One around the Islands then onto Mount Everest

                                                                   
 
My swim on Mount Everest has been postponed so for now I will take on some Mount Everest of Swims. 




November 2020.. 


Ice Swimming at the Top of the World-                                  
         
                  Swimming 1km @ 5000m 
                              Mount Everest 
                                  November 2020
         
In November this year, I hope to complete a kilometre swim, in a glacial lake above 4000m, on Mount Everest.
The 3rd highest distance swim in the world. 
This is a colossal personal challenge for me. 

Our Plan -November 2020 
In November 2020, both Fergal Slattery and I will travel to Katmandu , we will join up with the World Extreme Medicine Nepal, Trek. The plan is to join the experienced team and trek, over 9 days, to Base Camp. The challenges will be managing altitude as we trek to over 5,300m  We will use the time to acclimatise, walking average 6 hours a day as we move up the mountain. The swim will involve a multi hour trek to the glacial lake and attempt the swim at a time which works for the team. 

Swimming in Ice /freezing waters are limited by Time, Distance and Temperature. Add in the challenge of altitude and remote location, this further adds to the cocktail of risks.  Experience is the greatest teacher. 

The groups that we would like to benefit from Mount Everest Swim are close to our hearts. 

Mallow Search and Rescue - Water based S&R. This team have the most difficult job, diving and searching when there are families waiting. They  are involved in water based missing persons searches. They are among the busiest voluntary rescue groups in Ireland and 100% depend on donations. A team with whom I have connections going back 25 years, who travel the country, selflessly to reunite families.  

L.A.S.T (Lost at Sea Tragedies) - An everyday reality to any fishing family and our greatest fear. L. A.S.T. is a  community based charity that looks after the fishing communities and their families, at the times they need help the most where there is a loss of life at sea.  This new group needs as much support as they can get. 
 
We are a coastal community, accidents happen, and when they do, we need help. 

I grew up in a fishing family in Dingle, Co Kerry, my love of the open water swimming and my love of the extreme adventures started at a very young age.  
For the last fifteen years, I have focused on swimming distance in ice/ cold water, in some of the most remote oceans and dangerous location in world.  Now I want to add a twist to the cocktail of extreme ice swimming-swimming in a Glacial lake on Mount Everest.  Fergal Slattery will travel with me as my Rescue cover, the recovery from any swim is vital. Team is one of the most crucial areas in extreme swims. 

Some of my most extreme open water and Ice swimming achievements-

Three times listed in the top 50 of the World’s Most Adventurous Women in Open Water Swimming, 2015, 2017 & 2019. 



Twice nominated and shortlisted as the top 15 World Open Water woman of the year, as selected by the World Open Water Swimming Association. 2014 & 2016. 

Red Bull has listed me as one of Ireland’s top 7 Irish Adventurers, 2018. 

I have represented Ireland in Ice swimming, competed in 4 World Ice Swimming Championships, flying the flag around the world from Russia to China, Argentina to Finland. 

So I would now, like to add in that Variable, ALTITUDE. 

More info on my achievements 

What's the plan? 
I want to be swim a 1000m in a glacier lake, above 4000m looking up at the summit of Mount Everest. 
There has only ever been one distance swim recorded on Mt Everest 

"To take on any risky sport, It's important to understand that you may fail and it may be a terrible experience, in failing we may devastate ourselves and set ourselves back, or else we may release ourselves to a phenomenal journey. It's forward or back"


The margins of safety for this swim, are around the 5000m height. Having a rescue cover team is vital. 

Why?  
It is so important to continue to push ourselves outside our comfort zones, I don't always follow the group and swims like this are there to be tested.  
Only two other swims have been recorded, by the world open water swimming association, to have been completed at altitudes, higher than 4000m.  

Ice swims are only possible with a recovery plan-using my experience and the learning and assistance of the Team for the World Extreme Medicine for which I am grateful for their support. I don't have a huge back team so I am very grateful to the assistance I am getting this expedition.  


Objectives :
To be the First woman in the world to swim a 1000m on Mount Everest. 
To raise much needed funds for Mallow Search and Rescue and L.A.S.T. (Lost At Sea Tragedies) 
To learn more on the challenges of altitude on the challenges of Ice swimming.
To raise funds and awareness of the our chosen charities. 

The long term objective is to use all the information, to assist in creating safety plans and awareness to the risks around high altitude ice swims. 
To focus on and show the changes to the Glaciers and the Mountain due to climate change. 

What I love about the extreme is that it forces us to reset. 
One of the greatest aspects of ice swimming is that it takes our breathe away. 
The cold shock forces us to refocus our breathing,  to face our weaknesses and mostly to understand the actual challenge.


I always think that "I can only swim the water in front of me.. I have no Mountain top" .
Now I get to swim looking at the most iconic Mountain top in the world.   Mount Everest.. 
This will be a phenomenal challenge. 

"Precious few are born with it, even fewer know what to do with it" 


Thank you 


Nuala and Fergal