Alpine Ascents Everest Expedition, 2011: Last day of the First Rotation

April 20, 2011

I just radioed up to check on the folks at Camp 2 and it sounds like more of the usual up at 21,300 feet; which is to say they were all in their tents resting :-) Rob and Mike made their way up to Camp 2 to join the rest of the team today as well. The guys took a two hour hike up the Cwm and are probably settled in their tents tell dinner time. They'll be waking up early tomorrow to walk all the way back down to Base Camp, just in time for Lunch.

The big news here in base camp is that Adrian has mastered the chemical and pressure challenges of baking with 1/2 the atmosphere. This means the guys are going to have fresh bread with lunch tomorrow. Adrien also baked up some hand made buns for Polish sausages we've been saving for a special occasion. Add in some caramelized onions, real Dijon mustard�wow�I can't wait for lunch tomorrow :-) Joe

Day 2 at Camp 2
April 19, 2011
The team took a true rest day today with no scheduled acclimatization hikes, just reading and relaxing in the thin air. Although, I heard a few people walked halfway up the Western Cwm trying to find cell phone reception :-) It seems the guys have finally made it beyond the reach of technology or, at least, cell service. Sat phones and radios still work fine on up the mountain. Michael and Rob opted to stay in Camp 1 another day and will meet up with the team tomorrow. They did take a quick hike toward camp 2 today, making it all the way to the giant crevasse spanned by 5 ladders. They decided to call it a day and turn around there. Most Sherpa won't even tackle the 5 ladder crossing and instead go for the 15 minute detour around the precipice. All's good here at base camp. Joe

April 17:

The boys took an hour long hike out of Camp 1 and up the Western Cwm today. That means the rest of the day was designated to eating food, sipping tea and relaxing. Things were a little busier here at Base Camp today. We held a second Puja ceremony for Michael Horst and Rob Hart who will be leaving bright and early tomorrow morning for their first rotation up the mountain. The whole team should be crossing paths in Camp 2 the day after tomorrow.
As you may have heard, this is our first year having cell phone reception in Base Camp. The word is that a few of our guys at Camp 1 were able to tilt their heads the right way and call home to friends and family from their mobile phones. And, amazingly, those calls are cheaper then when I make instate phone calls back in Alaska. That might not be saying much, since we are a bit out there in Alaska :-) Still though, technology sure does have a way of making it to every corner of the world�
Joe

April 16 to Camp 1

Nothing like a nice early start to the day! We got a 2:45 am wakeup call and enjoyed a hot breakfast at 3am. Everyone was geared up and ready to round the Puja by 4am, then off they went up the Icefall. We just got our radio call from Garrett that all members have arrived safely at camp 1. They are all enjoying some hot drinks and looking forward to hot meal prepared by the Guides.

It sounds like they'll be the only team at Camp 1 so they will have the whole place to themselves to relax and acclimate to a new Everest high point. Camp 1 is right around 20,000 feet or 6,100 meters, that's just a bit shy of Denali!!

It was a wonderful sunny day down in Base Camp. We busied ourselves with laundry and basking in the sun while sipping Sherpa Tea. Rob and Michael will be heading to Camp 1 in a few days. They took advantage of the sunshine to walk up to the first few ladders of the Icefall and were back in time for Lunch.

No, these pictures are not from 4am this morning. I took these yesterday as the team ventured a short ways into the icefall. But they do take the same route out around the Puja in the morning; offering rice to the great mountain and burring Juniper�it's just a bit darker and colder at 4 am :-)

Joe Kluberton

Earlier:

Winter turns to Spring the world round and in the mighty Himalaya; the great peaks of the world emerge from their snow covered slumber. This Spring as in past years, climbers will walk past the blossoming rhododendron, in pursuit of the world highest mountain. While preparing for Everest is an arduous task, we are always excited at to get another season up and running, as we have been doing since 1990 !