My favourite memory of my Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes trek was when we crossed the Cho La pass. This permanently snow-covered pass is very high and took us a whole day to cross, but it is achievable by any fit, determined hill-walker.

I felt like a real mountaineer as I walked uphill on the Cho La glacier, carefully following in the footsteps of those in front. I needed no technical equipment – just a good pair of lungs and walking boots.

Snow-covered peaks and beautiful wild countryside surrounded us all day. The descent from the pass was equally stunning, with fabulous views of glacier below. The valley is lined with magnificent mountains soaring skywards, and dominated by Cho Oyu. The deep blue glacial Gokyo Lakes were spread along the valley floor.

Unlike the popular Everest Base Camp, most trekkers do not reach the summit of the prayer-flag bedecked Gokyo Ri - we only saw two other people. I felt a very contented sense of achievement as we headed back downhill. We began to fantasize about what we would eat when we arrived back at Kathmandu - for me it was smoked salmon, brown bread and salad washed down with plenty of beer.