Date: 8pm Tuesday, 15th May 2007
Location: Everest Base Camp
Altitude: 5300 meters
Weather: Windy and cloudy most of the day with snow in the afternoon
Hi everyone, Fiona here,
Well, it’s the end of another fairly non-eventlful day here at basecamp – but at least now the climbers are in high spirits as the weather forecast is looking good.
Summit Bid Plans
After receiving a weather forecast late last night, and another one this morning, it appears as though there is a long window of favourable summit conditions coming up soon. Still no-one has climbed to the summit from the south side but there are a couple of teams in position tonight so we’re all hoping that they make it to the top tomorrow. That way we’ll know that the lines and route are in place (we don’t want to make a summit bid on the same day that the lines are being fixed as this is more likely to lead to delays which could be dangerous).
Anyway, of the group here, about half of them are planning to leave basecamp tomorrow (Dirk, Steve, Ravi, Rudi, and Dawa). Paul, Attila, Meagan and Martin are planning to leave the day after tomorrow (17th May). At the moment, they’re roughly aiming for a summit on 21st May – but of course, everything is subject to change. So needless to say, the atmosphere has picked up and everyone getting excited that the wait might soon be over. Along with this, everyone is madly charging batteries, checking equipment and getting packed up ready to go.
My Feelings about Climbing
Mark R asked about what I felt being back at basecamp and whether I had any desire to head back up the mountain and give it another go. It’s a good question and I guess my answer to this is not really. I don’t really consider myself to be a serious mountaineer – once was definitely enough for me. In fact, I still have a very vivid memory of my thoughts as I was making my way down from the summit to camp 4. I remember questioning what I was doing there, feeling so tired and thirsty, my feet aching and my whole body wanting to lie down and sleep in the snow. But most especially, I remember promising myself that I would never put myself through that again! In fact, I’m not sure that I’ll ever do any more serious mountaineering. I climbed Everest (and all the moutains I climbed previously) to see whether I could do it. I really enjoy being in nature, and while there are some amazing elements of climbing big mountains, there’s also a whole lot of risk, discomfort and pain involved. So as I no longer have the drive to climb as a personal challenge, the equation doesn’t really add up for me.
Having said that, I do think it would be useful for Paul if I went up to camp 2 with him. If it wasn’t for the icefall, I’d be very tempted to do this but looking at the icefall now, I’m glad I made the decision not to go up. Also, given that I haven’t done anywhere near as much training as Paul this year, I’d be a lot slower and would be holding him back. I’m very glad that Paul’s got a great group of people to climb with and I’ll be tracking his progress very closely from basecamp.
As Cherie says, its a fairly anxious environment here – and bound to become moreso as Paul and the other climbers go up soon. (Thanks for your message Cherie – look forward to catching up with you when we get home).
Filling in Time
Both today and yesterday I decided not to be so lazy and to go for a walk. Today’s walk took me up to Pumori Base Camp again – trekkers, you’ll be pleased to know that as soon as I reached the camp, it started snowing hard again! Must be something about that place. Anyway, I’ve quite enjoyed having a bit of solitude and zoning out by listening to my music. On today’s playlist was Dixie Chicks, Crowded House, Frank Sinatra and The Fray.
Messages
Hi Jac – I did take a bit of work with me – haven’t started it yet though. Maybe as I stay here longer and get more acclimatised I’ll feel more up to it.
Hi Mum, Beck, Julia, Liz, Denise and Cas, It’s great to hear that you made it down to Namche without any problems and that most of you managed to make it up Kala Pattar as well. We were wondering whether you would try this as the weather seemed to clear a bit in the afternoon. It was so great to have you along for the trek. I know Paul really appreciated your support and for me especially, it meant that the real wait only starts now rather than a few weeks ago. It was a fantastic trek in for me, so thanks everyone! Thanks for the update on Ang Nima – I’m sorry to hear that he’s still not well.
Hi Sarah – Thanks for your kind message. Don’t get us thinking about prime ribs though! Even though the food here is very good, there’s not much meat and what we do get is pretty tough (or canned!). So there’s already quite a lot of talk about the foods people miss from home (I know steak is high on Paul’s list, but yoghurt tops mine).
Hi Glenda – Thanks for your message and especially for keeping Nana up to date with Paul’s progress. Won’t be long now until you can see Mum and get her personal take on the whole thing.
