May 02 2009
Sometimes, the routine of living at base camp makes you think that things are just pretty…well… routine. By the time I wake up the radiant sun is already heating my tent up like a warm cocoon. But unlike a butterfly I unzip my sleeping bag, roll out of the tent and stumble to breakfast.
Some days, our mornings are exciting with the return of the members come back down to base camp after a few days on the mountain, bearing more stories of what is up there. Today, Henry and Krushnaa returned from their stay in Camp 2 and 3. Though this is the first rotation of both members, we were all very impressed to learn that Henry had managed to sleep a night at Camp 3 and our little Krushnaa had gone all the way up and tagged Camp 3 for acclimatization before returning to Camp 2 the same day.
We had a huge scare today when at 9:30 we saw the biggest avalanche this season, thundering down the West shoulder and completely covering the entire icefall and then base camp. Instantly, Pertemba was on the radio while the rest of us were looking for signs of movement. We instantly got in touch with the Tenzing Dorje who told us that everyone was safe at Camp 1, having a rest, and that they hadn’t even heard the avalanche. Later, we learned that miraculously no-one had been injured in the avalanche. Phew!
So it is that another wave of our climbers are heading up. Tomorrow, Nic, Yury, Jesse and Walter’s group are going to Camp 2 on their second rotation. Apa will be leading the troops and he will be performing a small puja and installing the Camp 2 Bhumpa.
At the same time, Mogens is heading down to Pheriche where he will be joining Bud, Bill and Will. Our weather forecast told us that there are heavy winds this weekend so Bud and Bill decided to wait it out rather than take the chance of a miserable climb. Will and Mogens on the other hand - veterans of Himalayan climbing - are going down for their final rest before summit push. They feel that they are ready and acclimatized to go for the goal.

Garbage Count: 4368.5 Kg

Dawa Steven Sherpa