Hinkes Suffers Big Setback

Berghaus-sponsored 8000-metre man Alan Hinkes has been airlifted back to Kathmandu after contracting a bronchial infection during the two-week walk in to the world's third highest peak, Kangchenjunga.

Calling from Kathmandu late last week, Alan described what happened: 'Halfway through my trek in to base camp I began to feel unwell. I was very short of breath and lacked energy and appetite. At 4,000 metres I decided to stop and rest, but after three days with little appetite and feeling worse I realised I had to get to safety as the types of symptoms I had at such a high altitude can develop into life threatening High Altitude Pulmonary Adena (HAPE)..

'I was only two days from base camp and really looking forward to the climb. However as I always say I climb to live and with the symptoms I was experiencing I knew I had to get treatment as I hadn't suffered as much in a long time.'

Asked about the prospects for a return to the mountain, Hinkes replied: 'I'm feeling a little better but I'm still very weak and have a bad chest and cough. The doctors have prescribed me a ten-day course of antibiotics and recommended plenty of fluids and rest. I hope to still make an attempt on Kangchenjunga but I now have to take each day at a time and my health obviously comes first and will determine whether I am fit enough.'

It's a serious setback for Hinkes, who has just two peaks left in his attempt to become the first Briton to climb all 14 of the 8,000-metre plus mountains. Kangch' seems to be a particularly unlucky destination for the Yorkshireman; two years ago he was lucky to survive a crevasse fall during a retreat from an unsuccessful attempt on the summit.

He's now two weeks behind schedule and given the length of the walk-in - around a fortnight - an air approach seems to be the only feasible option if he's to reach the peak within the available time window. The problem then would be one of acclimatisation since Kathmandu is well below the mountains.

More information on Alan in our previous reports below and on the Berghaus web site.