Altitude: 6500m to 5300m
Atmospheric Pressure: 480mbar to 560mbar
Trek: 9kms / 3hr15
Surprisingly I managed to sleep OK, although I was awake
from 3am.
It’s very clear morning, no wind but coooold. By the time
we’ve had breakfast, it’s bright daylight outside and no need for head torches.
It snowed last night which hide the path down to camp 1, including the
crevasses. Luckily, some of them are marked with small black flags where the
path crosses them.
We set off a little behind with Sergey and catch up
with guide Harry who’s looking around,
perhaps worried by the fresh snow, or looking at his next potential challenge
on the Nupsee route.
Just before we reach Camp 1, we pass Wisey, crouched by the
side of the path, answering a call of nature. He’s been hit by diarrhea this
morning and caught out with no toilet paper, a chilly morning for him. We reach
Camp 1 in 1 hour with no issues.
We all know that after Camp 1, the scary bit begins, with
the top of the ice fall, and the high risk zone.
I’m not sure how I’ll react to seeing the monster in
daylight rather than just guessing it’s shapes.
On top of this, it’s busy in the icefall today and there are
queues to go up and down, but this is not a place to queue. After the
experience on the way up, I use the “queuing” time to look for cover and think
about “what if”, especially as we can clearly see the huge seracs above us,
menacing to fall at anytime.
We also discover the area where we got caught in the “serac”
fall on the way up, in the dark. It’s surprising to see what the area is like,
and where we were compare to our surroundings.
At some stage, through the “small popcorn”, I hear the
chilling noise of ice moving under the blocks I’m stepping on and decide to run
for my life till the next big block, looking for something more “stable” and
another reminder of the activity of the icefall.
We get down to crampon point in good time, I’m struggling
with my left shoe digging into my ankle and also my breathing with my ribs
still sore.
We also feel the heat as we arrive to crampon point, I take
my helmet, hat and down jacket off.
Russell has organized for a couple of Sherpas to be there
with hot tea.
After a short break, it’s off to base camp, 30mins walk
away, my left ankle still in agony from the boots.
We reach the dining tents from base camp just in time for
breakfast, in fact, the 1st group is already there and they welcome
us cheerfully, knowing how we feel, as they went through the same ordeal
yesterday.
It’s a nice sunny morning and it’s great to have breakfast
“en terrasse” again.
After dinner, the guides announce there is a party organize
in the Whitepod, with other teams from base camp also invited. Evil Monica
manage to convince me to join, “just for one”.
I'd slept all afternoon, and I desperately need more sleep (looking
forward to the comfort of base camp), but agree to be sociable………..
As it turns midnight,
and after a few, I finally make it to my cold sleeping bag, by a bright night,
almost full moon. This was a great party….. what a way to come down from the mountain!!
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