BT Everest 2005

Progress - 26th March to 1st April


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Latest Update - The Plan - Progress Map

Everest Base Camp

Updated : 31st March 2005

Location	Everest Base Camp
Altitude	5350
Wind Speed	5
Temperature	-4
Weather conditions	Sunny

Personal profile
where 10 is excellent and 1 is not good;
Overall Health	9
Diet	8
Body Temperature	9
Bowels	7
Sleep	9
Mental Attitude	10
Team relationships	9
Physical tiredness	8
Overall Outlook	10

Activities
Arrived at BC following a 6 hrs trek from Lobuche shadowing Quag who is finding acclimatization difficult. BC is at 5350 actually on the moraine of the glacier. What a welcome site, out of what looks like a complete bomb site the Sherpa have found enough sites to level for the individual and brand new North Face dome tents, a kitchen and a dinning tent. Never have I had it so good at a base camp. Looking out from my tent I see the Khumbu ice fall our next major obstacle requiring no less than 60 ladders. Already I have heard several major avalanches but thankfully no where near us. I expect to spend the next few days getting organised and gaining more acclimatization before I do anymore climbing. Many thanks to Neal Freeman who left prayer flags here for me last October, I think I have found them. I have never slept this high before and I literally feel top of the world.

Just before Base Camp

Updated : 30th March 2005

Location	Lobuche
Altitude	4910
Temp	-4
Weather conditions	Sunny
Wind	0

Personal profile
where 10 is excellent and 1 is not good;
Overall Health	9
Diet	8
Body Temperature	9
Bowels	6
Sleep	9
Mental Attitude	10
Team relationships	9
Physical tiredness	9
Overall Outlook	10

Activities
Great day today! Dirk and I walked up past Gorak Shep and climbed our first Himalayan peak the 5556mtr kalapattar. This is the trekkers peak from where you can get the best view of Everest. See mountain in background on pic. This peak is a good 200mtrs above base camp. We completed the round trip from Gorak Shep in under 2 hrs and that included 15mins on the summit. The whole round trip was 6hrs and we are both acclimatising well. Tomorrow we move up to base camp. There is supposed to be about 20 expeditions this year but so far we have not met many climbers or trekkers. Most places we stop at are very quite and its a worry for the local Nepalese who depend on trekkers for their survival.

Leaving Pherice

Updated : 29/30th March 2005

Location	Lobuche
Altitude	4910
Wind Speed	0
Temp	-4
Weather conditions	Cloudy

Personal profile
where 10 is excellent and 1 is not good;
Overall Health	9
Diet	8
Body Temperature	9
Bowels	6
Sleep	9
Mental Attitude	10
Team relationships	9
Physical tiredness	9
Overall Outlook	10

Activities
Highlights from the 29th. We stayed in Pherice which is pretty desolate place. Hiking was ok only 300mtr gain from Tenbochy. All in all pretty enjoyable but not a very spectacular day other than the 2hrs lunch stop in the sun looking at Aba Dablam Highlights from today the 30th. Leaving Pherice. Big height gain today 900mts. Now sleeping higher than Mt Blanc. Dirk and I both in good condition, eating, sleeping and trekking well. Now snowing outside and this will be our last lodge before base camp in two days. Tomorrow is an acclimatisation day but we make a trek anyway. I gave away a thermal top and a pertex shirt to one of our Sherpa today as he had no warm clothing and although 16 years old looks about 12. Food is acceptable and we are eating about three times our normal diet

Lost My Reading Glasses

Updated : 31st March 2005

Location	Khumjung
Altitude	3850
Temp	4c
Weather conditions	Misty
Wind	5

Personal profile
where 10 is excellent and 1 is not good;
Overall Health	9
Diet	9
Bowels	6
Body Temperature	9
Team Relationships	9
Physical Tiredness	9
Sleep	9
Overall Outlook	10

Activities
Have lost my reading glasses, so this update is curtesy of Dirk, fortunately I have another pair at Base camp. We are now at Tengboche, altitude 3867 We walked for about 3 hours, lost about 600 m and gained 700 m Before we left this morning, we went to the house of our Sirdar Naga Dorje and we were given our third prayer scarfe for good luck. See Pic 1 of Sirdar's wife in the kitchen. Met our expedition doctor Klaus and so completed the team. Another great day. Acclimatisation day so only 3 hours walking and 300mtr height gain. Drinking water for England now with corresponding trips to the toilet but its the best defence against AMS. Saw first glimpse of Everest summit today but the most impressive site was Ama Dablam which was seriously scary. See pic 2. We have hardly seen our Sherpa staff as they are making good the expedition supplies, 3 metric tons in all see pic 3. Pic 4 is of local women carrying huge 30kg load to next stop for supplies. Food is really good so far and cook looks very able with lots of big expeditions behind him. Next to the Siridar he is the next most important person and also doubles as purser. Their is no heating in the lodges so its pretty cold despite our warm clothing but in any case good prep for BC and beyond.

Thank god for Imodium

Updated : 26th March 2005

Location	Namche Bazzar
Altitude	3500
Temperature	8c
Weather conditions	Misty
Wind	5

Personal profile
where 10 is excellent and 1 is not good;
Overall Health	9
Diet	9
Body Temperature	9
Bowels	5
Sleep	9
Mental Attitude	10
Team relationships	9
Physical tiredness	9
Overall Outlook	10

Activities
Great sleep last night, feeling 100% better than yesterday. Thank god for Imodium. We walked for about 6 hours today and climb 1000mtrs. I started slowly and finished strong. Some of the group found it tough, it was a breeze! Scenery is wonderful and the climate great for trekking. Lots of children carrying loads which is a worry although they all look and sound happy. It's clearly a hard life for these people but they are so friendly and seemingly content. Just been on my last bit of retail therapy and bought a new fleece, fake North Face overtrousers and two Patagonian tops. Dirk and are both in good shape and positive about what's ahead. Picture is of 3 Nepalese children in one of the many small villages we pass through.