and would hit me in the most unusual ways most of which I just needed someone to just talk to and tell me I was ok and that being a man was ok and that having struggles were just that, struggles, and that they will pass. It is ok to be a man.

Men are amazing, Men are courageous, Men are hard working, Men are loving, Men are sometimes undervalued and under appreciated all of which this charity champions to remove the stigma with talking about the issues raised so men no longer feel ashamed by talking about real life struggles.

Even if you read this and do not donate please turn to the man in your life be it your father, partner, uncle, brother, grandfather or even your mother, grandmother, auntie or sister and tell them you love them. There is nothing more amazing than someone telling you that they appreciate you for whatever reason that may be. You may even save a life one day.

Please visit there website and see what amazing work they do.

www.manup.how

So what will I do? Well……………..

Expedition: - 

The 2023 ACONCAGUA Expedition is a 21 day extreme high altitude climb to the highest point in the world outside of the Himalayas! Yes this is not a walk in the park and requires me to be at the best physical shape in my life. I will need to train for at least 6 days a week for 2 years. I have enlisted the help of a personal trainer Rob who is an expert in getting people in the best shape of there life. He will undoubtedly put me through my paces over the next 24 months so I have the best chance to successfully summit the tallest mountain outside of the Himalayas. 

Here is a brief itinerary so you can see what I am doing.

BRIEF ITINERARY

 DAY 1: ARRIVE IN MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

I will be picked up from the airport and transferred to our hotel. On this day we will check all of our mountain equipment, Our permit will be filled in and submitted and we will also have our insurance checked to show our Global Rescue and Helicopter evacuation cover with Insurance details for the permit at this time. The rest of the day is then spent preparing our equipment. 

DAY 2: MENDOZA / PENITENTES (2,725m/ 8,940 feet)

Before going to Penitentes we will wait for our permits to arrive at the hotel.  This can take some time, but we aim to leave for the mountains at 10am. The drive to our lunch spot is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We will have lunch near Uspallata and continue for another hour to spend the night in Penitentes. In the afternoon, our duffle bags and expedition gear will be prepared for the mules and will be loaded and prepared for the following day. We will need to keep all mountaineering gear and toiletries with us as we will not see our duffel bags until the following day in Pampa De Lenas Camp. We will do a short climb near the hotel for additional acclimatization.  

DAY 3: PENITENTES / PAMPA DE LEÑAS (2,800/ 9,186 feet)

We will be taken to the entrance of the Park in a private van and will start the climb to Pampa de Leñas Camp. At arrival, we will set up your own camp and then we will be able to rest. The climb is about 6 hours and 7.9 miles/ 12.7km 

DAY 4: PAMPA DE LEÑAS / CASA DE PIEDRA (3,250m/ 10,662 feet)

After breakfast and taking down the camp we will trek to Casa de Piedra. We cross a small bridge not too far from camp and follow the river all the way to camp. The terrain is gradual today and we will have our first view of Aconcagua from this side of the mountain.  Like in the previous day, we will set up our camp and then rest. The climb is 6-7 hours and 9.4 miles/ 15.1km 

DAY 5: CASA DE PIEDRA / PLAZA ARGENTINA BASE CAMP (4,200m/ 13,780 feet)

The climb to Plaza Argentina Base Camp is a long climbing day. Our first obstacle of the day is to cross a freezing cold glacial river, this will prove to be both challenging and our first mental challenge. Once we have warmed up our bodies we will keep moving towards Aconcagua Base Camp. We will have lunch on the way.  Once at Plaza Argentina, we will stay in our own campsite, with the necessary comforts, making it as nice as possible in this environment. The climb takes about 7 hours and is 6.8 miles/ 10.9 km. 

DAY 6: PLAZA ARGENTINA BASE CAMP (4,200m/ 13,780 feet)

Today is an acclimatisation day and time to contemplate the beauty of this amazing mountain. It will be important to keep well hydrated and relax at this low oxygen environment taking diamox when needed to start to reduce the affects of altitude sickness. 

DAY 7: PLAZA ARGENTINA / CAMP 1 (4,950m/ 16,240 feet) / PLAZA ARGENTINA

We will move to Camp 1 with part of our expedition equipment and group food that we will need in the higher camps (each member of the group will carry -without exception- food and equipment load for the expedition). We will then return to Plaza Argentina. This climb will move equipment up the mountain as well as aid in the acclimatization process. When we arrive back in Base Camp, we usually have a break, get rehydrated before going over to the Base Camp Doctor, to do a health check. THIS IS WHEN THE ALTITUDE STARTS TO BITE.

DAY 8: PLAZA ARGENTINA BASE CAMP (4,200m/ 13,780 feet)

Today we will rest in Base Camp and acclimatize further. We have time to make sure that our equipment is ready for the next load carry and then spend the rest of the day relaxing and re-hydrating so that we will be ready for the next few days, which will be more demanding. We will need to make sure that our expedition duffel bags are packed up with all items we will need for the rest of the expedition as this is where our mules are taken down the mountain and we are truly on our own.

DAY 9: PLAZA ARGENTINA / CAMP 1 (4,950m/ 16,240 feet)

After approximately 4 hours of climbing we will reach Camp 1. On this day, each climber will be responsible for carrying personal equipment and the surplus of expedition equipment and food (if there is any). On the way we will start to feel the altitude effects on our bodies. As a reminder people have and often do develop altitude sickness which can be and is deadly and many of climber have perished even at this high altitude.