Hi Liane and the QECVI kids – It’s a good idea about testing Paul with some trivia questions when he’s high on the mountain. Not so much to detect HACE, but more to assess whether his mental capacity is impaired (or by how much). Interestingly, last year NASA was hear doing a study on whether a deterioration in speech ability indicated reduced mental capacity (their hypothesis was that it did). So maybe I only need to assess whether Paul is speaking properly rather than asking him trivia questions.
Paul loved reading the Kite Runner too. He’s finished it now and is reading Mao’s Last Dancer, which he’s enjoying immensely. I’m reading Jane Fonda’s autobiography – which so far is really interesting. I always love a good biography. It seems as though there’s a lot of good books here so we won’t be going short.
WP – Thanks for your message. I think the boulders in the photo are granite but there are all kinds of rock up here. Beck studied geology and in her words the area is really “messed up”. There’s all kinds of stuff up here – slate, sandstone, granite,
conglomerate, quartz and more. Maybe when she gets back she’ll write more about it then.
Hi Maddi, DP and kids – Great to hear from you guys. Hope you enjoy Tassie and that we can catch up with you when we return.
Jeanette, Mama and all the Canadian contingent – Paul was thrilled to hear from you. Hope everyone is well over there.
Pete Struck – In answer to your question about whether it’s easier for Paul than last year, in some ways it is. We learnt a lot last year and Paul’s been able to improve his training significantly this year and feels a lot stronger than he did last year (see the training section on this website for details). He also has some additional pieces of gear which look like being pretty helpful. It’s also a big psychological help knowing the route exactly so that he knows what to expect and can pace himself properly.
Hi John and Mary, Great to hear from you guys as usual. Sounds like you’ve had a busy time recently with all the visitors and visiting. Mary, along the trek in we thought about you often, thinking that it would be a much more difficult time coming in alone as you did last year.
MC – You’re right, the climb last year was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Not sure if I agree with the term BC wife though!
Well, that’s it for tonight. Hope everyone is well.
Fiona
Hi Fiona, Paul and team
Great blog, Fiona. Ward, from Pat Hickey’s team, just did an audio blog from C-3. He is one of the climbers set for a summit attempt. Wonderful news that the weather is holding out. It would be great if Paul’s team makes their summit bids in the next few days…fingers crossed!!!
Fiona, sorry about the term BC wife. I just meant that you are giving great support to Paul as Mary gave the two of you last year. But you are right, let’ stick with “Everest Summiteer”.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! Wishing everyone a safe and successful climb to the top!
MC
Hi Paul and Fiona,
Paul wishing you all the best for the next few days, shall be thinking of you.
Cheers Marc and Em
Hi Steve,
Just want to let you know that we’ll be thinking of you and praying for you in the week ahead as you move up the mountain. Jay wants to report that he and Jim summited on Silver Star Mountain in the North Cascades this past weekend and skiied down! You helped inspire them.
I also heard from the trekker, Chris, who you met there at EBC and who returned here to Portland. “Small world”!
We’ll be following the website with interest in the week ahead.
Love from, Alice
PS Always double check your harness!
Hi Paul and Fiona,
Great news on the weather front (excuse the pun)…Received an email from Mum and she has placed her order for what she’d like to eat on returning Sunday….needless to say she wants lots of fresh salad and nice meat. Will wait with anticipation as Paul’s day draws closer. Love, Jacqueline
Hi Paul and Fiona
I’m following your progress closely and would like to wish you all the best for your summit attempt Paul. All of us back home will be hoping that the weather will be kind as I’m sure that nothing else will defeat you this time.
Fiona, I’m not at all surprised that you wouldn’t want to face that icefall again! I still marvel at what you have achieved. You’ll be very anxious I’m sure while waiting to hear news of Paul but it will be better to be there than at home.
Love to you both
Jan Laing
Hi Paul and Fiona,
Just wanted to wish you all the best for the climb ahead (and the support efforts from BC!). I will be thinking of you both this weekend. Remember last year when you were climbing and we did the Kokoda Track? Well, this year we are doing the Great Ocean Road marathon – the race is this Sunday, 20 May and we have about 50 runners in the group taking on their own “everest”. Whenever it gets tough I have told them to think of you, Paul, climbing the real thing! We are all inspired and motivated by your efforts. So congratulations on your efforts so far, good luck for the big one and thank you for being such an inspiration to so many. All our legs and lungs are going to be hurting this weekend!
