From 12 May to 2 June 2025, a team of 10 personnel from 36 Engineer Regiment and the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, embarked on an extraordinary journey to the Khumbu region of Nepal, home of Mount Everest. The first-of-its-kind Exercise EVEREST SAPPERS 25 was held so the team could take part in the world highest altitude marathon. The Everest Marathon would cover 15 days of trekking to Everest Base Camp followed by 42km high altitude trail marathon on 29 May 25. The event commemorated the first successful ascent of Everest on 29 May 1953.
The team arrived in Kathmandu on 13 May 2025 and trained in surrounding hills to test their performance under reduced oxygen conditions to acclimatise their bodies. Early on, the altitude took its toll, with even short runs leaving many breathless. A special training session provided by Nepal’s elite trail runners boosted the team’s morale. On 18 May, they flew to Lukla, embarking on the trekking phase towards Everest Base Camp. Over the next few days, they climbed through Namche Bazaar, Dingboche, Lobuche, and eventually Gorakshep. This included acclimatisation stops including running drills at increasing altitudes, reaching as high as 5,545 m at magnificent Kala Patthar. The team moved as one, enjoying breathtaking views of glaciers, pine forests, yaks, and glimpses of Everest. The emotional high point was witnessing a rare, cloudless views of Everest’s summit at Kala Patthar. Arriving at Base Camp brought excitement and nervous energy, with uncertainty on what would follow next on race day. Unlike most trekkers, the team had secured rare permission to camp on Everest Base Camp, an honour reserved for only elite and legendary mountaineers who are their mission to summit Everest. We spent two nights at 5,364 metres, preparing and adjusting to the altitude ahead of race day.
On 29 May, race day dawned cold and clear, after early breakfast and final kit checks, the team huddled together and the race began, launching them into a demanding endurance event. The narrow, rugged trail made overtaking impossible, so many runners surged ahead early. The marathon route descended through the traditional Sherpa trails of the Khumbu valley, weaving through ancient stone paths, alpine meadows, and lush rhododendron forests. The terrain was brutally uneven, strewn with rocks, steep inclines, and rapid descents. Every footstep required concertation, and every breath was a battle. The elevation, terrain, and distance created a cocktail of challenges, pushing every runner to their limits never felt before. However, every kilometre was also laced with awe, as snow caped peaks loomed in every direction, prayer flags fluttering in the wind, and local villages offered smiles and encouragements, energising the weary runners.
All the team crossed the finish line safely, a triumph given the physical demands of the course. One team member achieved an impressive 5hrs and 24mins, placing him in the top 15 out of over 230 competitors from around the world. The team felt a sense of pride, achievement, and unity.
