Base Camp

Wake up and began packing, packing, packing, packing, packing. It’s amazing to see how quickly you can tear down camp and get ready to go when driven by incentive. The goal is for us all to hike out as a group- members, Sherpas, cook staff. One whole group, one team start to finish. When we get to Lukla, our plan is to get the entire team onto one airplane but in the interim, we ‘ll be pressing through the length of the 80km trail from Base camp to Lukla to stay in the same hotels, etc.

Francisco’s parents have been in Kathmandu since the 20th, so he’s been investigating helicopter flights to save time and in the essence of speed but man are they expensive. As in, they can cost as much as $5600 for 3 people. Not this guy. That’s too expensive when I have feet that still move underneath me. So as for the rest of the team we’ll be hoofing it.

All day, we packed. Our gear, team gear. Comm equipment, cooking equipment. It all was packed up by the collective team, one piece at a time.

That night, we treated the team to a special meal- we (Bridey, me, Francisco, Willie) cooked the Sherpas and cook team dinner, kicking them out of their tents and setting the table for them in the community shelter. We put out a deli plate, a giant vat of Thai Chili, rice, and threw in a DVD for them to watch while eating. Somewhere, Sherpas unearthed two cases of beer to pass out. It was all great fun, even if they were extremely uneasy with us in the cook tent unattended. At least five times, we caught one or two peeking in to see what was happening and verify that we weren’t about to burn down the tent.

It was a perfect way to close out the evening and the expedition, and they loved it just as much as we did.

Camp II Base Camp

Time to wake up! CLANG CLANG LOUD TALK LOUD TALK. Wtf!? Some jack ass Sherpa from another camp who myst have grown up in the Bronx comes blowing into our camp talking as if he’s in Yankee Stadium. I try politely at first to ask him to keep it down since I know that at 6am, I’m not the only one sleeping.

South Col Camp II

Surreal day on many fronts. We woke up this morning at 04:30 to a crystal clear day- very much like yesterday, so we immediately wish well those pushing for their own summit. I’m still sucking oxygen like a champ when word trickles in on casualties last night- most as a result of the morning of the 21st.

Doug Has Finally Reached His Summit!

Doug just called us – very tired and out of breath but totally psyched that they had a successful summit.

Summit Push-Summit Pinnacle

Willie was running around like a man on a mission, trying desperately to rally the troops. Danuru, Tendi and I had a few other ideas, like cramming down one last snack and hydrating like crazy before we stepped off. Willie tried to pull a Dad on us, fast forwarding his clock by 15 minutes .

May 20, 2007- 9:30 pm- South Col 25,500 feet

The team departed for the South Col! They left Camp III this morning and arrived early afternoon. They have set up the tents and made camp, and are now resting in their tents at 25,500 feet. A few other teams were on their heels, so that even at the South Col it’s looking like a mini-village.

May 19, 2007- Camp III- 23,600 feet

The team is safe and warm at Camp III, where they made it in great time today. They woke up at camp II early in the morning and left at about 7:00am, and rolled into Camp III several hours later. As discussed in previous dispatches, the team departs Camp II, continues 400 vertical feet up to the top of the camp ground area via a narrow gulley path.

May 18, 2007 Camp II

The team took a rest day at Camp II today, getting necessary rest for tomorrow. Several groups are showing up at camp today with the same summit plan.. the 21st is looking like it’s going to be a busy day for sure.

May 17, 2007- Camp II

Tonight the team is resting at 20,500 feet at the base of Camp II.  For several days we have waited and watched the weather forecasts to find the right window to start up the mountain, in hopes of this being the push to the summit. 

Final Prep Day

Well, tomorrow at 4am we step off on what will amount to be a culmination of the last two months worth of hard effort.  In many ways, each of us has followed a path that has led us here for different reasons.  But ultimately, we formed a tight-knit team that work well together and most importantly, share a cameraderie that is unique among groups we are on the mountain with.