Standing at nearly 6,500 metres and known for its harsh weather and altitude, Mera Peak is one of the toughest climbing feats in the Himalayas. In October, Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke’s Active Life Trainer, Peter Morton, set out to conquer it.
Braving freezing temperatures, avalanche risks and the extreme physical toll of high altitude, Peter took on the challenge not just for personal achievement, but to raise money for Sport in Mind, a charity that uses physical activity to support people with mental health difficulties.
On Friday 17th October, Peter travelled to Nepal to begin his three-week climbing expedition, trekking through dense jungle, crossing high mountain passes and battling freezing nights in an attempt to reach the 6,474m summit.
What began as a personal adventure soon turned into a fundraising mission after colleagues encouraged him to make the most of the opportunity to support a cause close to his heart.
“Sport in Mind provide sport and physical activity sessions in the UK community, with the aim of improving the lives of those experiencing mental health difficulties,” Peter said.
“The ultimate aim was to summit Mera Peak and raise money for this fantastic cause. As a fitness professional working in mental health, I know what a positive impact physical activity has on mental wellbeing.”
Despite several days of heavy snowfall and dangerous avalanche conditions, Peter successfully completed the full expedition and returned home safely.
He said: “The biggest challenge we faced was higher up the mountain when five days of heavy snow fall caused a number of dangerous avalanches. Thankfully, our group stayed out of trouble, although sadly other climbers were less fortunate.”
Peter described the experience as unforgettable: “The initial nine day trek to Mera Peak was hard work but it was so worth it.
“The scenery from dense jungle to high passes and deep valleys was stunning. It was warm in the day, but well below freezing at night and ice even formed on the inside of the tent. I didn’t suffer too badly with altitude sickness, but the headaches and dry cough were a constant reminder of how thin the air was.
“It was an incredible adventure, and I would absolutely encourage anyone to visit the beautiful country of Nepal.”
The journey also aligned closely with the work Peter does every day.
He added: “As part of the Active Life team here at Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke, we see daily the positive impact sport and physical activity has on mental health. What Sport in Mind do fully aligns with this. I had been to Nepal before, but this time I wanted to push myself further and with a bit of encouragement, I decided to use the challenge to keep supporting Sport in Mind, just as we’ve done at Cygnet Health Care throughout this year.
“I’d like to thank my line manager, Active Life Lead Sally Leddy, for supporting me with time off to take on this challenge.”
To donate to Peter’s fundraising efforts, go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/peter-morton-3.
Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke, on Beach Road, is a 71-bed mental health hospital for men and women, providing care across five wards.