This is Isware our agent in Kathmandu. He has many many years of experience of organising and managing all the pre expedition needs and administative red tape. A really good guy to have at the end of the phone for emergencies.

Seti and Padawa. Seti was a great cook but sadly became very ill a couple of years ago with Encephalitis. Padawa (foreground) is one of the strongest Climbing Sherpas you will ever come across.

Myself and assistant leader Chris Walker chatting with my Sirdar Kame. Like Isware, Kame has many years of experience and runs a tight ship. He is one of the main movers and shakers on Everest each Spring and Cho Oyu each autumn.

This is Nyamgil (on the right). Quietly spoken and slight of build he is as strong as an ox on the hill. I once witnessed him leave BC with 30Kg of tents and cookers at 06.30 in the morning and be back down for the Puja which started at 10.00. In that time he'd even erected the tents at ABC

Seti the cook again. What a sound chap.

This is Germin and Thundu relaxing at Base Camp.

Ang Nuru is a young chap who due to personal family circumstances has sadly now ceased climbing. A young chap with great promise. An Everest summiteer.

Padawa (again). I have worked with him many times and he just gets stronger all the time. He has now summited Everest 9 times (twice within a week - 2 years on the trot), Cho Oyu a whole heap of times and Ama Dablam 32 times! I once witnessed him leave his home in Pangboche one morning and go to Camp 1 to collect a client and continue in the same day to Camp 3. The next day they summited and were back in Base Camp for the evening meal! Incredible.

Tashi runs a teahouse at Kyanjuma where we stop on the way in and have a blast of a party on the way out. She is an awesome person and a close personal friend. Tashi's teahouse is perhaps the most famous in The Khumbu and she always allows us to visit her fantastically impressive prayer room (pictured). A formidable lady.

Thundu on the sumit with Everest in the background. These guys never cease to amaze me in just how strong they are as mountaineers. You can rest assured that you are in very reliable and experienced hands.