ON TOP of the world is how a group of Tavistock girl guides felt this week after achieving a world first in the Himalayas. The 14-strong Everest ?07 expedition team trekked more than 100 miles to reach the foot of Everest and on Monday claimed the highest altitude of any balloon and the highest recorded tethered balloon display. The record was set by inflating and tethering a custom made girlguiding UK hot air balloon at Syangboche which sits at over 13,000 feet high. It was made all the more difficult by adverse weather conditions and physical hindrances endured at that altitude. The adventure started on September 1 and the team had to overcome a whole host of obstacles. Sustained period of low cloud at Kathmandu Airport prevented the group from boarding an internal flight and reaching their starting point on schedule and a new itinerary had to be negotiated. On top of the airport delays, the team also had to endure freezing temperatures and cope with the effects of altitude sickness, fatigue and lack of sleep. The group consisted of nine girl guides, between the ages of 18 and 22, former guiding members and five support trekkers. Eight months of training on Dartmoor had helped prepare the team for the expedition. In an e-mail sent to the Times during the descent phase of the Himalayan adventure, 18-year-old Kate Faithorn from Tavistock said: ?It was a mountain top moment for us all, individually and as a close team.? Cathy Warne from Tavistock said the challenge was more testing than arduous: ?There was a time when it looked like the weather would prevent us from seeing it through but we saw a weather window and went for it.? Although the change of itinerary meant the team did not make it to Everest base camp, Bethan Shillabear from Lamerton said they were not disappointed. She said: ?We were the only group of trekkers who continued into the region and despite everything, we achieved the balloon inflation and it was an incredible experience.? Twenty-two-year-old Zoe Viggers hoped the girls? achievement would inspire others. ?Something like this shows what anyone can achieve when they take a leap of faith,? she said. The balloon was made of a special light material by a manufacturer in Spain and had been the subject of trials in the Italian Alps. Tavistock balloonist Mark Warne, who was a key member of the team, said: ?The inflation was particularly challenging in the planning and science, but we were blessed with perfect conditions. ?It owes as much to prayer as it did technical skill.? Chief commissioner for Girlguiding South West Gill Slocombe said she was ?immensely proud? of the girls. Gill said:?It truly is a once in a lifetime experience which the team met head on. ?They have been challenged both physically and mentally throughout the trek and have responded brilliantly.?
