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18 April -
Yesterday we arrived in Base Camp. Our staff already pitched most off the
tents and our comfortable dining tent. Last night we had the first of our
famous movie nights and this evening we watched the 2nd movie.
Tomorrow morning we will have our Puja ceremony. In this ceremony we will ask
the goddess of Chomolungma for safe passage. This is a very important ceremony
for our Sherpa staff and it's also nice to have everybody together, so we can
get to know each other better.
The day after tomorrow we will sleep at Pumori ABC at about 5800m. This will
be very good for our acclimatization; this will make our first trip into the
icefall a lot easier also.
So everything is going well here and we will have some climbing stories soon!
Greetings,
Arnold Coster, Expedition Leader
16 April -
It's a cloudy and snowy afternoon in Thukla, which was only short hour and 15
minute walk up from Pheriche from 2pm to just after 3pm. This is the critical
area for acclimatization. I hiked in a snowstorm with Arnold, Sandra, and Urs,
and fortunately the snow and wind was at our back. We are all feeling pretty
good. My sore throat is gone for now but I'm getting the Colorado cough I had
most of last summer for my bivys project in Colorado.
Here they call it the Khumbu cough. For now I can manage it and its not out of
control. Fluids, fluids, fluids and also the salt water gargles will continue.
You can't really take any cold medicine while you acclimatize because it
inhibits your acclimatization. Throat drops while I hike and a buff over my
face while I sleep will manage it so that I don't cough up a lung, and it
should improve. No worries though I should be ok.
This morning we had some fun in Pheriche since we knew today would be a short
day. Last night's snow left a fresh 1 inch blanket and made for some awesome
shots of the Himalayas in all directions. It was very cold and crisp before
the sun came up but worth getting up early. You could see the 8th highest peak
in the world, Cho Oyo 8031m up the valley to the Northwest, probably 30 miles
away. It looked windy up there for sure. Crazy to think I will hopefully get
higher than that in the coming month.
After Skyping with my parents and visiting with the team for lunch and some
brews and good conversation, we headed up to Thukla. This isn't really even a
village, we are staying in a typical teahouse with a yak dung burning stove in
the kitchen dining area and rooms that are simple beds with a pillow and
comfortable mattress that you put your sleeping bag on. Although there is no
heat in the hotel itself, it is still easier than a tent. I am sure temps will
be in the 20s tonight, still nothing too crazy considering I've had it much
worse over the years and was also in a tent the past two nights. I will
probably sleep well all night I suppose.
The fog has settled in for the afternoon, but can't wait to see the new views
from here in the morning as we will head for a 2 hour short day to Luboche at
4900m about 16,000 feet. Supposedly the views are incredible down the valley
from here so I can't wait to see them. If you have any comments on these blog
posts, keep them coming and I will try to weave them in as I go to my writing.
My labtop should work all the way up to 5500m/18000 feet, which is good
considering Basecamp in a few days is just below that height. I had this
computer on all 58 peaks in Colorado last year, so I know it can handle work
in the field. See you in Luboche!
-Jon
Earlier:
13 April -
The team left Namche (3440m) at 8am today. The weather was amazing and the
views were breathtaking. Ten minutes into the trek we passed our yaks carrying
all our bags and equipment (thanks yaks).
After I finished messing around with cameras and the yaks we walked around the
corner and there it was. The Khumbu Valley with the most amazing views of Mt
Everest, Ama Dablam and other mighty Himalayan peaks. You could see for miles.
The blue sky, still air and great views was by far the best day of the trek to
Base camp so far.
Clouds steamed off the summit of Mt Everest. An impressive sight!
It's a small crime that after walking up hill to Namche today we spent 2 hours
going downhill to a place with the funniest name ever Phungki Tanga roughly
3000m give or take a few hundred meters. Here I changed my socks soaked up
some sun bought a Snickers bar (as I forgot to collect my lunch) and set off
to cross Duth Kosi river over the suspension bridge.
Then we set off to tackle the long steep hill up to Tengboche. This took a
couple of hours but again the views were great and the sun was still shinning
so although it was a long hill your thoughts were with the views.
The mountains were getting closer and closer and there were so many photo
moments. After a break at the top we continued our trek for an hour to our
final destination Pangboche (3950m)
Everyone is feeling great and as the sun goes down and the afternoon clouds
disappears Ama Dablam is right behind our camp site. It seems so close you can
almost touch it. Waking up in the morning to such beautiful surroundings will
be a joy.
Thanks to you all for reading and everyone sends their love to their family
and loved ones as do I.
- Rob Bradley
Earlier:
Team Roster:
Everest Nepal -
Arnold Coster - Netherlands (leader)
Ms. Marlies Neefjes - Netherlands
Ms. Sandra Leduc - Canada
Jonathan Kedrowski - USA
Joost van Hassel - Netherlands
Richard Maybank - UK
Urs Jaeggi - Switzerland
Steve Camkin - Australia
David O'Brien - UK
Lhotse -
Ms. Mia Graeffe - Finland
Ms. Grace McDonald - Canada
Training Climb -
Ms. Maryana Plesh - USA
Ms. Eveline Wessels - Netherlands
Adam Jones - USA
Robert Bradley - UK
Shivesh Ram - USA
Simon Pacione - Australia
Eric West - USA
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