To Everest and beyond...on a unicycle.

A snowHead

OK it's not skiing, but it's an inspiring article about Steve Colligan's trip across the roof of the world on a unicycle
for a Nepalese charity

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/steve.colligan/docs/Everest%20Part%201.pdf

Distance: 1,100km (680 miles)
Total ascent: 12,000m (39,370ft)
Total descent: 15,000m (49,200ft)

"The climb up to the campsite at Rongbuk
was on appalling dirt track suitable for only
4x4 vehicles. The roughness of the rocky
surface was unrelenting and extremely
unforgiving to unicycles. If I were riding
this at sea level, I would have found it
very hard going, never mind at 5,000m.
I lost count of the number of times my
heartbeat must have peaked and I had
to dismount quickly, close my eyes, and
hold onto the unicycle while forcing the
air into my lungs. Sometimes the lack of
oxygen and exhaustion would make me
feel dizzy and light-headed so I’d have to
stop again to recover. I felt so tired and
drained that I was convinced I wasn’t
going to make it. This was unbelievably
hard going and I could only ride short
distances at a time. To give you an idea
of how the lack of oxygen affects you
at 5,000m - If you hold your breath for
two seconds, you then spend the next
15 seconds breathing heavily to recover.
When you drink from your Camelbak you
actually stop breathing momentarily while
you take a sip; you then have to breathe
deeply to recover. Despite taking energy
gels to help keep me going, I was now
having to stop and recover from sheer
exhaustion as well as my breathing. I
could see Everest at the head of the valley
getting closer and closer but I wasn’t sure
whether I was going to make it or not".

Anyone else fancy taking up mountain unicycling? Very Happy

Help!!

To Everest and beyond...on a unicycle.

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