Pair scale heights to raise money
TWO Queenstown friends have climbed the height of Mt Everest this month to raise money for health and education projects in Nepal.
Jodie Lynes and Kate Mitchell are among more than 120 people throughout New Zealand who have taken on the Himalayan Trust Summit Challenge.
The challenge celebrates yesterday’s 65th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s historic ascent of the mountain, and involves climbing 8848 metres — the mountain’s height — during the month of May.
The pair, who both climbed more than 9200m in elevation, finished on Sunday by walking the Ben Lomond Track to the snowline and back.
Ms Lynes said they also hit their fundraising goal of $1000 the same day.
She had decided to attempt the challenge because it was a good incentive to go hiking around Queenstown and improve her fitness.
She was also keen to help the people of Nepal, having visited the country in her backpacking days to walk the Annapurna Circuit.
‘‘It was the people there that made it so amazing. As a New Zealander, I feel we have a really special relationship with Nepal.’’
Mrs Mitchell usually took 9monthold son Rome on the walks, carrying him in a front pack, and Ms Lynes’ labspringer Ponti tagged along too.
‘‘We’ve loved the walks — the scenery in Queenstown is incredible — and we’re happy to be fundraising while we’re doing it, with dogs and baby in tow,’’ Ms Lynes said.
The Queenstown Hill and Tobins tracks were their staple walks, but her favourite had been the Wye Creek track, as far as the waterfall.
An app provided them with an accurate count of the elevation gained on each walk.
Himalayan Trust general manager Prue Smith said most participants would be running, walking, biking or climbing to complete the challenge, which averaged 295m in elevation every day for 30 days.