Hi, its Ray Todd here with today's blog.

Congratulations to my fellow trekkers the entire team made it to Everest Base Camp (EBC) today and back to Gorek Shep.

Today was by far the hardest day's trekking but the most rewarding.

Mt Everest is not visible from EBC and for this reason it was decided to head to the slopes of Pumori for the most spectacular views of Everest rather than head directly to EBC. This decision meant a hard day was in store for all since further climbing into the now very thin atmosphere was required.

We left early and arrived at Pumori base camp (approx 5340m) with Pumori and surrounding peaks clouded in mist. However after a short wait the mist evaporated to reveal peaks towering above us that were so close you could almost reach out and touch them. A handful of hardy trekkers climbed higher on the slopes of Pumori to reach Camp 1 at about 5600m. Mind blowing views of Everest were seen from a number of points on Pumori.

After scrambling down the slopes of Pumori we headed to EBC and most of us arrived there close to exhaustion.

There is not much at EBC but there were quite a few tents associated with various expeditions to Everest and Lohtse. EBC is representative of a moonscape - very bleak but great views of the Khumbu ice fall and the traditional south route to the summit of Mt Everest (or Chomolungma). It was also haunting that a number of souls had set out from EBC and never returned.

Most of us started the long trek back to Gorek Shep but a few headed towards the start of the icefall where they saw some remnants of old expeditions - an old boot, a wooden ladder and some tin cans.

Whilst en route to EBC we listened to several avalanches. We craned our necks to spot them but could not see them on most occasions.

We returned to Gorek Shep at just after 4pm - about 9 hours of trekking at more than 5000m. Practically everyone was exhausted but very satisfied. Tonight will be an early night!!