Local team step up training for Everest challenge

Local adventurers are well on their way to the challenge of a lifetime as preparations intensify for the ‘Westbury & Warminster to Everest 2’ expedition.

Following a series of presentations earlier this year, 48 people initially registered their interest in joining Major Rab Lundie’s 2026 trek to Everest Base Camp.

After months of training and team-building, that number has now refined to a confirmed group of 22 trekkers, who will travel to Nepal in May 2026 to tackle the world-famous route to Everest Base Camp (17,598 ft) – and, if conditions allow, continue upwards to Kala Pattar (18,519 ft) to watch the sun rise over the highest mountain on Earth.

“The team has an average age of 52 and is a great mix of men and women from all walks of life,” said Rab, a serving army officer based in Warminster. “Most are first-time trekkers, with a wide range of fitness levels. In 2017, most of the team were from Westbury, but this time we’re really pleased to have a good number from Warminster too.”

Training for the challenge began earlier this year with the theme ‘Train as we Trek’.

Rab explained, “When you trek at very high altitude, you simply can’t walk at the same pace you would back in the UK. Even on day one, when we land at Lukla Airport – known as the world’s most dangerous airport – we’re already twice the height of Ben Nevis. That’s when some start to feel the effects of altitude. So, in our UK training, we aim to replicate the slower pace we’ll need in Nepal.”

Over the past six months, the team has tackled a series of local treks across the hills of Westbury and Warminster, focusing on team bonding and pace awareness. “It’s been brilliant to see everyone gel,” said Rab. “We’ve had kids and even dogs join us on many of the walks, which has really helped inspire the next generation too.”

The group has also completed three major training events – on the Jurassic Coast at Durdle Dor, at Pen y Fan in South Wales, and most recently reaching the highest point on Dartmoor. Conditions were often far from kind, with driving rain and strong winds testing both kit and morale.

“These events combined with some horrendous wet and windy conditions, especially on Pen y Fan have taken most of the team right out of their comfort zones,” said Rab. “It has shown them the need to invest in quality kit and equipment but mostly how to operate as a team.”

As winter approaches, the team’s schedule continues with local walks and tougher challenges at Cheddar Gorge and, early in the new year, a planned trip to Snowdonia.

“Our training in the UK will best prepare everyone to get to the start point in great shape,” added Rab. “That said, the team is under no illusion that there are other factors we cannot train for such as extreme altitude, fear of heights and high bridges, small crazy dangerous airports, being away from family and loved ones for three weeks and trekking for 12 consecutive tough days which will take many of them to the peak of their mental and physical abilities.

“At this stage we are in a very positive position to achieve our aims to get to the base camp and then up to Kala Pattar to sit and watch the sunrise.”

Although registration for the trek has now closed, Rab says he’s open to exceptional individual enquiries from anyone who wants to join the trek.

“I could be convinced with individual cases,” he added. “Anyone interested can email me at rabcniz@hotmail.co.uk to arrange a call.”

The ‘Westbury & Warminster to Everest 2’ expedition follows Rab’s successful 2017 trek, when 22 of 29 local participants reached Everest Base Camp and Kala Pattar.

When Rab gets the team to the top of Kala Pattar he will leave them and return to Everest Base Camp on his own for a mandatory two days of further acclimatisation before participating in the Tensing Hillary Everest Marathon (THEM), the highest marathon in the World.

The THEM is conducted on the day (29th May) when Everest was first summited by Sherpa Tensing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. With only 20 UK participants and a limit of 250 runners from across the World, Rab feels super privileged to eventually get a slot. “Training for the THEM is ramping up but like the trek, running at 18,000ft with 50% less oxygen across challenging terrain and in cold conditions will be super tough,” he said.

Immediately after the marathon Rab will rejoin and lead the team back to Lukla to conclude this epic adventure.