On top of the world

Hiscox News speaks to Alan Millard about his challenge of a lifetime in the Himalayas

In May, Hiscox UK’s Chief Operating Officer, Alan Millard, realised a dream 20 years in the making by reaching the summit of Mount Everest. Alan, a keen amateur climber, used the expedition to raise money for the charity Mountain Rescue England and Wales, whose volunteers save the lives of climbers here in the UK. We caught up with Alan and asked him about his journey to the top of the world.

How long had you wanted to tackle Everest?
I started to think about it seriously two years ago after attending a talk by Doug Scott, who became the first Briton to climb the mountain in 1975. I’ve dreamed about it for 20 years, but I never thought I would actually do it. Everest inspires me because it’s so iconic. It’s the ultimate challenge – not necessarily the hardest one – but the best one. I’ve always liked pushing myself mentally and physically.

What did you do to prepare?
For the physical side, I trained hard for a year most evenings and weekends, with Friday off for keeping sane. The best preparation for climbing is climbing, but the only thing to climb in Essex is my staircase, so I had to make do with the gym. Cycling is the closest to climbing in terms of muscles used, so I cycled to work when I could. Mentally, I prepared by telling everyone I was going, which meant I had no choice but to go!

Who did you travel with?
I was part of an international expedition led by Russell Brice, who is considered to be the best leader in the Himalayas. There were 12 of us from eight different countries, with 20 Sherpas – local guides – and three western instructors. Eight of us made it to the top, which was a great result, as the normal success rate is 30%.

Was there ever a point when you thought you weren’t going to make the summit?
After our first summit attempt was aborted and we missed certain death from an avalanche by three minutes on our way down, I felt pretty exhausted mentally and physically. We had only two days to recover before our next attempt, so I wasn’t sure if I had the stamina to try again so quickly.

How were your emotions when you reached the top?
My first priority was to take some good pictures to prove I was there. Once that was done, I just sat down and took in the majesty of the view from the top of the world. It was a beautiful day and the scene was amazing. My Sherpa soon told me to get down, though, as we still had lots to do to get to safety – 80% of accidents happen on the way down. We passed the body of someone who had died that morning and another who was close to a coma after his oxygen failed.

How have your Hiscox colleagues reacted?
Everyone at Hiscox has been brilliant. They have been so interested and supportive. So many followed my blogs and lived through the adventure with me. I’d urge Hiscox’s broker partners to take on a challenge and pursue their dreams – be it inside or outside the office.