Local time: 16 May, 19:30
Location: Base Camp
Altitude: 5300m
Weather: Breezy in base camp for much of the day, but still up top.
Hi it’s Paul at base camp. Well it’s confirmed that we will head up tomorrow. Very exciting news for Meagan, Atilla, Martin & I.
Also exciting was hearing the news of the first summits from the South Side. I was woken this morning with a request for my computer services because the Super Sherpa team could not get their internet connection working and Apa was due to summit any moment. I raced over there, and got to work on it. At 8:44 Apa came over the radio announcing that he was on the summit. Huge cheers and tears all round. Ten minutes later I had the internet up, which was a relief for me as the pressure was mounting!
Getting ready
Everyone is frantically organizing gear, including me. It’s a real hive of activity here. New lithium batteries for the radio and head torch, spare torch, down vest, batteries for the Jett Vest and Hotronics, a fleece top, down vest, spare gloves & chemical heat warmers. Fiona has been sewing a patch onto my gloves – I wore a hole in them coming down the Lhotse face on the last rotation.
Keep your fingers crossed for me as I go up through the icefall.
Your Messages
Hi Oma, Thanks for your message and well wishes.
Hi Tim, The other climbers were kind enough to use the Lhotse team’s dining tent during mealtimes when the trekkers were here. Fortunately several climbers were down valley at that time as well.
Hi Mary, Yes, the fresh fruit is fantastic. Crispy apples today!
Hi Rosemary, The dining tent is fantastic – it has a heater, plastic lining, chairs with backs on them, AC and DC power for charging batteries – what more could you want? On the way to the summit there are a few rocky sections, but most of it is ice and hard snow.
Hi JB, Yes it is the same Ravi from last year. It’s going to be a big challenge climbing again this year, but I think he is up to it. He suffered permanent frostbite damage to all fingers last year. I don’t measure oxygen saturation – if you search the site you will see some earlier comments from me and why I don’t personally think its a useful statistic at altitude.
Hi Leonie, Yes I definitely remember you. Thanks for your message.
Regards,
Paul.
Hi Paul,
This is very exciting!! Know there will be lots of positive thoughts coming your way from Newfoundland. We’ll be cheering you along all the way up and safely back to base camp.
Judy
Hi Paul,
Best of luck on your safe summit and descent. All my positive energy is headed towards you and your climbing partners.
Alan
Jill, Dallas, TX
Paul,
Since I believe in a power even greater than the great mountain, I will appeal to that Higher Power for a PEAK experience for you, which also means a SAFE return!!!
Hello Paul,
It’s finally time to go up! Good news, the wait is over! I wish you the best of luck for summit and come back down safe. I’ll be following the blog closely.
Hi Paul: Have a great climb and hope you reach the top. Have a safe descent. Take care. Congratulations go out to Apa and team for a successful climb. xpostie in Happy Valley Lab.
Paul:
Great news that the weather has cleared! We are so excited for you!! We will be thinking of you every minute of every day until you reach the summit. Our fingers (and all our toes!) are crossed for you as you head into the Icefall tomorrow – climb early and be safe.
Thanks for putting our flag in the picture – we look forward to seeing it on the summit in less than a week! Remember that your flag represents an entire school of support – more than 650 students cheering you on. You can’t help but succeed with that amount of positive energy behind you. Best wishes for a safe and successful climb from everyone at QECVI!
Liane and the gang at QE
PS – Did you try some of the maple candy when you were up high last time?
Good luck Paul. Hope all goes well. We look forward to hearing the good news when you reach the top.
Vic and Andy Rankine
Hi, Paul just like last year my family and I will be watching and sending you positive energy from Pennsylvania. I have a question as to how far someone actually travels from camp 4 to the summit? Disregarding elevation, ( much easier for me to do from here I’m sure.) If I was to walk out my front door here at home, how far would I have to walk before I had traveled the distance to the summit? How far will you travel in a strieght line over how much elevation gained? I’m just trying to wrap my mind around the amazing feet you are about to accomplish. Thanks for taking us along with you every step of the way on your amazing adventure. God bless you and Fiona in the days to come.
