This morning’s sunrise at Base Camp
Brigantes Everest Expedition Day 12
This was our second rest and acclimatisation day at Base Camp. When we got here we all thought it was a great achievement – lots of backslapping and congratulations. But really it’s not much of a place and the longer you’re here the less attractive it seems. There was one wonderful moment – this morning’s sunrise, which was amazing. It suddenly gets very bright as the light is reflected off the snow. You need to wear glasses as soon as it’s up and it’s not like anything you see back home.
Today we chose who goes further on with the President and Dowting and his top Sherpas. There are five others and Dowting’s tipped me the wink yesterday that I’ll be one of them. Actually I asked him. Said I needed to be there to write the reports. The others pretty much chose themselves. It’s now clear that one or two should never have signed up at all. Dowting thinks it’s a miracle they got this far. Then quite a few have altitude sickness. It’s like a bad hangover so I think some of them are probably used to that. We’ve been pumping them with ibubrofen and keeping them hydrated but I could hear one of them groaning during the night. The ones going on with us are solid, reliable characters who get on with the job and don’t complain.
Base Camp where we spent two not very relaxing ‘rest’ days
Something unfortunate happened to the Base Camp toilet today. There was a bit of a blockage. It really is primitive and I’m so looking forward getting away from here tomorrow and doing a bit of proper mountaineering, in the footsteps of Hillary and Tensing and all that. Dowting’s been telling us about the Khumbu Icefall and the dangers of climbing over moving ice. I can’t wait to get started and to telling all the people back home about how our elite group is doing. It’s amazing we’ve come this far and that now we’re going even higher. Onward and upward!
Luke N Brightside
Communications Officer
Elite my foot! The only elite thing about this lot is their ability to fool themselves. I’ll be pleased to see the back of some of them. They mean well but honestly – they’ve punched way above their weight (which is considerable in a couple of cases) to get to Base Camp and we can’t wait for people like that from now on. Tomorrow’s the Icefall – one of the most dangerous places on the whole trip and they’re treating it as a fun day out. I’m a bit bothered about the Brightside chap. Think he’s way too casual. Hope we don’t find him at the bottom of a crevasse tomorrow.
Sherpa Dowting
Head Porter
more Everest, but not as you know it !
more A summary of our virtual Everest trek
more Back At Base Camp, What A Relief !
more Despite everything our President has made it to the top of the world.
more Onward and upwards to the south col and camp four.
more About our friend in Nepal, Major Lil
more Held back again.
more Camp 3 rest day.
more Ever upwards !
more Here we are at Camp two.
more In the valley of silence.
more Not much to see through the whiteout.
more Climbing the Ice Fall
more A taste of the real thing.
more Settling into base camp
more Finally reaching base camp.
more On to Gorak Shep
more Getting up amongst the real Himalayas
more Our yaks on the trail.
more Onwards to Dingboche.
more Onwards and upwards
more Leaving Namche
more A rest day in Namche
more We move on towards Namche
more Arriving at Luckla Airport
back We are staging a virtual climb of Mount Everest to raise money for Wellspring, Carers Resource and Covid relief. All the previous daily blogs can be read here.