ABC nearly dry
If you are going to fail, you might as well have fun doing it
6 Oct - Julie and the dog
Around the 1st of Oct Janet heard howling the night, though we teased her
that it was unlikely to have been a wolf. Turns out she wasn't hearing things, a
dog had fallen in a hole and couldn't get out. You would think that a dog down a
hole would like a paw out, but no, Tibetan Mastiffs are stupid. Incredibly
stupid. Andrew and Julie found the dog, and despite the risks lowered Julie in
to help. The dog didn't like her, even when they fed it some muesli bars, and
wouldn't accept help. Perhaps Our Tibetans and sherpas will have a better
chance.
(And in fact they did get it out using a three rope system, and it only bit
Namgyal once.)
6 Oct - we almost drink ABC dry
If we had tried, and been selfish, we could have drunk ABC dry but the
sherpas might still want a beer after tomorrow's last bit of hard work, clearing
the rest of Camp 1 and Depot Camp.
One person asked of a climbing member, "So, what do your talk about for over a month
together?". I have to say that at least 50% of it can't be repeated, nor is politically correct. And we will need house training when back
to "civilization", no more pee bottles, no more sleeping on the ground. Here are a few excerpts from dinner...
The beer flows freely, Tristan to Alan, "Its Ok, I
will take you to bed" - Jamie
Martin's reply "He will be scared of Santa Claus (Alan
and his white beard, red jacket) for ever".
Is Jen's jacket too hot for our warm dining tent? -
Jamie
Ursula ace server - Jamie
Tristan, controlled drinker - Jamie
Despite Martin's best attempts - Mark
Never mind the beer, Francis tries unsuccessfully to
finish the pasta; the pizza is already done,
but we still have Nutella left, how is that? - Jamie
The "See you again" cake; Gord's "Blow job needed",
and Gord, Clive and Francis, the highest climbers are blowing - Jamie
Clive: "Who your favourite dictator?". Two wags immediately suggested Jamie McG.
Superficially their jackets do look the same, Gord's
"9000m" North Face jacket, and Anne's Feathered Friends,
but they really are quite different. He also has a beard; she doesn't - Jamie
7 Oct - eight bail
Surprisingly, I don't think anyone had a hangover. Today Alan A, Andrew Lock,
Julie, Joe C, Joe F, Ursula, Martin and Mark left, taking less than 4 hours in a
freezing wind to reach BC, and they are now on their way to Zhangmu. Tomorrow, 8
Oct, they should arrive in Kathmandu.
7 Oct - clearing C1
We woke to a fine and cold morning, but any thoughts that we might have
missed a summit window were blown away by the fact that the four sherpas
heading to Camp 1 were indeed bowled over by some of the gusts.
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