Location: Everest Base Camp
Altitude: 5350m
Local Time: 17:45, 8 April
Weather: Some clouds, warm during the day, -1C now.
Hi it’s Bridget here, typing with cold fingers after the 4 of us have just been out exploring the broader base camp vicinity.
Our camp is quite near the ice fall, but more and more camps have sprung up even since Chris and I arrived a few days ago, it’s a mini-city.
Walking on the glacier
Paul and Fiona took us out for a walk on the glacier – it’s beautiful out amongst the ice and its many formations. Must say that Chris and I were more nervous walking on the frozen surface than our experienced mountaineering friends!!
Chris and Paul took to determining the strength of frozen surfaces and ice formations by throwing rocks around like little kids … smash, crash, splash!
Further down the glacier we had a good look around a crashed helicopter from a few years ago.
Farewell to Base Camp from us
Chris and I leave tomorrow, and will be flying out of Lukla to Kathmandu in 4 days time. Amazing that it will only be a 4 day walk out after such a long walk in. But we’ll be 2,500 metres lower in 4 days! Without having to acclimatise we can tear down.
We’ve had an awesome holiday trekking into Base Camp. It’s been a privilege sharing the time with Paul and Fiona as they set out on their massive adventure. Even from the base of the ice fall at about 5350m it’s impossible for Chris and I to fathom what they are about to undertake. The IMG team have been great to hang out with. We’ll also miss our daily card challenges against Paul and Fiona!
Thanks for congratulatory messages
Thanks so much for all your messages congratulating us on our engagement! It’s made it feel real having shared our news with you all. Getting messages each day is such a highlight – and we’re only on a short holiday, so you can imagine how important they are for Paul and Fiona.
Namaste from Bridget and Chris
We’ll be sad to leave the lovely hills of Nepal,the great scenery and the friendly people. Will be nice to have a decent shower in Kathmandu though (and for Chris to shave off his beard)!
We’ll be checking in all the time from our next holiday destination India, and be following the climb from a beach (how lazy are we?!)
Bridget and Chris
Chris and Bridget
Wishing you a beautiful and memorable trek back to Kathmandu. A beach in India sounds amazing! It has been nice following your journey with Fiona and Paul. Who was the grand winner in your card challenges?
Safe travels,
MC
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Hi Chris and Bridge, have a safe descent and enjoy the sun. I still can’t believe it’s going to be weeks before I can congratulate you in person!! Happy Birthday for Monday Chris. Paul and Fi, so looking forward to you ascent! Enjoy, Rich
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Nice website. Tell Jack Gerstein good luck from all of here in Granby/Winter Park. Thanks.
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Dear Bridget and Chris,
Congratulations to you both! I am a friend of Michelle Piro and Jim Gagne (there with you now!). I couldn’t help but notice that you are heading a beach in India. Mu daughter is currently in Southern India (right now in Bangalore) but she has been enjoying a great time in Mammalapuram (the fishermen village) as well as Pondicheery. Let me know if you are going that way-you could meet my daughter (she has been in India for three months and knows her way around). Give my best to Jim and Michelle! (and of course Paul and Fiona). I follow the updates regularly and love hearing about your adventures.
Best,
Carissa O’Gara
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Farwell, Chris & Bridget. Have a safe journey “downhill”. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and observations with those of us living at sea level.
Paul, how is your throat? Again, thanks so much for the email updates.
Good trekking and good health–Valerie
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Congratulations Chris and Bridget. It must have been a great experience going to base camp. We wish you safe travel downhill and in India. See you by the seaside when you get back Liz & Bill
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Hi to Paul Fiona Chris & Bridget its great to hear that its all going well , Happy Birthday Chris a big 31 ( biggest ever) , to Paul & Fiona the excitment must be be absolutly crazy , and Bridget go and have a great time in India with Chris. How do we contact you?? Jon
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Chris and Bridget
Enjoy your descent…sounds easier than the ascent! Have a great rest of your holiday. love Mary and John
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Hi F&P
Just got back from Blairgowrie and saw that Chris & bridget are engaged. Give them our congratulations and we hope that the rest of their trip will be a eventful as these past few weeks!! You’re really going to miss having them around but at least they have beeen able to share the experience of trekking to base camp with you both. It won’t be too long before Mary is there to join you.
Be careful on those ladders won’t you!!
Love you heaps
Mum
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The site is nice. I hope you have a great trip down, it sounds like an amazing holiday. Good luck to Paul and Fiona!
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VISITING FRIENDS IN TASMANIA – GETTING
AN UPDATE ON YOUR WEBSITE.
LOOKING AT THE SNOW ON MT WELLINGTON 7 DEGREES HERE YESTERDAY.
NOT AS BRAVE AS YOU !!!
THINKING OF YOU – GOOD LUCK !
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Dear Fi and Paul
We are enjoying following your progress via your website and email updates.
We are inspired and excited by your fabulous journey. Good luck with the final preparations to make the climb.
Our friends and colleagues are also enjoying your website.
As for questions – how are the bathing facilities shaping up? I am assuming that there are no hair dryer facilities!
We will keep in touch.
Love Kerri and Andrew.
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Loving your site. There are four of us leaving for base camp on Saturday and two of us are from Brighton. We are finding your commentary very interesting as we have no idea what to expect.
Do you need anything from Church St? p.s. Saints flogging Brisbane.
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