Ray
I just want to add my positive thoughts to others on this site that you have a safe and successful climb and descent. We’re all very excited for you and wish you all the best. My thoughts are also with Fiona who will be waiting, watching and listening at EBC during this time.
Wishing you the best of luck on getting safely through the icefall and all the way to the top! We look forward to reading all the exciting updates in the next few days. Our thoughts are with you.
Love, Inna and Tim.
Paul,
Wishing you the very best of luck on your final push up the mountain and hopefully to the summit. I am travelling with the family to Japan in the morning for a week of touring before heading to Prague for three weeks. I look forward to hearing your progress and updates with anticipation. As always, climb safely and use good judgement.
Take care and be well.
Cam
Wishing you and colleagues the very best weather conditions and safe passages thru the icefall. And a most peaceful and enjoyable return to C3.
wp
And now we begin.
Didn’t you do three acclimatization trips last year? I haven’t been able to keep up with all updates so maybe you discussed it. I went to count the lines on Google Earth, but I see the GPS now only shows the one trip to base camp and not beyond that…maybe just my system.
Hoping great weather continues!
SuferBill
Jax, FL
Hi Paul,
This is a message for my brother Rudi. Thank you so much for the daily infomation. I wish you all a safe and successful climb.
Liebes Bruderherz, das ist mein erster Versuch dir zu schreiben, obwohl ich, dank internet, ja fast live bei deiner waghalsigen Tour dabei bin. Wir alle freuen uns immer sehr, wenn dein Name erwähnt wird, oder du auf einem Bild auftauchst. Ich denk so oft an dich und schick dir alle Schutzengel und Heiligen(die da oben ja bestimmt ganz nahe sind!). Pass gut auf dich auf!!! Wir wünschen dir alle von ganzem Herzen, dass die Bedingungen dir einen Gipfelsieg ermöglichen, obwohl für uns nur wichtig ist, dass du bald wieder gesund nachhause kommst!
Ich umarm und drück dich jetzt ganz fest und schick dir viele liebe Grüße von uns allen, Sonja.
So now there will be 3 of us in the bed. Last year at this stage of your trip I had the laptop on Mary’s pillow, so every few hours in the night I could press the Refresh button and check for updates. With her here this time the big decision will be on whose side it will be on, or shall we just put it in the middle!
You sound and look very fit, and we know you will be careful. Enjoy the climb Tic, and know that we are thinking of you all the way. Love Dad & Mare
All our fingers and toes are crossed and our positive thoughts will be with you, good luck Paul – Marlene and Ray Trenerry
Hi Paul,
Best of luck with your summit bid! No doubt everyone will be eagelry awaiting news of your success. Take care!
Hey MacGyver
Good job getting the internet connection working for Apa and the Super Sherpa team. I had read on EverestNews that they had summited! Fingers are crossed for you and everyone going through the Icefall. Show time!!!
The best,
MC
This morning my heart started racing on reading your news report and that it was to be all systems go today, Paul. You have faith in your preparation and we have faith in you – so have a great time succeeding in what you’ve worked so long and hard to do! Love from The Marshalls, Black Rock.
Hi Paul
All the very best wishes for a very safe and successful climb and descent – take care – all my fingers crossed for you – love from Barb Johnston
Paul & Fiona:
We are both absolutely emotional with heavy thoughts for the summit push ahead! Paul, you have everything it takes to reach the summit and make a safe descent. Remember, coming down is much more important than going up and there are stories to tell once you return………We will be with you all the way. Dennis is clearly remembering last year when BC Mom was with you to light the juniper and wish you a safe climb and return. Fiona, Tam does not envy the job you have ahead of you. She will be holding your hand the entire time!
Our deepest thoughts and wishes are with both of you during this exciting time.
Climb safe, climb strong,
Den -n- Tam
Dear Paul
I can only echo the thoughts above and add God speed. We are with you and Fiona every step of the way. Take care and have fun.
Much love
Jo & Leo
Maybe interesting to know: Pat and a few of his team are heading up on 18th, and as I am following the Coleman exp (Mike&Casey) they are on quite a similar schedule as you, heading up to Camp1 17th, and to Camp2 a day after it. They are planning to be in Camp 4 on 20th.
