"Rugby icon Jonathan 'Fox' Davies ventures beyond his usual terrain, swapping his scrum cap for hiking boots on a journey to Everest Base Camp, with this publication attempting to follow in his footsteps"
Former Welsh Rugby Star Jonathan Davies Embraces New Adventure in Nepal
Jonathan Davies, the retired Welsh rugby player and brand ambassador for EverTrek, has swapped the rugby field for the mountains of Nepal. Born on February 6, 1962, Davies is now embarking on a new challenge, trekking in the Himalayas with an adventure company.
Davies and his wife, Lou, recently completed the gruelling Grouse Grind in Vancouver, a popular fitness challenge with a 1.8-mile ascent and 2,800ft of elevation gain. But the real test came when they reached Everest Base Camp at 17,598ft (5,364m) above sea level.
The trek, which spanned over eighty miles, tested Davies' endurance. He admits that spending nearly two weeks walking without a rest day at high altitude is a different ball game compared to his previous adventures. Davies experienced headaches, racing heart, and broken sleep due to decreasing oxygen levels at high altitude.
However, Davies views the demands of the trek as an opportunity for self-inquiry rather than grumbling. He believes hiking can be "like cheap therapy" that could be hugely beneficial for retiring athletes.
One of the highlights of the trek was an early morning hike up Kala Patthar to watch the sunrise over Everest and Lhotse. This approximately one-mile hike gains more than 1,300ft in elevation, pushing Davies to his physical limits.
Accompanied by another trekker, Davies wore hiking boots from The North Face during his outdoor adventures. He also donned an Ayacucho merino wool base layer, Montane Fireball Lite softshell jacket, Montane Anti Freeze XT down jacket, and The North Face Hedgehog hiking boots. His backpack of choice was an Osprey Talon 33.
Before the trek, Davies and his son trained in the mountains of north Wales and on the trails of Cornwall with an Osprey carrier. Davies, who was described as physically developed when he made his debut at 18 years old, has slimmed down to 210lb (95kg) since his professional rugby days.
The group trekked with EverTrek, an adventure company, and later hiked down to Dingboche to spend the night. Davies and another trekker opted for an early morning hike up Kala Patthar to watch the sunrise over Everest and Lhotse.
In a 2024 interview, Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel mentioned Davies' physical size and strength. Davies recently retired from a 18-year rugby career during which he played for Wales 96 times.
In 2019, Davies and his wife, Lou, discovered the tumbling waterfalls of Yosemite, the endless salt flats of Death Valley, and glittering Lake Tahoe during a nearly month-long trip to America's west coast.
As Davies continues his trek in Nepal, he is not only challenging himself physically but also proving that retirement doesn't mean the end of adventure. Instead, it's a chance to embark on new journeys and embrace new challenges.
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