AN INTREPID Cleethorpes explorer who has conquered Mount Everest has returned to Nepal for what he says will be his toughest challenge yet.
John Pomfret, 50, of Davenport Drive, who scaled the world's highest peak in 2006, is to take part in his first marathon – a gruelling 26-mile trek across the foothills of the Himalayas.
And the self-confessed adrenaline junkie admits to being apprehensive at the prospect.
He is being accompanied on his three-week trip by Grimsby Rugby Club teammates Neil Corry, 35, of Grimsby, and John Hamill, 49, of Cleethorpes.
Just like John they have never taken part in a marathon before.
The Tenzing-Hillary Marathon, named in honour of the first people to conquer Everest, will take place on Wednesday, May 29.
It starts at the Everest Base Camp, taking competitors over rough mountain trails at high altitudes to the finish at Namche Bazaar.
John and his friends, who calling themselves The Three Musketeers are now in Nepal getting acclimatised to the conditions. As part of their preparations they will be embarking on an eight-day trek, which will include climbing three big peaks in the region.
John said: "We will be in Nepal for 18 days before the marathon starts and we will be training a lot before the event.
"There are three climbs we are going to do, carrying packs for five to eight hours a day, every day, just making it that little bit harder so that when we do the marathon we are as ready as we are ever going to be."
John, who is hoping to complete the marathon in between eight and ten hours, added: "I'm apprehensive because I have never done a marathon. I'm used to the terrain and altitude, but not so much the running.
"They say that for most of the route, you can't run as it's too steep. I think it's going to be a case of what's known in military terms as 'tabbing'. It's going to be interesting!"
The trio will be raising money for Walking With The Wounded, a charity which funds the retraining and re-education of wounded servicemen and women to help them find long-term employment.
John said: "It supports soldiers who are wounded and they prove to people that even though they have lost their limbs there is life after bad injuries."
As reported, John is hoping the marathon will form the second jewel in an Everest triple crown.
Having already scaled the mountain from the south side, he has set his sights on completing the northern ascent next year.
He is aiming to complete the Seven Up Seven Down Challenge by scaling the highest peak on each of the seven continents inside the current world record of 135 days.
To sponsor them visit www.justgiving.com/John-Pomfret.
John Pomfret's Himalayan diary: Part one Its 06:15hrs at Namche Bazar (3440m). Its our second day in the mountains having flown out to Lukla via helicopter because all flight had been cancelled due to low cloud. This was an incredible experience for as the helicopter was able to fly much lower than the airplane thus avoiding the low cloud. So low in fact that I was able to see the Himalayan foot hills in a totally different aspect. Of course this was an added bonus for the other guys John and Neil. We have a rest day in Namche today but will heading off for a few hours higher up to assist with our acclimatisation. Tomorrow see's the start of ten days of strenuous trekking before we arrive at Base camp on the 27th. Here we will spend two nights and attend the pre marathon briefing before we line up with the other competitors for the start of the Tenzing Hillary Marathon on the 29th.
