| Blessed's Everest Trek Emulates Mallory | | | | The Dalai Lama Blesses Brian's Everest Trek |
| He made his first run at the mountain in 1991, as | | | | A determined man, Blessed tried a third ascent in |
| part of a film called Galahad of Everest, which | | | | 1996. This time he was sent back by the |
| was a tribute to his childhood hero, George Leigh | | | | expedition leader when the weather worsened. He |
| Mallory. On this occasion, Blessed reached Camp | | | | reached about 7,680 metres, but then was |
| IV which, at an altitude of 8000 metres, is 2650 | | | | advised he had gone far enough. Blessed was |
| metres up from Everest base camp. This is the | | | | pragmatic: "You have to obey the rules of the |
| last major camp where climbers make their final | | | | mountain," he said. While he waited for his team |
| preparations for the summit. It is also where | | | | at Everest base camp, they were able to reach |
| exhausted climbers rest on their way down from | | | | the top, and tie a scarf from the Dalai Lama to |
| a summit attempt. Blessed's achievement at | | | | the summit pole on behalf of Brian. Brian had |
| reaching this point was made more poignant by | | | | become friends with the Dali Lama after meeting |
| the fact he was dressed in same type of clothing | | | | him on his several visits to Nepal. They even |
| as Mallory wore in 1924, for the sake of the film's | | | | exchanged phone numbers. |
| authenticity, and he climbed without bottled | | | | Clearly his Himalaya adventures have had a |
| oxygen. | | | | profound effect on the actor. In one interview, |
| Blessed's Second Everest Trek Breaks Records | | | | Blessed described the impact that the scenery |
| Blessed returned for another Everest trek in | | | | can have: "My favourite walk is from the Lukla |
| 1993. This was the first successful commercial | | | | airstrip just outside Kathmandu to Everest base |
| ascent of Everest run by the expedition company | | | | camp." This Everest trek would mean ascending |
| Himalayan Kingdoms, now called Mountain | | | | more than 2500 metres on foot. The classic |
| Kingdoms Ltd. This time Blessed came better | | | | route takes you through pretty Sherpa villages |
| prepared. On this occasion he was forced to turn | | | | and dramatic high mountain scenery. "You walk |
| back at an altitude of 8,595 metres, but by | | | | through jungles and valleys and, suddenly, the |
| reaching this height at the age of 56 years, he | | | | giant mountains appear through the clouds." But |
| had climbed higher than any other man of his age. | | | | his passion for the region and the mountain are |
| It remains Blessed's proudest moment despite his | | | | summed up better by his succinct words: |
| record being broken in 2003 by a climber called | | | | "Adventure is life. Everest is life. |
| Yuichiro Miura. | | | | |