Camp 1

Most of the team heads to Camp 1, to test their fitness and the conditions

30 Sept - Mark returns to ABC

Mark, who is climbing independently, with our BC-ABC support, returned to the ABC resort. He had a rather tough time up there, including crawling several hundred metres as it was easier than breaking thru the deep snow.

Wild Man Mark before a shower - Jamie

Andrew Lock and his big jacket - Jamie
(he still has plenty of reserves too)

L-R: Serke, Norbu, Clive reading in the warmth, Tawa and Jangbu cook up another delicious meal - Jamie

1 Oct - to Camp 1

The sky is perfectly clear, the morning sharply cold and it was the first really clear and cold night, seems like the season is changing.

Bed tea is a wonderful thing, especially Nepali chiya (lightly spiced mild tea), even if at 6am. Da'Yula, Pasang Gombu, Nima Tenzi and Nawang Geden got away early carrying mountain supplies up to C1. Clive, Gordon, Francis and Janet left by 7:30am too, for their long day. Eric made a quick radio call from Depot Camp saying everyone was good, and they will be heading up soon, around the time the sherpas arrive. I don't think it will be a hot climb; the gentle breeze should keep everything cool, and very cold after 4pm when the sun leaves the route.

Andrew also left early for a "run" up to Camp 1 to carry a few supplies and see how conditions are.

A sunny but sharply cold Shishapangma - Jamie

1 Oct - lunch

Do I have a food obsession? No, other than eating at least three times a day. However when you get good food at 5700m in the middle of nowhere, you do tend to notice. Well, I think Serke will get a cooking bonus after the lunch, fresh and delicious...

Alan holds up the Happy Cow cheese to go with the fresh bread (!) - Jamie
We felt like rather full happy cows after lunch too.
Most impressively though, Serke doesn't yet have an oven! He will do for Everest...

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