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14 April, 2011
We arrived at base camp on Friday 8th April. Some of the trekkers came to
visit the next day (Becci ,Rob and Leah). It was really great to see them,
they did so well making it all the way not only to base camp but all the way
to our camp (which is about an hours walk into base camp). We really like our
camp, mostly because there's a shower tent! After a couple of rest days we
spent some time checking and preparing our climbing gear and had a morning in
the lower ice fall practicing our climbing and descending techniques. It was
good fun and we had a laugh..We also had our Puja - a traditional sherpa
ceremony where kit is blessed and prayers are said for a safe climb and
return. It begins in a calm fashion but soon descends into drinking and
throwing rice and flour everywhere - obviously! Yesterday, after one more rest
day at base camp, we hiked across to Pumori ABC (5,700m) so that we could
spend a night acclimatizing at a higher altitude. It was really beautiful over
there and the views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse were fantastic. The whole
team made it over there in really good time and everyone was
feeling good after a night at a higher camp.
9 April, 2011
Thanks for putting this up on Summitclimb & summittrek news & social media.
Yesterday our team reached Everest basecamp at 5300 metres, 17,380 feet. Our
basecamp is scattered among 5 metre, 16 foot high lumps of ice and moraine
rubble heaps, interspersed with tiny frozen puddles. This morning it is quite
sunny and calm at the moment, but clouds keep scudding across the sky and
blocking the sun, then snow comes sprinkling down. A wisp of wind rattles the
tent fabric from time to time and last night's crisp clear darkness lit with a
sliver moon was punctuated with the explosions of ice crashing inside the
infamous Khumbu icefall. Our team of 7 climbers, 7 sherpas and 2 cooks are
melding together nicely, as we build up our camp, chopping tent platforms in
this glaciated moonscape terrain and everyone nestles into their own
comfortable private tent. We are camped at the base of the mighty Khumbu
icefall and the icy rocky ramparts of Everest tower above us massively. These
huge Himalayan peaks surround us in three directions because we are camped in
an enourmous glacier basin, as
if sitting in the mouth of a shark with so many tall teeth poking out all
around and above. We are treated to picture postcard views of the mighty
mountains looming over our heads, exotically named Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbutse,
Changtse, West Ridge of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. What more could we ask
for?
On a sadder note, after joining us for lunch, our basecamp trekking team has
descended from basecamp and is heading down valley to warmer forested hillside
potato terraces bathed in green light and dotted with blooming Rhododendron
flowers and grazing yaks. We had a lovely time walking together with together
with the trek team and they will be missed very much. Uh oh, just now a
delicious scent of freshly simmering home made noodle soup tickles my nose
and, low and behold, the cook is banging a pot just outside our comfortable
dining tent, so I am afraid its time for me to say goodbye and join the team
at our long table where we sit together, break bread, share stories, and
prepare for the coming day. Sorry I have rambled on and thanks for listening
Earlier:
1 April, 2011
This is Linda, Leah and Peter from Newcastle Australia. We woke up to a nice
warm cup of tea prepared mby our wonderful kitchen staff.
We had a group breakfast and briefing with Dan and Gavin.
The trek started and we wandered around the gorge through quaint villages and
across suspension bridges, which tested one's vertigo!
The group checked in at the national park entrance and we were then on our
way! Surrounded by breathtaking, snow-capped mountains, one felt extremely
miniscule. Crossing two more suspension bridges, the climb towards Namche
Bazaar started. It was a steep incline and one had to be in awe at the locals
carrying these huge loads. With the altitude, there were many stops along the
way.
We arrived at Namche, thanks to our hard working and friendly sherpas and made
camp. All the trekkers are now relaxing with the local, wonderful hot food and
sharing stories of the day. We now all have the luxury of a rest day at 3400
metres, acclimatization and the local chocolate cake tasting in Namche. Yum!
31 March, 2011
This is Squash Falconer on the Everest Nepal trip calling in a dispatch for
the 31st of March, 2011. At 5 am this morning our full SummitClimb teams,
which are Everest Nepal, Everest Tibet, Lhotse, and Everest Basecamp Trek all
gathered together in Kathmandu and headed to the airport for our flight to
Lukla, where our trek begins to Everest basecamp.
Seeing is believing the apparent chaos at the airport, as many expeditions are
getting organized into groups and piles to be loaded onto the plane, which is
specially built for the tiny landing strip at Lukla. It's a stunning, short 40
minute flight and then you literally feel like you're heading right into the
mountain, as the plane approaches the 500 metre runway.
Half the group made it to Lukla on the early flight, and as the clouds
rolled in we weren't sure if the kit and the rest of the group would make it -
sometimes it can take days to get in or out of Lukla. But after a few hours,
everybody plus the kit were in.
We just had a short trek today, to a small village called Tok Tok. It was a
really pretty walk, following the river through the valley, and passing many
cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, and magnolia trees. The magnolias are massive,
almost the size of footballs! Everyone was in pretty good shape today and
excited to start their expedition. There are lots of interesting people and
it's nice to get to know each other.
Everest expeditions commence 29-Mar-11
29 March, 2011
Today is the first day of our spring climbing and walking season. We are in
Kathmandu and all of the members are arriving. Tomorrow is the big team
briefing at the Kohinoor Hotel. It has been raining here in Kathmandu, which
is good as it keeps the dust down and puts water into the reservoirs. If all
goes well, we plan to fly to Lukla on 31 March. Please wish us luck. Thanks
for following our expedition teams in Nepal and Tibet!
Team Rosters:
Everest Tibet -
* Arnold Coster - Netherlands (leader)
* Scott Patch - US (leader-in-training)
* Eric Platenberg - US (leader-in-training)
* Edward Buckingham - UK
* Frank Irnich - Germany
* Biff Palmer - US
* Dominique Pickett - UK
* Mark Quinn - Ireland
North Col: 29 March to 25 April -
* Stephen Wilson -US
Everest Nepal -
* Dan Mazur - UK/US (Leader)
* Ms. Squash Falconer - UK
* Ms. Paula Leonard - US
* Stewart Edge - UK
* Mitch Lewis - US
Lhotse -
* Gavin Vickers - Australia (Leader)
* Alex Holt - UK
Everest Basecamp Trek Nepal -
* Ms. Alyn Caulk - US
* Ms. Beccy Cresswell - UK
* Robert Cresswell - UK
* Ms. Melanie Plant - Australia
* Ms. Linda Hardwood - Australia
* Christoper Howard - US
* Ms. Norissa Howard - US
* Peter Swan - Australia
* Daniel Wilde - Australia
Everest Tibet Staff -
* Ang Babu Sherpa
* Tenji Sherpa
* Lhakpa Sherpa
* Gyalje Sherpa
Everest and Lhotse Staff -
Climbing Sherpas -
* Jangbu Sherpa
* Thile Nuru Sherpa
* Lakpa Nuru Sherpa
* Sange Sherpa
* Pasang Sherpa
* Lakpa Tendu Sherpa
Nepal Trekking Staff -
* Kaji Tamang - sirdar as well trekking guide
* Deha Shrestha - assistant trek leader
Nepal Kitchen staff -
* Jay Bahadur - cook
* Dorje Sherpa- kitchen boy
* Sange Sherpa - trekking cook as well kitchen boy
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