Mt Everest 2006: Alpine Ascents Everest 2006: Base Camp

April 8 - BC: Friends, family and loved ones,

We were walking in a winter wonderland this morning as we headed toward base camp. A late season storm dropped 5 centimeters of fluffy stuff over night. This made for great scenery and many snowball fights along the way. In Gorak Shep, the last vestige of civilization, Tibetan snow cocks mobbed Suzanne. These beautiful chicken size pheasants were quite friendly which may have had something to do with lemon cookies.

We are starting to feel the strain of the altitude. One case of bronchitis and another of G.I. upset but the team is happy to finally be in Base camp (4369m.) This veritable tent city is one of the highest settlements on earth, certainly the most cosmopolitan. We are psyched to be meeting our neighbors from all corners of the globe. Our camp is right at the bottom of the breathtaking Khumbu Icefall and we are pleased with our location.

To The summit, Vern Tejas

April 7 - Lobuche
    

Hello again from Lobuche. It’s our second afternoon here at the Eco Lodge and it’s shaping up to be similar to yesterday- music, cards, reading and general lounging. Gopal just fed us a great meal and some of the card players are looking as though they may nod off. We finally got Kay to join in a round of hearts and she whooped everyone- claimed she’d never played before. We’re starting to figure her out- she’s a bit sly.

This morning the trekkers headed off to Gorak Shep to spend the night and in the morning we’ll leave from Lobuche at the same time they leave from Gorak Shep. We’ll all reunite in BC before the trekkers begin their journey back down valley. We’ve had a great time with them- and enjoyable and interesting group.

We had a nice short hike up to a viewpoint of the Khumbu glacier this morning as well as a quick visit to the Italian Research Pyramid- just a bit of exercise to keep our bodies moving before the last night here below BC.

Many expeditions are now heading into BC and the valley is filled with climbing groups en route. We expect another large group here in this lodge this evening as well as a Chilean team climbing Lhotse who just arrived. The climbing and trekking season is definitely under way and many friends and familiar faces are around. We expect our Sherpa staff to be putting the last touches on our camp today enabling us to move into our tents tomorrow afternoon. The rumor is that the Icefall Doctors are still working on establishing the route through the icefall to Camp I and don’t expect to finish for another 5 or 6 days. Some of the teams who arrived earlier have been pushed back a bit. We expect by the time we head through the icefall that the route will be established and in great shape.

The team is looking forward to getting our Comms tent established so we can get back to those of you who have been in contact with us. All our radio and computer systems should be up and going by the evening of the 9th.

Yikes. Alistair just starting singing along loudly to Tom Petty- need to go before we make enemies in the lodge.

We’ll be in touch.

All the best, Dave

Dispatch Index

   Ascenders

   Atlas snowshoes

   Atomic

   Black Diamond

   Botas

   Brunton

   Carabiners

   CaVa Climbing Shoes

   Chaco

   Clearance

   Clif Bar

   Cloudveil

   CMI

   Crampons

   Edelweiss ropes
   Eureka Tents

   Exofficio

   Featured

   FoxRiver

   Garmin

   Granite Gear

   Harnesses
   Headlamps

   Hestra
   Helmets

   HighGear

   HornyToad
   Ice Axes

   Julbo

   Kavu Eyewear

   Katadyn

   Kelty

   Kong

   Lekisport

   Life is Good

   Lowa

   Lowe Alpine

   Lowepro

   Millet

   Motorola

   Mountain Hardwear

   Mountainsmith

   MSR

   Nalgene

   New England Ropes

   Nikwax

   Omega

   Patagonia

   Pelican

   Petzl

   PowerBar

   Princeton Tec

   Prescription Glacier

   Glasses

   Primus

   Rope Bags

   Salomon

   Scarpa

   Seattle Sports

   Serius
   Sleeping Bags

   Stubai

   Suunto

   Tents

   Teva

   Thermarest

   Trango

   Tool Logic

   Trekking Poles
   Yaktrax
   and more here