Hanging out at BC

Our second day here has been added

15 Sept - relaxing at BC 4950m

We awoke to the sun hitting early, around 6:30, yak bells tinkling and already lots of action around the camp with one expedition packing their loads.

An aspiring yak driver

We watched an Asian trekking group packing and having the loads weighed. Each climbing member is allowed 3 yak loads totalling 180kgs, and each sherpa 60kgs. that sounds like a lot, but once you put in all the kitchen supplies it is not quite enough. This team were light and lucky, they came in at only two loads over, and so the cook left behind two cooking gas bottles so that they didn't have to pay any extra money.

The loads are weighed using an old-style balance and checked by the yak driver leader and one of the sherpas.

16 Sept - relaxing at BC 4950m

Rather than pictures of our tents and the mountain here is the real BC experience, hanging out at the local tea shops.

O Tawa and his wife who run a teashop at BC;
their son takes the rubbish from ABC to BC

Karsang and O Tawa toast; we ended up drinking a lot of beer here.

Mila and Carlos from Spain, and Greg from France come to dinner.
Carlos and Mila will trek up with us to ABC since their Nepali company don't have the staff to spare. Greg, with friends, is recovering in BC for a few days before returning to ABC.