Take 10: Everest hopefuls

Adele Pennington, 42, is heading a UK expedition that includes two teachers, an IT consultant and a retired accountant. "I'm responsible for their safety, not to get them to the top," she says Photograph: Barry Lewis

Bill Goodland's concern, he says, is being forced to turn back, by illness or bad weather Photograph: Barry Lewis

"You don't think about the risks," says Amanda Richmond, 53, who is climbing with her partner, Neil Taylor, 51. "It's like real life - if you worried, you'd never cross a road" Photograph: Barry Lewis

Having conquered the other six, Carlos Morey, a twinkly 43-year-old Brazilian, is hoping to bag the last of the world's Seven Summits - the highest peaks on every continent Photograph: Barry Lewis

David Craven, one of the trekkers who's part of the expedition Photograph: Barry Lewis

The expense means that, for most, this a once-only opportunity - Ian Spalding, 40, remortgaged his home Photograph: Barry Lewis

Above 8,000m, mental acuity drops by a third. "You notice it afterwards," says Neil Thompson, 32. "You realise everything was hazy." He has climbed in the Himalayas before. "I saw a man fall off the side of a mountain. It was sobering" Photograph: Barry Lewis

Nick Robertson, 33: "I started climbing at school. At some point, Everest becomes a reality and you think, why not?" Photograph: Barry Lewis

"To reach the top would be a bonus." Pennington summited last year: "It was awesome but exhausting. By the time I got back to Base Camp, I was emotionless, running on empty. It still hasn't sunk in." Ted, the trip's mascot, was with her. "He's great for morale. We all look out for him" Photograph: Barry Lewis