Cheers,
Raz
Hi Paul & Fiona,
I have been watching your progress and updates daily and even from back in Melbourne, it all seems pretty exciting. Good luck – looking forward to celebrating with you when you get back. Steve Wruck
Greetings Paul & Fiona,
Best wishes Paul. Thinking of you and wishing you all the very best. Love Gabe……..PS: Zac and Zoe send a message : Woof! Good luck with the summit! We wish we were there to cheer you on – we are with you in doggie spirit!!!!!!! Woof!!!
Fiona, reading your appraisal of the personal reasons you plan to restrict the climbing you are likely to do from here on was rewarding. Thanks for sharing your inner thoughts…their sincerity shone. Great to hear that the weather prospect is so improved. Once more, our best wishes to Paul and his fellow climbers! Love from Anne and Ron, Black Rock.
Best wishes Paul in your push for the summit and for some kind weather. Hope all the snow you’ve had doesn’t make conditions too hard. We’ll be all following as closely as we can. Fiona you appear to be sticking by what you’ve said in the past, which from my perspective – and I’m sure your Mum’s – is fine. Back home, Leah’s flat is coming on very well and is looking good. And at BG the stonework is more than half done and is looking great. We’re just looking forward to Mum’s return on Sunday now.
Love, Neil
Good luck from us here at the McLennan Library – MBS. I read the diary everyday as I did last year. Stay safe and take care.
Marina Herriman
I will be reading and waiting to hear news as you have your try at the summit. It has been wonderful having this blog to follow along. Easily it is the best site for having a real glimpse of what it is like. Safe travel, Paul. A lot of good thoughts and prayers go with you.
Jean
No wonder your not looking for new mountains to climb Fiona!! Congratulatios on your results in the University Entrereneurship Awards. Winning 3 of the 4 possible category awards .. no doubt where you will be focused now. Brad sent us the link to http://www.womow.com.au Fabulous!! The other winner was Matt (Kirsty’s Marshall’s husband) .. small world ‘eh.
We are getting the weather predictions from Nick now, and are getting very excited with the prospects for Paul’s attempt. Give him a big cuddle from us. Love, John & Mare
I was curiously awaiting the news of the launching of your entrepreneurial idea. It will be very successful, I am sure of it! Great idea! Congrats on winning 3 of the 4 categories. Fantastic!
Sincerely,
MC
paul .good luck to you and your group. you seem to have prepared ‘perfectly’ for your push to the summit. hope the weather is kind and all your” hi-tech” gear performs to expectations…… all the best. cheers……[ken.nz]
Good luck to both the climber and the supporter. I’m sure now that you’re there Fiona, Paul will feel much more confident in the task ahead. It must be very helpful having a partner who understands every step of the way and can discuss tactics and options. Glad that you’re not a BC wife -you don’t have wash his socks as well !
I’m sure that trekking in with your Mum would have to be a highlight of all your journeys so far. Goodness me, any offspring you produce will have to sleep in a cot with a lid -with a mother, father and two grannies who have climbed to, and up Everest -the climbing genes will be dominant!
Our love and positive thoughts are with you both,
Take care
Sandy and John
Dear Fiona and Paul,
We have been following your progress closely and wish you well and fine weather Paul.
All the very best
Jenni M.
Dear Fiona, great to hear about your wonderful achievement !:) Congratulation and wishing you good luck with your WoMOW project as well.
For Paul, have a good time and fair winds as well as no thunderstorms. Crossing fingers for all of you for a relatively calm weather. I guess your coming posts are going to be pretty exciting – looking forward to receiving any news. Stay safe, sending you warm thoughts and energy across the miles.
Best,
Mira
Hi Paul and Fi,
Wow Paul it is getting to the pointy end of things now! In some ways it seems to have gone so quickly (although I am sure not to you) and in other ways it seems like a lifetime ago that Tim and I left EBC. We are getting excited for you. Goodluck for the start of your sumit climb.
Good to see you have settled back into BC life again. Just think how much you will appreaciate the luxuries of home again when you get back.
Love,
Dame and Beck
We will be sitting on the edges of our highchairs waiting for the news of your successful summit! Aunty Fi, we hope you don’t wear a track in the ice pacing around Base Camp. We love you, God bless – oh, and Mummy said we’re coming to Melbourne for a visit, so we’ll see you all in September. Love, Jemimah, Matilda, Kyna, Mal and Tank-girl. xo
Reading daily with great interest – really enjoying getting your news. Google Earth with Adlers is awesome !! Our thoughts and best wishes are with you, especially for this last bit of your effort. You are an inspiration to us all. Look forward to hearing a message from you from the summit !!!
Cheers, Jacqui & Ian Pearson