Location: Everest base camp
Altitude: 5350m
Local Time: 5:30pm, 16 April
Weather: Fine, but windy, 2C now
Hi it’s Paul here.
We woke this morning to find that the Easter Bunny had been to base camp and there were eggs left near our tent!
It’s been a pretty quiet day for me, as I am still trying to recover from my sore throat which has progressed into a chest infection. Yesterday I felt better, as the antibiotics started to have an effect, but this morning I felt not good – very tired, lethargic, sore joints. I slept for much of the day, and feel a bit better now.
Fiona is feeling great and she walked to Gorak Shep and climbed Kala Patar again. A lot of other climbers are heading up to camp 1 tomorrow, and it would be great to be going with them, but I know I have to wait until I am better.
Hopefully this should be no more than a couple of days.
Hope everyone is having a safe and enjoyable Easter,
Paul.
Hi Paul and Fiona, we went away for a few days camping over Easter. Mary did some walks and climbed the 1000 steps 3 times!! We have just returned from Jo and Leo’s .. had a great scallop farewell dinner. Today Mare started on her packing .. (she is mildly confident that it will all fit in.) We are having some problems with the new ipod, so will have to go and see the Apple people first thing on Tuesday morning, as she will need her music and the podcasts we have downloaded for her sanity at Base Camp.Did you find the Easter Eggs we hid in your bags? Hope that your throat is getting better, lots of love Dad and Mare XXX
…..
Hi Paul
sorry to hear about the chest infection
make sure that you do a lot of deep breathing and coughing to clear your chest. hope you get well soon
daryl
…..
To the entire IMG Team……..HAPPY EASTER! Paul & Fiona, thank you for providing us a picture of the gang enjoying those Easter eggs. The man in the black with the full beard…..Is that the same man I married just a few weeks ago??! I like the look, Dennis! Don’t shave! Paul, a speedy recovery to you. Safe climbing to all of you. We will be eager to hear about Camp 1 and Camp 2. Papia to Dennis.
…..
Hey Paul & Fiona,
Just a quick message to wish you a Happy Easter, a speedy recovery to Paul and a safe passage up the mountain!! Keep the updates coming!
Cheers,
Tim
…..
Happy Easter and good luck climbing. Have fun.
…..
Paul & Fiona –
Just got turned on to this website. It is fantastic and a real joy to read what is transpiring on a daily basis. I am Dennis’ sister and live in the Fla Keys with him. Please give him our love and best wishes for a safe climb and Happy Easter. As for the rest of the team, our prayers are with you all. Thank you Paul & Fiona.
Love, Kath
…..
Hello all, BC breakfasts look like a cheery affair! Do infections (such as those in the throat or chest) take longer to clear at BC or is it the standard time … it just must seem like it takes longer?
Healing wishes to you.
Deb, Ned & Holly.
…..
Hi guys,
Paul, hope this annoyingly persistent sore throat is starting to clear up. You must be feeling very frustrated, but obviously you’re doing the right thing by waiting it out.
We just returned from a 10 day holiday to Perth which was fantastic – rather different from your current situation: lots of swimming, wine tasting in the Margaret River and sightseeing around Perth. The kids just loved it and didn’t want to come home.
Anyway, we are following your progress every day and keep sending you good luck vibes!
Love Maddi, DP and the team.
…..
hi guys, hope you are feeling better soon paul.
we are living it up in 5 star accom in Bangkok at the mo but we are thinking of you both.
keep safe
kate and danny
…..
Hi Guys
Hope you both had a great Easter.
All the best on your way to camp 1, hope you feel better soon Paul.
Ken and Kathryn
…..
Hi Paul and Fiona
How nice that there were Easter eggs at BC! (I didn’t know the easter bunny could hop around at high altitudes.)
Fiona, you are so inspiring, climbing Kala Patar a 3rd time! It is great that you are feeling so well and so fit. I hope that Paul will be 100% soon! Those antibiotics should really start to kick in…you are obviously doing all the right things, Paul.
Take care and best wishes for the entire team.
MC
…..
Happy Easter guys. Hope everything works out well with your infection Paul.
Look forward to more updates!
Tan and Tan
…..
Hi Paul and Fiona, I am reading your web site with great interest.Sorry about you indisposition. Hope it clears up quickly. Today was the Annual Easter Parade in Bendigo. The President of the Bendigo Historical Society Jim Evans and his wife dressed up as Sir John and Lady Quick another lady member represented the first women’s cricket team in Australia which played their inaugural match in Bendigo. I dressed as Robert O’Hara Burke and another member and his wife suitably dressed drove the buggy which we rode in drawn by two horses. The parade took an hour to pass a given point and the crowd was eight deep on either side for the entire length of the route of about two kilometres. Take care. Ron
…..
Hi Guys, we are going to the Taj tomorrow, should be cool (oops I mean hot!).
Looks like the Kathmandu strikes etc have spread to Thamel according to BBC World.
Hope you get to Camp 1 soon!
Chris and Bridge.
…..
Hi Paul and Fiona,
So sorry to hear that your throat hasn’t cleared up yet Paul. I’m not surprised to hear that Fiona is fighting fit and out climbing mountains. As you know, I’ve been friends with Fiona’s mum for 50 years and I have to say, she has a cast iron stomach and is usually as fit as a mallee bull – so it’s probably in the genes. You, on the other hand Paul, are probably a mere mortal like the rest of us! All the best for your recovery. Jan Laing
…..
Hey Jim Gagne. Saw your breakfast at base camp photo on the web site. Eating as usual. You look great. We hope your feeling great. Michelle should be back in Boston in a couple days. Good luck with the summit. Stay sharp. See you when you return. Everyone is routing for you. All our best…
…..
Just read about your trip in the Mt Eliza Business School newsletter. I dont know you, but I was inspired by your story and wanted to send you my best wishes. I returned from my first trip to Nepal about 3 weeks ago. We did a very small 6 day trek out of pokhara – nothing on the scale of what you guys are in the midst of! I’m not someone who enjoys trekking – I tend to trudge more than trek – but the gentle people and majesty of the mountains just blew me away and I think will stay with me for a long time. And something of that memory led me to send you a note in case you are lying around snowed in your tent and really bored! I know I will never climb to where you are, but I salute the madness, commitment and spirit that has taken you there. As I sit in my office in Collins Street watching the sun set over the bay, I wish you all the luck you need to get where you want to be safely. I dont need a response, save those for your friends and family. But I will follow your trek now – and think of you each night as the sun sets. Good Luck
Louise
…..
For Jim Gagne
Hope your doing well. Everyone at the cafe in Plymouth is asking about you.Stevie is here from Germany for a 3 month visit, he says hello and to catch a Yeti for him. Micky says to take care of yourself so you can give her a good massage when you return.
Eddie and Micky
…..