Each day was better than the one before and the highlight was reaching Base Camp after nine days, followed by a gruelling climb up Kala Patthar, over 5500m as to get the best view of Everest. The downhill journey was just as challenging as the uphill one when we got a large dumping of snow, transforming the landscape into a snowy wonderland. Our Sherpas and porters were incredible and showed us one of the most beautiful places on earth, just like New Zealand only everything was so much bigger and more impressive. As New Zealanders, having Sir Edmund Hillary so firmly in our hearts it was touching to visit the towns and see what a difference he has made to the people of Nepal.