A WHITBY GP will be spending Easter at 17,000ft after embarking on his journey to the top of the world.
Dr Alistair Sutcliffe (41) of Sleights is scaling Mount Everest to raise more than £5,000 for St Catherine's Hospice.
The doctor is currently at his first base camp and earlier this week he sent a message to St Catherine's Hospice saying he is fit
and well.
He said: "Travelled from Kathmandu to Namche via helicopter, then onto Thame, then Kamjung, Debouche, then Lobouche, then base camp via Gorak Shep.
"Each trip gained about 1,500ft – now at 17,000ft. I should start moving through the icefall next week, then up to camp two before retreating to base camp for a week or so. Feeling well, strong, and acclimatising well. Sure looks a big hill."
After jetting to Nepal, the team faced a 10-day trek though the snow to their base camp.
Dr Sutcliffe entertained his fellow climbers with tales of medicine as they wound their way up the Loboche Kola river. But they were reminded of challenges ahead when they got to Dugla and saw heavy clouds being blown through the monuments.
The team also got caught in a snow storm on their way to Loboche and arrived at their lodgings resembling snowmen.
They arrived at base camp on Saturday. The tent city is one of the highest settlements on earth and is right at the bottom of the breathtaking Khumbu Icefall.
Dr Sutcliffe's Everest climb is part of an attempt to become one of only 100 people who have climbed the highest mountain in each of the seven continents.
He's already scaled three, but Everest will be his biggest challenge.
l More on Alistair's adventures in Tuesday's Gazette.