Pictures from Glendalough

We hit the Spink for the Visitors center yesterday (12km) and walked the 535 steps to the first lookout point. There was some decision about know many steps there. I have walked these steps over 500 times and couldn't remember the step count. It was my good friend Gerard Kavanagh who came with me while I was training in the Wicklow mountains for Everest, that there are 536 steps.

If anyone out there has a different figure let us know. It was cold and crisp and cloudy, but this is Ireland and to be expected. We met up with Martin and Arjuna who came on one of our Kilimanjaro climbs in 2010 and also Joined by Anne Butler who trekked to Everest Base Camp with us in 2011.

A great day out and meeting up again for Lugnaquilla next Saturday (the highest mountain in Leinster) for a stroll up to 3,400ft. Not so high but a great trek in the Wicklow mountains.

Join us for FREE if your in the area, feel free to contact me for more info. Off to take Murphy for a walk. 

The Inca Trail

We are sending on two trips later in 2013 to trek the famous route to Macchu Picchu and the lot city of the Inca's. The 4 day traditional Inca Trail takes 500 people per day and is an amazing Trek. To add value and experience to the Trek we prefer the 6 day Salkanatay Trek, see Itinerary. 

This trek heads up to an elevation of 4,850m passing the amazing Mt. Salkanatay mountain and trekking the less traveled route to Macchu Picchu. If trekking is your game, then you have to do the 6 day trek giving you an amazing trek through the Andes as well as the traditional Inca trail route.

If you would like more information feel free to email or contact me.

Off to Glendalough

When I was a child we used to walk here and loved it, when I was in my teenage years I wasn't bothered, but in my Twenties I came to love Glendalough again. When I was training for Everest I used to trek around these mountains on a weekly basis. Over the space of a year I would build up from carrying 5kg to 25kg around these hills for 5 - 8 hours.

We lived in Lahinch in the west of Ireland for the past few years and moving to the states it has been and is going to be difficult to find time for Glendalough. I got engaged here, and love this place.

Anyway we are heading out for a 9km Trek tomorrow in preparation for an up coming Kilimanjaro trek in February. I will take some pictures and post them in a couple of days.

Just back from a great afternoon is Glendalough, I will upload some pictures tomorrow. It was a sad morning  as we said goodbye to a friend and Irish Legend Ian Mc Keever. Ian was the world record holder in 2007 for the speed record on the 7 summits, climbed Everest, an Atlantic rowing attempt, load of other world records and leading climbs on Kilimanjaro. He will be sadly missed. 

Everest Base Camp Treks

People always ask how difficult it is to get to Everest Base Camp?  It is an adventure of a lifetime and is achievable for most people. The key to success is the slowest walking possible. The key with climbing any mountain or trekking to altitude is to expend as little energy in the initial stages. Yes, physical exertion is an important part of acclimatizing, along with hydration, eating and sleeping.

The key is in learning to walk again. The slow approach with an experienced guide will get results. You can walk in the hills at home with extra weight 6 - 10kg for 3 - 6 hours along with weights and other endurance training you can easily build up the correct fitness in a 2 - 4 month period depending on where your starting point of fitness is, for an Everest Base Camp Trek.

If you would like to talk more about specific training required for Mountain Treks, feel free to get in touch. www.iantaylortrekking.com 

Slow to give updates

I Just came back from a trip to Indonesia, Vietnam and Borneo where we trekked some Volcano's, 3,000m peaks and enjoyed a more relaxing Trekking in Asia. When you are on the move so much it is hard to keep updating everything. I am back to a more leisurely pace, at least for a few weeks. 

It sure is more relaxing than Climbing on Ice falls, glaciers and extreme altitude. Even though we have some treks coming up on Kilimanjaro, Everest region, Mera & Island peaks we are really looking forward to Trekking the Inca Trail in November and December 2013. 

We are looking at trekking the Salkanatay Inca Trail  Most people so for the 4 day trail to Macchu Picchu. This 6 day trail meets up with the Inca trail just before Macchu Picchu but gives a much more impressive scenery of amazing 6,000m peaks along the route to Macchu Picchu. 

We hope to be joined by a team of 10-15 people to experience this famous trekking route to the lost city of the Inca's. 

If you are interested in join us feel free to e-mail ian@iantaylortrekking.com for more information.

The sad death of Ian Mc Keever

A Fair well message to a friend:

I was working away in work one day in 2006 when I was handed a message to call this guy Ian Mc Keever about a charity event he was running for attempt to climb the Seven Summits. It was handed to me as the staff knew I was into mountaineering.

I called Ian and we spoke to about 40 minutes about his plans and my plans for Everest. It became clear he had little to no experience but his can do attitude struck me straight away. He was similar to me, he had been told no most of his life, and every negative comment or discussion only made him stronger and he wanted to achieve what, people said was impossible. He did it...........

We kept in touch through 2006 to 2010, he broke the world record for the fastest seven summits, attempted to row the Atlantic, break more world records on Kilimanjaro, he managed to give us a great send off for Everest and we hit the pubs in Dublin on a few occasions to celebrate our successes. He even came to my stag in 2010.

Since then Ian was breaking more records on Kilimanjaro and leading people to achieve their dreams. I have taken a similar path bringing many teams up Island Peak, Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp and beyond.

Ian died on Kilimanjaro last week the 2nd January 2013. He will be sadly missed and will live long in the memories of people who knew him. I will be back on Kilimanjaro for my thirteenth time in February and it will be hard to pass by where he died. I know he lived to the max and loved every moment in the mountains.

I will remember Ian as a true Irish Hero, a champion to show everyone we can all achieve our own Everest. 

I am back after a long time away, working on a business development project in Ireland. I am back organizing treks to Mera peak, Island peak, Kilimanjaro, Everest camp 2. I am also heading to China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Borneo to travel relax and see what other opportunities there are out there. We hope to be running trips into Borneo, Tibet and Peru in 2013.

But first we need to explore, experience, learn and develop as we develop new adventures for others to go on.

check out http://www.iantaylortrekking.com/NewsDetails/25 if you are interested in join us to Mera and Island peaks in April 2013.