Conquering Everest

Not many 24-year-olds can say they’ve ticked a major item off their bucket list.

But Tamara Dudfield has done just that. The 2nd Normanhurst Rover Scout has just returned from an expedition to Everest Base Camp, hiking between three and 17km per day for 14 days and reaching a maximum altitude of 5644m above sea level with a special sunrise hike to Kala Patthar.

She said the trip had always been a very long-shot bucket list item that would not have been made possible without a grant from the Dick and Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund.

“I applied through the LTAF as I had spoken to other Rover Scouts who had been provided with incredible opportunities to experience once in a lifetime adventures and develop their leadership skills along the way. The LTAF sounded like an amazing opportunity to experience this for myself,” she said before the trip.

Find out more about the Leadership Through Adventure Fund

“I believe to be a good leader you need to be able to push yourself and step out of your comfort zone. This creates drive and determination along with a feeling of vulnerability.

“Trekking to EBC does exactly this. It pushes your body physically and mentally especially as the altitude gets higher and it progressively becomes more difficult to breathe. I want to see what my body is capable of and how much determination I have.”

Making international friends

Tamara undertook the trip on her own, but booked with G-Adventure, a tour company that has local employees to allow for an increased cultural experience. As part of the team, there was a guide, an assistant guide and three porters, as well as other hikers from overseas.

Tamara Dudfield (third from right) with (from left) George (England), Jilly (England), Laura (England), Conor (Brisbane), Grace (England, but living in Wollongong), and Guide Amar (from Nepal).

She said everyone completing the trek had previous experience hiking, although only a few had completed hikes at a high altitude.

“I was so fortunate to complete this trek with this group. They were all full of life and genuine human beings,” she said.

“We all looked after each other in times of needs and provided support and assistance where we could. This really helped keep the spirits up when things got tough.

“I think one of the funniest memories I will keep from this trip is the six-hour bus ride home from Ramechhap. For about three hours of the ride we were in a small bus essentially going off-road as the road had been destroyed due to a bad flood that happened a few years ago.

“The road was incredibly bumpy and had lots of twists and turs, with next to no air conditioning. It was over 30 degrees and all of us became very car sick and all looked completely pale when we got out for a rest. While it was definitely not funny at the time, I think it made the experience more exciting and highlighted the true nature of Nepalese roads.”

Preparation is key

To prepare for the trip, Tamara was encouraged to develop her skills in bushwalking, which has allowed her to take her Unit on various hikes due to the increased qualifications she has gained. She said since completing the trek, she had learned that she was more resilient and determined than she originally thought.

“There were a couple of days where I really struggled but was able to keep pushing through to complete the task at hand,” she said.

“The days were long and tough, but the views were so spectacular and it was very calming walking through the mountains. It definitely lived up to my expectations and I was so happy I had the opportunity to complete this experience.

“My favourite part of the trip was completing a sunrise hike to Kala Patthar. While this was also the toughest part of the trek, it was so beautiful watching the sun rise over the mountains and getting a full 360-degree view of the Himalayas in the morning. This was also when I was able to see Everest clearly.

“It was the toughest part of the trip given it had about 500m of elevation that was completed in altitude. When moving in altitude, everything happens in slow motion, and climbing 500m was very tough and took about two hours to complete.”

World at her feet

Tamara is now deciding what treks she wants to complete in the future, with the Overland Track, Milford Sounds and the Great Ocean Road Walk currently making the list.

She said she loves how the Scouting Movement is an inclusive and diverse community to be part of.

“It has provided me with incredible opportunities that I would never have thought would be possible without being involved in Scouts, such as going to EBC,” she said.

“I have also been fortunate enough to meet many like-minded individuals who share a passion for the outdoors and adventures, making this entire journey so much more memorable.”