Our departure from Yamphudin was delayed a few minutes as our treking permits were scrutinised by the local policeman at the check point in the village. Our route took us across a rickity bamboo bridge to the foot of the steep valley side. We then climbed up the zig zag path for some two hours to reach a little col called Dubi Bhanjyang at about 2600 metres. This perhaps was the first staircase we will take to the roof of the World! The views down the valley on the ascent were stunning and in the words of Dave Pearce "What an awesome place". A rest at the col for everyone to catch up was followed by a descent through a forest to the freezing Omje Khola river at our campsite. The dappled sunlight on the steep mountain path gave a lovely cool light by which we descended to the little woodsman hut. Our camp site is on his little terraced fields at the bottom of this deep jungle covered valley. It is an idyllic place, the green forest canopy is punctuated by huge magnolia trees in full bloom of white flowers. Our cook boy the ever smiling Bi Bi Rai was singing a well know Nepalese song which goes like this:

"One-barrelled gun, twin barrelled gun targeted at the deer
It is not the deer that I am aiming at, but at you my dear"

News came through last nigt that the porters in the next valley who are going to lift our gear to base camp want an extra £5 per day each. The plan is for a huge Russian built helicopter to fly all our base camp and climbing equipment from Kathmandu to two locations. For the senior team to Oktang (4780 metres) and the Junior Team in the neigbouring valley to Ghunsa. The porters will then lift the equipment to our respective base camps. At the end of the expedition they will then lift it all the way back to the road head at Taplejung. We understand the Swiss Expedition ahead of us have already paid the higher fee so we will have to do the same.

For the kids: Ian Venables, 32, the equipment member is our man today. He has worked tirlessly in UK to gather together thousands of items of equipment for the Expedition from torch batteries to base camp tents to High Alititude tents. In all the equipment weighs some two and half tons. This is his second visit to the Himalayas, he has climbed Ama Dhablam. He is really enjoying the trek and says "its tops, quite chilled". He is looking forward to climbing Kanchenjunga and above all wants the expedition to be a success and for everyone to come back safely.

Diary entry by David Nicholls.