BC instability

We are waiting patiently.

14 May - BC 5150m - summits coming up

This morning we woke to minor snow flurries and most climbers stayed in bed. Briefly the mountain was clear and looked windless, and over most the the day it has stayed clear although there has been plenty of cloud around it. The weather has changed perhaps five times today, so definitely not stable.

We are still at BC and today after the latest weather forecast arrived had a good discussion. Essentially the forecast has changed dramatically in the last 24 hours, from showing a short summit window then high winds to no high winds at all. I also had a look at another team's forecast and it is equally unstable, as in the forecaster has little faith in the reliability. We will check the weather both out of the tent and on the computer each day and make a decision. It is likely we move up to ABC in the next few days, but it is not yet sure when. One day at a time. We have time, and conditions can only get more stable later. What a patient team!

The sherpas

Everyone, all seven, of our sherpa team is well and in good spirits. The team has all the oxygen and tents on the mountain but still has a load or two to carry so that everything is in the right place ready for our summit push. They are up on the mountain now and have a good plan. This job should be finished in a day or two. They radio in several times a day.

Summits?

Today, many teams are moving into place for their summit attempt. Apparently nobody summitted today; we expect lots of action early tomorrow morning though. Note that the entire Project Himalaya team are at BC and NOBODY is on the mountain, so whatever happens, it is not happening to us!

DCXP

Duncan and virtually all the team are either in BC or lower, and after some playing around now have a working laptop. This has been so frustrating to Duncan as they had backups and alternatives and in the end at ABC all failed. Laptops are fickle instruments up here.

Kirsti and our part of BC.

Top left is the roof of the Liaison Officer's building, then the DCXP and Arun treks BC, above is another Tibetan-Chinese team with green army tents (not the Olympic torch team). Our BC has the Landcruiser parked and just above is our dome dining tent. Below the Landcruiser is the Korean camp. They will be summitting or otherwise soon.