Sir heads for heights

Steve Hill prepares for the Mont Blanc climb with the help of pupils, top, Lavinia Whitehead, middle Leah McDonald, Ellie Morrison, bottom, Ben Sweatman, Anthony Woolley, Jessica Murray, James Dean and front right, Sian Ollerhead

WITH ice pick and ropes at the ready, daring tutor Steve Hill tomorrow sets out on his biggest challenge yet — to scale the heights of Mont Blanc.

Western Europe’s tallest mountain, on the France/Italy border, beckons as the 38-year-old deputy head teacher prepares to leave Oldham for a seven-day challenge which will see him climb the 15,780 feet to the summit.

On the first day, Mr Hill will complete last-minute training on the ice, learning to deal with the hazards of crevasses, soft snow and rock falls.

Then a three-day acclimatising trek, which involves more training, leads up to the culmination of the trip — a two-day summit attempt.

The organisers rate the challenge as tough, and demand a high level of fitness and stamina for all attempting the arduous ascent.

Mr Hill will sleep down overnight in mountain huts dotted along the route, with only cold-water troughs for washing.

And his pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School, Shaw, will be eagerly awaiting for news of his travels when he arrives back in Oldham a week later.

“I’m getting a bit nervous now,” admitted Mr Hill, “but I’m really looking forward to it.

“I wanted a challenge to beat last year’s climb of Kilimanjaro, and hopefully Mont Blanc will not prove to be too big.

“Obviously you have to be physically fit, but I think a lot of it is down to mental strength, and not giving in when it gets tough.”

The teacher took on the challenge to raise money for his pupils’ chosen charities, Help for Heroes and BIRD (Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Development).

He said: “The children, parents and colleagues at school have worked so hard over the last few months with many fundraising activities for the charities, and supporting me with wonderful words of encouragement and now it’s my turn.

“I’m sure it will be a fantastic experience. Although I’m told that the ascent is extremely arduous I’m certain that all my training over the past months will stand me in good stead.

“There’s no way that I could let down the children back at school, as they are expecting nothing less than a successful summit.”