DAY 10: CAMP 1 / CAMP 2: UPPER GUANACOS (5,500m/ 18,044 feet) / CAMP 1

Today we will move higher, moving part of the expedition equipment and food that we will need in Camp 2 and Cólera camp (each member of the group will carry -without exception- food and equipment load for the expedition). Once at camp 2, we will enjoy a high calorific lunch and then return to Camp 1 to sleep. This climb will continue helping with our acclimatization process as well as bringing gear further up the mountain. To give some context now we are nearing the altitude of the summit of Kilimanjaro with a long way still to climb. 

DAY 11: CAMP 1 / CAMP 2: UPPER GUANACOS

The group will climb up to 5,500m/ 18,044 feet, to install our Camp 2. On this day, each climber will be responsible for carrying personal equipment and the surplus of expedition equipment and food (if there is any). Once we have pitched our camp we will then have time to rest and recover for the following day. 

DAY 12: 27th January 2022 - CAMP 2 (5,500m/ 18,044 feet)

We will rest all day in Camp 2 to recover our strength, refuel and rehydrate. This is a very important part of the acclimatization process before moving higher on the mountain. Effective Oxygen is now at about 10% this will be hard.

DAY 13: CAMP 2 / CAMP 3 CÓLERA (6,000m/ 19,685 feet) / CAMP 2

Today we will move part of the expedition equipment and food that we will need in Cólera camp (each member of the group will carry -without exception- food and equipment load for the expedition). Once at Cólera Camp, we will enjoy a very high calorie lunch. Then, we will return to Camp 2. This climb will greatly help with our acclimatization process.

DAY 14: CAMP 2 / CAMP 3 CÓLERA (6,000m/ 19,685 feet)

Everybody will get up very early in the morning, have breakfast, and we will then start ascending towards the “Normal Route”. On this day, each climber will be responsible for carrying personal equipment and the surplus of expedition equipment and food (if there is any). At Cólera Camp the camp will be settled, strategically located for its altitude, and protected from strong winds. Our expedition leader and Everest climber Ian will check each member of the group and give a final update and strategy for the summit day to assure the greatest safety and success possible for the summit. High calorie Dinner will be served, and the rest of the evening will be spent resting and getting as much sleep as possible. Not that you can at 9% oxygen! 

DAY 15: CAMP 3 “CÓLERA” / SUMMIT (6,962m/ 22,841 feet) / CAMP 3 “CÓLERA”

This is it! We will climb to the summit and return to Cólera Camp 3. The team will get up very early in the morning/late night (circa 11 pm - 1am depending on weather conditions) have breakfast and start climbing. This is a long and slow ascent to the summit, and we will take short breaks after each hour of climbing. We will have a longer break once we reach the Cave, before the long and steep ascent through the Canaleta, to the summit.   Once/if we reach the summit of South America’s highest point, we will live an unforgettable experience in reaching this amazing goal.  After enjoying the top for a short time, we will return as a team to Cólera Camp. We will sleep that night with the satisfaction of having reached our goal.

 DAY 16: CAMP 3 / PLAZA DE MULAS (4,390m/ 14,402 feet)

We will rise early and make the long decent down the other side of the mountain, on the Normal Route.  We will reach the Plaza de Mulas Base Camp in the early afternoon. Sleeping tents and waste produced by the expedition group, will be carried by individual climbers. Once in Plaza de Mulas, the group will be served a late lunch and have the afternoon to share pictures, rest and celebrate the expedition.This is approximately a 3-hour downhill steep descent where we will still be carrying all our personal gear.

DAY 17:  PLAZA DE MULAS / HORCONES / MENDOZA

Descent to Horcones. This is the last climbing/descent day in the expedition. Our belongings will be carried by mules so we will only take a light bag pack with rain gear, jacket, water. This is a 15.5 mile/ 25km hike to the Aconcagua park entrance, where we will be picked up and transferred to Mendoza city. 

DAY 18: MENDOZA

DAY 19/20:  SPARE SUMMIT DAYS

If the itinerary goes to plan, then we will be back in Mendoza on day 17 and could leave on day 18.  However, it is rare that we can stick to any itinerary, due to weather and unforeseen circumstances. These days are essential for additional summit attempts if the mountain so requires us to do so. If these days are not needed on the mountain, the team can either stay in Base Camp for the extra days, or we can return to Mendoza as planned

DAY 21: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT HOME. (Maybe a foot rub!)

Summary: - 

I just want to say ABSOLUTELY NONE of the money raised will in any way be used to fund this expedition. I have saved for years and have already paid for this expedition from my own money and that itself is no mean feat as it cost quite literally tens of thousands of pounds. Not just for the equipment but travel and the expedition itself. 

I’m not asking for lots of money individually, anything you can spare is enough, and even if you can’t I’d ask if you could share this far and wide as far as your social media will take it, talk to your families, friends, work colleagues even the bus driver :-) and let’s raise enough that “manup” can continue helping men for many years to come. 

I hope you follow me through this journey to help raise money for an absolutely worthy cause. 

I will post regular training updates as well as climbs throughout the year to show you how I am getting on. I will also throughout the expedition provide a very detailed diary of my progress, pictures, videos and hopefully a summit picture to cement my achievement in raising as much as I can for this amazing charity. 

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Paul 

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