Mt. Everest 2005: Four Friends To Climb Everest For A Cure: Rob From Everest Base Camp on April 14

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Update: Hello, Rob From Everest Base Camp on April 14

A lot of activity here over the last week.

On the 11th, we headed up the ice fall for some training and had a good time going over the first four ladders.  Finally getting our gear out and using our crampons and real equipment has transitioned our team from trekkers to climbers.  The thin air and high winds kept our pace to a modest one, but we did indeed enjoy being in the climbing mode.  Our Sherpas have been carrying loads up higher to Camps One and Two. 

On the 12 and 13th we have rested up and organized our Base Camp into a nice place to exist, if there is such a thing at the toe of a huge glacier at 17,400 feet.  Our Base Camp Manager Paula Stout has been working like a busy bee to get things in order, even as far at to pick-up up a shovel and do some "public works" activity in improving our entry way to our mess tent and to alleviate some of our glacial melt issues in camp that have made some puddles around my tent. Climbers Chuck and Dan arrived on the 13th with trekking group entow (all 19!) and now our climbing team is whole - the trekkers have gone back down valley having stayed only a few hours visit to see the grand view of the Khumbu Ice Fall.

Our meals have been great and we celebrated Paula's B-day with a grand cake that our cook made (which took 3 hrs. to bake). It was a fun filled evening.

There are around a confirmed 22 expeditions here in Base Camp and it shows.  Some of the camps are very elaborate with huge mess tents and multi shower type facilities, yet ours is one of more rustic proportions, though we do have a shower tent and have a men and ladies bathrooms to some extent. We are situated in a good spot, on the high ground compared to other camps so we don't have a lot of intrusive neighbors nor other team's outhouses nearby to fill our air with foul smell. 

We all have been making good contact with fellow teams and plan to make some moves on the mountain in the next week or so to acclimatize better for higher trips to Camps One and Two.  Our team is doing well and are in good spirits.

More to come soon...... Rob

Rob Chang Everest Climber, author and motivational speaker. To book Rob e-mail

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