A Cumbrian eight-year-old is set to trek to Everest Base Camp for charity.
Frankie McMillian, from Gosforth, is taking on the intense 11-day trek in Nepal with his mum Basia, starting on April 1 this year.
It’s a climb that many adults struggle with and often can’t finish – but Frankie is no stranger to conquering mountains.
He’s also breezed through all 214 Wainwrights and has climbed nearly 500 mountains since he was born, but Basia said it was Mount Everest that had captured his attention the most.
She added: “Frankie’s biggest dream has always been to go up Everest. When we first moved to the Lakes he said he wanted an Everest room, so he actually has Everest as a wallpaper by his bed.
“So after we had huge success with climbing Olympus we thought why not challenge ourselves and give Base Camp a go, which would be his dream come true.
“Olympus was our first really big adventure and we were quite nervous and didn’t know what to expect. It was sort of a trial to see how Frankie would cope with foreign foods and sleeping in mountain refuges and walking so much.
“But he smashed it and as soon as we had climbed it he kept asking me what are we going to do next, he just loved it.
“Obviously he’s still too young to go to the very top of Everest, but he’s very very excited, he’s not worried at all.”
As part of their climb to Base Camp the duo are raising money for the Make A Wish Foundation, a charity that Frankie picked out himself.
Basia said: “As soon as we decided on going to Everest Base Camp Frankie said he wanted to fundraise as when we climbed Olympus we raised money for Wasdale Mountain Rescue.
“So I looked at a few options for charities and I showed them to Frankie and he said he well it’s my wish to go up there, so if we fundraise for Make A Wish we will help other children get their wish.
“But the trip itself is self funded. All the money we raise will be going to charity, we won’t be splitting the money to cover any trip costs.”
If Frankie makes it to Base Camp he’ll become part of a handful of children worldwide who have successfully completed the 88km trek.
But it’s not just hiking for 11 days straight – Frankie and Basia will spend that time repeating going slowly up and then slightly back down the mountain in order to acclimatise to the high altitude.
Everest is the tallest mountain in the world and exists on very edge of habitable altitude. It also sits on the Khumbu Glacier, which is complete with ice pinnacles, sinkholes and meltwater pools.
Basia said: “All we can do is give it our best shot. You never know how your body will react and if you will make it up or not and safety comes first, Frankie is well aware of that.
“Even some of the most fittest and prepared people don’t make it to Base Camp, their bodies just decided the height is enough. You can’t really prepare for that. But I’m hopeful we will do it.
“We won’t need oxygen to get to Base Camp but we will be carrying it in case something happens where we need it.”
Frankie and Basia will be following in the footsteps of Everest’s first climbers Tenzing and Hillary and staying in different villages every day to sleep in bare-bones tea houses similar to bothys.
They will be guided by Sherpas who regularly help people ascend Everest.
Basia said: “Similar to Olympus I have struggled to find people willing to take an under 18 year old, so that was the first challenge.
“But because I work as a mountain leader I have a friend who’s been to Base Camp a few times and he put me in touch with Sherpas in Nepal who have agreed to take us.
“Frankie keeps saying but we’ll be so close to the top that he’ll just want to go! But even if he physically could do it, equipment wise it’s very difficult to get things in his size.
“We’ve had to order him a coat from Norway, you can’t really get down jackets easily for the size of an eight year old. When we climb he even tells people that the only reason he can’t get to the top is that there isn’t crampons in his size.”
As part of their preparations the duo will continue to do a lot of walking in then run up to the trip – and Frankie has even started doing the Wainwrights for a second time as part of his training.
Two weeks before they fly out they must also both drink close to five litres of water a day to prepare their bodies for the trek.
They’ve also had several vaccinations and health check ups to make sure their lungs and oxygen levels are suitable for the climb.
Basia added: “When we went to get vaccinations and have him checked to make sure he’s strong and fit for the trek the doctor asked him about going to Nepal and he would just causally throw it into conversations that he was going to Base Camp.
“He’s so excited and totally relaxed about it but the next question we always get is wow, is he allowed to go?
“But he’s healthy and strong and there’s no reason to not let him go. I’ve done research on taking young children and read articles and doctors notes and scientifically there’s no reason why a child can’t go up the same as an adult.
“A toddler recently went who was carried by his parents. The only worry is you need to know your child very well to be able to notice changes and have them communicate properly with you if they feel unwell.
“I think I’m more worried about food than the high altitude, Frankie is a fussy eater, so he will have to put up with foreign foods!
“He’ll need to eat and drink a lot and get a lot of rest and each day will be an adventure.”
Frankie’s love for mountains and his Olympus climb has also drawn in a lot of national attention.
He’s set to make an appearance as a youngest speaker at The National Outdoor Expo alongside Ben Fogle and Basia said a publisher has approached them to make Frankie the subject of an illustrated children’s book.
Basia said: “I think people are starting to see him as a little role model which is lovely. He’s just following his interests and he’s encouraging people to come outdoors and show that anything is possible if you’re focused on it.
“I had a personal trip planned to climb Mera Peak in Nepal but I cancelled it because I thought after all these trips with Frankie it will never be so good without my best buddy and partner in crime with me. I couldn’t go to Nepal without him, it’s his dream more than mine.”
You can donate to Basia and Frankie’s JustGiving by clicking here.
