Jamie's plans

Our 2010 Project Himalaya Everest Expedition 8848m dispatches

Oxygen from our other expedition is still on the mountain

Thanks

Before continuing, some thanks are due.

Duncan has his Chessell Adventures team were a blast from the past - Zac, Chris, Katie, Rob North and Jacko - um - most of the team. Also part of the Arun Logistics (a Nepal company) were Sean and his Adventure Dynamics team, the Saffas, or South African team. Together, and additionally the whole Arun sherpa and kitchen crew, were amazingly hospitable, always welcoming myself and our team with open hearts and warm, hospitable dining tents. A big, warm thank-you to everyone!

Also thanks, Alex Abramov and his 7 Summits camp staff, who as always were open and welcoming, even though we are competitors. Alex also gave me the vital weather forecast that showed me the 26th would be a crap summit day.

And finally thanks to the CTMA staff - liaison officers, guides and drivers - who are always good to me. t Zhangmu

26 May - ABC

I was now in ABC. With Eric, Barry and Fernando gone it was time to check on our other team. Unfortunately the weather was not conducive to their project and logistics were thrown out by some climbers needing minor assistance, but meaning the sherpas could not carry all the tents and oxygen down.

27 May - to BC

The last of the other team dribbled into ABC, sunburned and tired. Once they were all down, after lunch I headed to BC. The afternoon snow storm left my beard completely covered in ice, and was so savage I didn't even pull out my camera to capture that.

 Playing ball in Tingri - Jamie

28 May - to Zhangmu

I still haven't shaken that diarrhoea so I took a rather brief trip to Zhangmu. I changed to my 4th different course of drugs and finally Metronidazole seems to help (actually it didn't). Thanks to Rick (Chessell Adventures) for hosting me in such an uncomplicated way in Zhangmu. Oh, even a nearly hot shower was heaven.

29 May - party in Kathmandu

Today was the Everest party at the Hyatt - wish I could have been there. Apparently Paul Romero danced 'til he dropped, and Duncan and team drank 'til they dropped. The Saffas didn't have far to fall as they were staying there. Alas, I returned to base camp, or nearly, and stayed in the teahouses below with the jeep drivers.

30 May - Everest Base Camp

Base Camp has an empty feel, our camp is the only one standing in our area, and only has the kitchen tent and a few other small tents, not the village it once was. Arun's sherpas packed their camp today, trucks arriving tomorrow, only 7 Summits (being cleared on the 30th; all team members are in Kathmandu/home already) and Rolwaling Excursions remain.

What a windy day.

My plans?

Only myself, Bali and Dawa remain, with the support of four of our Tibetan crew. The rest of the sherpas left with the other team, their visa finishing tomorrow. So this small team plans to clear the remaining oxygen from C3 but the weather forecast is not being cooperative. After the cyclone that didn't hit us, but was a development of the monsoon, it seems that the monsoon must re-form again, and will take a while to reach us. It seems so far not to have had a good effect on the jet stream, which is now over us. However the forecast changed every day, more than perhaps it should - there is hope.

A satellite photo of the one arm of the monsoon, note the circular motion;
a bit more and this will develop into a cyclone (and it did) and by turning into a cyclone,
the normal development of the monsoon will be further delayed - EMMETSAT

Current Everest forecast by Mountain Meteo Services - thanks!