I fretted about whether I’d be warm enough, whether I had the right gear and whether I would actually survive the trek. For the six months before I set off, my fitness, footwear and potential frostbite became pre-Everest obsessions. I researched and walked and planned but still left for Kathmandu and the Everest Base Camp trek with a great deal of apprehension.

But I needn’t have worried.

Sure, trekking to the base camp was physically challenging and it was cold at night (I was there at Christmas, after all) but the sheer elation of achieving my long-term goal made all the effort worthwhile.

It’s not just the moment when you step foot on Base Camp that makes this trek so special. Standing on top of Kala Pattar was extraordinary. From there I looked down onto Everest Base Camp and looked up, up, up to the highest peak on the planet.

The welcome from the Sherpa people I met en-route was memorable, as was the sense of history that comes from travelling in the footsteps of the great explorers and the constantly stunning views round every turn of the trail.

It certainly helps to prepare yourself for Everest base camp trekking but, if you’re in reasonable physical shape and enjoy your walking, don’t let anything stop you from completing the classic Everest Base Camp Trek – the greatest walk in the world.