May 17, 2008 - 9:31pm — MountEverest2008
Energy is in the Air
Base Camp
Today we completed our journey back to base camp. The team did this with ease, another good sign that we are strong and ready for the summit push. Base camp feels different this time though. Now, we are no longer looking at this as our long term home base. Rather, we will be spending only a few short days here - today and tomorrow, and then likely one more day when we return from higher up on the mountain. This is now simply a stopping point. The conversations are different too. No talk of acclimatization - we are done with that effort. By now, we are simply acclimatized or we are not. The talk is of when the various teams are going for it: "We're going to head out tomorrow and we're hoping, assuming the weather cooperates, for a summit on the 21st." This sort of thing. Everyone seems excited too.
It's important to know when each group is making the push. Some of you may recall from the book "Into Thin Air" that in 1996 part of the problem was the significant bottleneck that occured. Having been on the Lhotse Face, I can easily see how this can happen. So, the teams try to spread themselves out a little, that way avoiding logistic complications to the degree possible.
Our group will likely go a few days after some of the others. This is actually good, as the groups before us will serve to better solidify the route. For example, with luck, we may find footholds in the steep ice of the Lhotse Face resulting from those that have traveled before us. This may seem a minor point, but anything resembling a step is welcome when ascending a near 60 degree slope.
Base camp looks a bit different now too. It's warmer and the ice and rock landscape has transformed a bit, mother nature sculpting the landscape as she sees fit.
On a different note, it seems today the interesting action regarding our climb was actually taking place in the small town of Mildred, Pennsylvania. Word has it that my dog, Lucy (maybe we can call her the 'Everest dog' because she was my training partner for several months) made a special guest appearance at Turnpike Elementary School. I am thrilled to hear that she and the students had a good time and am certain Lucy has a very inflated ego at this point. Thanks to the administration of Turnpike for allowing Lucy to visit- very cool guys!
Tomorrow's oxygen school - hope to have a good report out to share post attending the session!
(side note: the video "Camp 3" I sent through a few days back had too loud of background music I think. I recieved and appreciated some constructive feedback - thanks. I am resending the video tonight + it should be posted in the next 24-48hrs. This one should be easier to hear!)