The start of the Everest Mailrun Challenge at Everest Base Camp in Nepal at 06.00 local time on Sunday May 28, 2017.
Photo: Anuj Adhikary
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This is the second attempt on the Everest Mailrun by Jamie. He first made the attempt on 29 May 2016. That attempt was inspired by a drive to raise much-needed funds for The Himalayan Trust's schools rebuilding project following the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal in April 2015. The run raised several thousand dollars for the Trust's rebuilding work, and was supported by the organisers of the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon. Jamie managed to complete 280km of the full 320km distance, but had to abandon the attempt. Having come so close in 2016, the intention is to return in May 2017 for a second attempt, with the benefit of all of the experience from the first.
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The 320-kilometre (200-mile) route from the roof of the world to Nepal's bustling capital Kathmandu. Following in the footsteps of the earliest Everest Mailrun runners
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Ultra-runner Jamie Ross Mackenzie is aiming to run the full distance of the Everest Mailrun route in one continuous attempt.
The aim is to break the current record of 63 hours and 8 minutes, set in April 2013.
The start will be May 2017, from the high altitude of 5,350 metres at Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
The route crosses the mountainous Solukhumbu region to Kathmandu, covering a distance of 320 kilometres (200 miles).
Re-posted from June 2016
My apologies for the lack of updates immediately before the run on 29 May, during the run over the 2/3 days, and afterwards.
Anyway... much to say, but to the point. I started at 07.00 on Sunday 29 May along with the Everest Marathon runners as planned, after 13 days hiking and training from near Jiri, up to Base Camp.
The first was a chance phrase from a friend in Nepal in 2013. We had just finished the Everest Marathon that year, my second time. We had hiked back down to Lukla, one of the most dangerous airports in the world
Jamie attempted the full Everest Mailrun on 29 May 2016 to raise funds and awareness for the work of the Himalayan Trust.
The aim of the Mailrun in 2016 was to highlight the need for donations to help with reconstruction work after the devastating earthquake of April 2015, which killed nearly 8,900 people, injured 100,000, and destroyed 600,000 homes and 30,000 classrooms across the country. Every penny, cent, kroner or euro donated went to the Himalayan Trust.
I intend to visit one of the school rebuilding projects that we raised funds to support, and will be providing updates in
May 2017 on this site. Thank you to all who donated! It really does make a difference!
The work of the Himalayan Trust is ongoing. If anyone would like to make a donation, please see below.
So why do the Everest Mailrun? Several reasons. The main one happened on April 25 last year, when a devastating earthquake hit Nepal. I saw the news breaking of the disaster and recognised places I’d visited just two years before.