Just Keep Climbing

“Tip-toe through the Tulips”.

A shocking song indeed, but certainly one that springs to mind as we tip toe through the infamous and treacherous Khumbu Icefall on our way from Base Camp to Camp One.

Finally it starts to feel as if we are getting our teeth into the climb and further enhancing the necessary steps needed in our acclimatization program.

Communication issues still continue, and I apologise for not  including any pictures with this blog, however I promise to include plenty at the appropriate time.

I climbed with Simon and Travis Holland; Dan from Oz, Andre from the UK; Tanner from the US; and Paul from Sth Africa. We all worked well together as a team and made sure we climbed safely through the icefall up to Camp One at around 6100 m.

The trip from base camp certainly had a few more twists and turns compared to 2005, with way more crevasse- ladder crossings and two massive vertical ladder climbs before surfacing onto the Western Cwm. It’s a very tiring trip especially for the first time before you reach  a very basic row of tents signifying our home for the night.

The next day we set off for Camp Two, which was the first night it had been opened for our team at 6300m. It’s here we have a mess tent and cook waiting for us…together with incredible views of what lies ahead of us in reaching Camp 3 and 4, before tackling the Sth East Ridge of Everest leading to the Summit.

During our two night stay, we ventured up to the end of the Camp Two area to speak to the Nepalese soldiers guarding the perimeter where no-one can climb higher until the Chinese summit from the North. They were extremely nice and wished us well…although we understand their orders are pretty severe for anyone that tries to climb higher above the restricted zone.

After two nights stay in minus 18 C temperatures lying on frozen ice separated only by a thin thermarest ( yes your bum does touch the ice and you freeze all night gasping for oxygen at the same time), we headed down as quickly and safely as we could to Base Camp on the 27^th.

Time for a shower, coke, food and a beer or two –then we all slept incredibly soundly in the relative comfort of our Base Camp beds.

The latest developments- which change by the day- relate to a total shut down of the mountain above base camp on the first and second of May. After that we hope we can go back up to Camp Two for another acclimatization run leading up to the deadline on the 10^th May…when hopefully we can set up our Camp 3 and beyond….and let the weather windows and jet stream winds determine our movements upwards.

Due to the break we intend to move lower down the mountain tomorrow, perhaps to Pangboche, for a few days break where oxygen is a bit more plentiful.

Unfortunately email access doesn’t allow me to receive any of your messages, but via the phone Nicole has read a few of them to me, and I appreciate your support.

Special hello’s to young Ashley Cochrane (hope I got that spelling right!) and to everyone at Tigerland…go boys!  And thanks to Chris McLoed for patching through our horse race at 6300m…just beaten a nose.  My curses nearly caused an avalanche!!

Hugs and Warm Regards to everyone else!

Georgie

PS I expect my next communication will be early May. So you can all  behave until then.