After days of trekking through some of the most remote and challenging terrain I’ve ever experienced, I’m so proud to share that we’ve made it to Base Camp on Kanchenjunga. At 8,586 metres, it’s the third-highest mountain in the world, and this section of the expedition has tested us in every possible way — physically, mentally, and emotionally. We left Ramje at 4:00am. The stars were still overhead, and the morning was cold but calm. We were grateful for clear skies and stable weather — navigating what was ahead in bad conditions would’ve made things even more difficult. For the first hour or so, we followed a solid track leading to the trekkers' viewpoint of Kanchenjunga. As the sun rose, the mountain appeared in the distance, bathed in early light. It was a breathtaking moment of beauty and stillness — and then the real work began. We descended onto the Yalung Glacier, a massive stretch of ice hidden beneath a chaos of rocks and boulders. There’s no defined trail, just small rock cairns that mark the way. For hours we navigated this terrain, weaving up and down, side to side. The glacier felt never-ending. Every step required concentration and effort. To our surprise and delight, two of the amazing kitchen staff came out to meet us partway with drinks and snacks. Their kindness lifted our spirits. They then continued down to help the porters who were following behind with the gear. That kind of teamwork and support is what makes these expeditions possible. After leaving the glacier, the trail led steeply upward, and we entered a section with falling boulders. It was intense and required all of our focus. The climb continued through a cliff face, where we used fixed ropes for safety. Finally, after nearly 11 hours on our feet, we reached the first Base Camp. We had a quick drink, then pushed on another 20 minutes to reach our own camp higher up. We arrived at 4:30pm, completely exhausted. It was a long day: 15.1 kilometres, 1545 metres of ascent, and 585 metres of descent. On paper, it may not look like a huge distance, but out here — on rough glacier terrain, high altitude, and with heavy packs — it was enormous. Our porters and the rest of the kitchen crew arrived safely an hour later. I’d been quite worried about them on that final, steep, snowy stretch. Seeing them walk in was a big relief. We ended the day with a lovely dinner shared with friends. I didn’t sleep very well — not unusual at this altitude — but I managed a shower and am now resting and recovering. This journey is a powerful reminder that growth and progress rarely come easily. It’s in these tough, uncertain, and often uncomfortable moments that we learn the most — about ourselves, about each other, and about the world around us. Thank you to everyone who continues to support and encourage this climb. I feel your energy all the way up here. With love from Base Camp,Allie x