SummitClimb Pumori 2005: Dispatch Nine and Ten

Hi Mark Merwin here. Our expedition is in full swing now, and it's been a few days since we've found the time to send a dispatch.  Several members arrived at Base Camp (5300m) two days ago.  Our last member arrived early this morning.  During the final stage of our trek from Loboche to Base Camp we had perfect weather and awesome views of Nuptse and Everest.  For many members this was their first good views of Mt. Everest and pretty exciting.

The past couple of days we have been getting settled-in at Base Camp, and doing some training.  We've set up some fixed rope just outside of camp, and have been practicing ascending and rapelling fixed lines. For the most part everyone is in good health and spirits.  We've had some stomach bugs and small headaches, but everyone seems to making good recoveries.  Today we've have some snow, but several members are hoping for good weather tomorrow in order to make a carry to Advanced Base Camp (5800m).

Dispatch Ten

Dear Everest News Readers,  This is Jay Reilly writing to you from Pumori Basecamp at 5300m. It's been a while since I've written anything - it seems that we have an expedition full of people that enjoy writing dispatches, and hence I've not been able to get near our computer!

However, here I am now, updating you on the happenings of the last couple days. Most members took a walk to Advanced Basecamp yesterday at 5800m. Because of the amount of snow we've received, the walk was a little more challenging than usual. I actually felt it was easier due to the scree being covered by snow - snow is grippier than loose rocks! The walk back down though was a different story and we had to fix rope in 2 places to prevent falls.

We are very sorry to say goodbye to Steve Joll, who left us yesterday with a very painful back injury. We sincerely hope he feels better soon. Our Trekkers, Kirsten Letts, and Bill Pollock left Pumori Basecamp yesterday with Trek Leader Elselien Te Hennepe bound for Everest Basecamp. They'll be continuing down to Lukla with our other Trek Leader, Kandu Sherpa. As I write this this morning, the camp is recovering from a hellish night of very high winds. Two empty tents have disappeared through the night and my Mountain Hardware tent's walls came down to meet my face on several occasions! In short - it was very windy!! The wind now has died down some, and the sky is blue, but the peaks surrounding us - Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbutse, Changtse, Everest - are being absolutely ripped! Massive snow plumes are pouring off each one, especially the South Col on Everest, which is being pummeled so hard, the snow plume coming off is actually black!

Some yaks arrived yesterday afternoon carrying more vegetables and kerosene from Pangboche. They proceeded to then set up camp next to my tent (which for some reason is the highest and furthest out of basecamp). Now I'm not particularly comfortable with the idea of yaks at the best of times, but to have one literally right next to me - separated only by a thin wall of nylon is quite disturbing! The yak then decided to chew it's cud. I don't know if you've ever heard a yak or cow chew it's cud, but it's VERY noisy. Noisy to the point where I kept poking it with my stick and telling it to shut up! It went away finally......and then the wind started... Life is never dull on an expedition!

Thank you very much for following our expedition,

For all of us at Summitclimb.com.

Dispatches

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