Jeanne Stawiecki (Sticky) is also leaving EBC on 17th – 7 continents 7 marathons in 141 days and this is the 7th from her seven summits, (wow) she is with Alpine Ascents International. You definitely won’t be lonely up there…
Let Attila know that seems the other two Hungarian guys coming from the other side also planning to summit on 21st… here everybody is getting so excited about how wonderful could be if 3 of them would stand at the very top of Everest on the same day – coming from south and north:)
Heard that a huge icefall/avalanche coming off of Pumori… be careful on Khumbu with the similar ones… I heard once: “Amateurs look down Professionals always look up”;-) Take care, and don’t forget, we all here behind you:)
My thoughts are with you all
Mira
Ps. Great to hear about successful summit attempts, Apa’s 17th summit is just unbelieveble! Also Tashi Tenzing summitted:) But also very sad that a few climbers died, one of them after he summitted:( a Japanese guy at the age of 62 , and two other guy from rockfall somewhere 8000ish
Hi Paul and Fiona!
Janet Fearnley here, have been watching your progress so far.
Paul, its great that you are in such good health this year and that all is set. All the best for the summit bid in the coming days, we’ll be watching and sending good vibes from home.
Cheers,
Janet
It’s here. This is your moment ! So many people worldwide are with you in spirit.
It’s yours!!
Good Luck
Sandy and John
Hope you enjoy your last trip up!
Chris
hi paully, It is very exciting to hear you are about to start on the climb to the top. Amazing to think that while I lie in bed for “just ten more minutes” after the alarm clock has gone off for the fourth time that you will be halfway up the biggest mountain in the world. Always the over-achiever paully (but in a good way)!! Hi to fiona – We will be thinking of you both – good luck and take lots of care.
love meals and danny
Love it! hehehe GOOD LUCK PAULY!!!!! I have been working on a poem for you and thought I would share it with you….then I decided I might turn it into a song, so I got out my flute and Luke got on the piano and well we are going to get an audio update organised for you before your summit day as inspiration……..NOT REALLY! Phew I hear you say…..but let me tell you Luke’s piano is coming along very nicely and Otto is even joining in…. Can’t believe we are finally here again anyway. We have been watching a doco on Discovery from last years summits from the team with Mark Inglis from the North side – it is really fantastic – they wore head cams and got some great footage from the top of the world. They were showing last night the problems of being stuck behind very slow inexperienced climbers on summit day – did you guys have this problem last year? I don’t remember you mentioning having to wait in queues to actually get onto the summit. This seems crazy. Anyway, we are watching closely! Take care. Jac (and the Blackburn Poet’s Society and Wind Symphony ;-))
Hi Paul, nice to see you still have time to be the BC Help Desk while you’re busy packing for the climb! Glad you did, I read about Apa’s summit in the paper. Hope your climb up to C1 has been good. Fiona, hope it’s not too strange not climbing with Paul, and that you’ve got a good pile of books to distract you. Thinking of you both, Bridge
Good luck Paul for the big one! It was only a piece of bad luck that stopped you last year so you know you can do it. Hope the weather stays good for the whole climb.
Neil
Paul,
It was great news this morning to find out that you’ve got the all clear weather wise and you can now make your way to the top. I wish you all the success over the coming days. Eliza and I will be following your progress closely.
Jordan
Hi Paul,
Can’t believe you’re at this stage already! We will both be eagerly following you every step of the way and will be checking the site at every opportunity. It has all been said before but good luck, and we hope it all goes well. Looking forward to all the exciting news that we will hear over the next few weeks or so. Fiona, good luck to you as it won’t be all that easy for you (slightly easier than last year I’d say!).
Love Lucinda & Chris
Hi Paul! I wish you all the best for the next few days. You have been an inspiration to so many people. Keep safe up there and I’ll be looking forward to the next few updates. All my love, Leah
Best of wishes to you both, have thoroughly enjoyed all your reports once again .I wish you every success Paul in your summit bid, and a safe return to BC and Melbourne.Hope the wait at BC is not too lonely for you Fiona.
Regards Donna Thomas
Thinking of you as everyone is Paul. Best wishes for safe and successful summit. Dee Tozer