Month 5 (January): When “Next Year” Becomes This Year

January felt different from the start.

For a long time, Everest sat comfortably in the future. Something I was preparing for, but with enough distance that it didn’t quite feel real. January changed that. Somewhere between the calendar flipping and a few practical decisions landing, it became clear that this isn’t next year anymore — it’s this year. And in reality, it’s only a few months away.

That shift has brought a different energy with it.

Making It Real

One of the biggest moments this month was booking flights. It’s a simple thing on paper, but it removes any remaining abstraction. Dates are fixed. Movements are planned. There’s no ambiguity left about whether this is happening.

Alongside that, I organised the altitude tent that I’m now sleeping in at home. It’s not glamorous, but it’s practical — another small step in aligning day-to-day life with what’s coming. Between that and managing the rest of the equipment, January was a month where preparation became very tangible.

Less talking about what’s needed. More actually putting things in place.

Training Enters the Final Phase

From a training perspective, January marked the move toward the final phase. The work is now about building on what’s already there rather than adding anything new.

I’ll take one more full rest week in February before the last big push, which feels like the right balance. There’s a growing awareness that recovery matters just as much now as effort. The goal isn’t to squeeze everything out of every session — it’s to arrive in good shape, not just tired.

Training still has its ups and downs, but there’s a sense of direction to it now. Everything is feeding toward the same point.

Sharing the Journey

Content and sharing the experience continued throughout the month. YouTube, social media, and the blog are all ticking along, and I’m enjoying that part of the process more than I expected.

There’s something valuable in documenting things as they are — not just the highlights, but the in-between moments too. It’s helping me reflect as much as it’s helping me communicate what this journey actually looks like.

Enjoying the Process

There are still no sponsors confirmed, and that’s okay. Of course, support would help, but it hasn’t dampened my enjoyment of the process. If anything, it’s reinforced that this is something I’m doing because it matters to me, not because of how it looks on the outside.

January was a month of momentum rather than milestones. Quiet progress, practical decisions, and a growing sense that this is all very real now.

As the year unfolds, the focus narrows. One more rest week. One more big training block. And then it’s about execution.

I’m excited for what’s to come.

Follow the Journey:

 📸 Instagram: @eannaseverestjourney

 🎥 TikTok: @eannas.everest.jo

 💻 Youtube: www.youtube.com/EannaMcGowan