Acclimatizing on the mountain

We head up to acclimatize in two teams

18 Sept - Depot camp 5850m

The well team, a mix of the Skills expedition and the "Unskilled" team, headed up to stay the night at Depot camp, which breaks the long slog up to Camp 1, and also breaks the altitude jump. At last escaping the comfort of BC and ABC...

Joe C and Joe F preferred the comforts of ABC to recover, an nice excuse for Jamie to stay back and meet Gordon and Julie and Andrew as they arrived.

19 Sept - Camp 1

It was quite a slog up to Camp 1 (6400m) even with the sherpas carrying the high altitude food. The last climbers reached Camp 1 around 5pm.

Joe C stayed back the day before recovering from a cold and today climbed from ABC to Camp 1, a good push. Francis stayed back at Depot, being hit with the (probably viral) diarrhea that is going around. Luckily it is short, a couple of days, and not sharp, ie not too severe. Most of the team have had it.

Joe C heading out before sunrise - Jamie

20 Sept - Camp 1 6400m

This was a well deserved rest day for most climbers. Francis raced up from Depot to Camp 1, putting in the fastest time so far, obviously back to 100%.

Paul didn't feel the best so descended to ABC to recover, where he seems to be back to 100% health. Namgyal dropped almost to Depot camp with him, and Jamie, Jangbu and Karsang met him near the end of the penitentes.

Paul returning thru the penitentes - Jamie

Jangbu jumps a minor stream - Jamie

Lotto while it snows lightly - Jamie
Our Tibetan crew met us, or here heading up to meet the sherpas,
between Depot camp and ABC with a thermos of juice and potatoes,
one of our many little luxuries.

Namgyal

Namgyal has been helping Eric on the mountain, and has worked really hard; he carried real loads and climbed with the team for at least four days in a row. No rest for the wicked. 

Namgyal heading out at sunrise - Jamie

21 Sept - Team two heads up

Joe F has been getting better each day, after series of minor complaints, and has headed up with Gordon and Jamie to Depot camp today. Andrew Lock is dropping gear at Camp 1 and Mark H (climbing independently) has just returned to the "ABC resort" after several days of load-carrying.

This will be the last dispatch here until I (Jamie) return to ABC, perhaps in 3-5 days. Please do check the other member's dispatches, especially Alan's (who has my sat phone) and Martin's (see the links on the upper left). They are likely to return to ABC on 23 or 24 Sept, before I do.

jdesign -- all rights reserved --  2008