Local time: 13 April 20:45
Location: Base Camp
Altitude: 5350
Weather: Sunny in the morning becoming overcast with light snow in the afternoon.
Hi Everyone,
It’s Damien here coming to you from Base Camp!! We have arrived safe and well having walked about 2hrs from Gorak Shep this morning. Other than some mild headaches after we first arrived, we are not experiencing any problems with the altitude.
The Walk to Base Camp
The path to Base Camp is etched into the side of massive piles of loose rock that look like they are the end result of a mining operation. In fact they are naturally occurring having been formed over the years by glacial movement collecting, pushing and finally depositing the rocks down the Khumbu Valley.
About half way to Base Camp we were surprised with a tea and biscuit break. The Sherpas from Asian Trekking who have been here for some time setting up the camp in preparation for us had organized the surprise break and waited for us along the path. We felt very privileged as we rested on the side of the path enjoying our refreshments while other trekking groups walked on by.
Base Camp
Immediately after arriving at Base Camp we were assigned tents and then enjoyed a delicious lunch of steamed, yes steamed sandwiches, chips, coleslaw and fruit. Everyone then busied themselves transforming their empty tents to the homes they will be living in for the next couple of months. For Tim and I this was a much less complicated process as we will only be here for three days before trekking out again. Notwithstanding this we felt the need to renovate our tent by extending the front entrance and adding a rock balcony. This enabled better storage of our bags. Paul has spent much of the afternoon organizing his tent and climbing equipment. All his bags had arrived before us so the porter strike fortunately did not cause any problems.
What is Base Camp like?
Base Camp is much larger and more spectacular than I had imagined. It is at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall and the views directly up the huge icefall are both amazing and intimidating. Base Camp itself sits on top of the Khumbu glacier which makes for an uneven surface of rock and ice. There are many climbing companies from different countries here each with a similar set up to ours – a dining tent, a cooking tent, numerous two man accommodation tents for climbers and trekkers, and a toilet tent. The uneven natural glacier surface means that before each tent could be set up a level platform of rock needs to be built. Fortunately all this work is done prior to our arrival 🙂
The scenery now also starkly contrasts with the green and vibrant views of the lower altitudes. At this altitude no plants, including grass, grow . In every direction we are surrounded by enormous bare rocky snow and ice capped mountains and occasionally we can hear rocks and snow come crashing down.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow we will explore Base Camp and we will take a closer look at the icefall. We will also spend time just relaxing, reading books and playing cards as we acclimatize to the higher altitude.
Your Messages
Harrison,
Thanks for your message. We are glad you are enjoying the website. If you have any questions about Everest please just message us and we will answer them if we can.
Chris,
The pizzas are sensational and have become a staple. Fortunately they are made locally at most lodges as would hate to see what the delivery charge would be from Kathmandu!!!
Mark,
Thanks for the explanation about running water not freezing. It has generated much discussion and solved the puzzle for us. Now that we are at base camp the bottles will be stored upside down.
Ann,
The shower, hot water and opportunity for a shave was sensational!!! We store the water bottles upside down because water will freeze first where it has contact with air. By turning the bottle upside down it will freeze at the base of the bottle and therefore when we want to use it we can turn it right-side-up and the water at the top will not be frozen. Hope this answers your question.
Neil,
Great to hear from you. We are all travelling well. Paul’s sore throat is nearly back to 100%. Tim now has a soar throat though however we are treating it and hopefully it won’t get worse. Wish Marg all the best for her training. We often talk about the fact that in a few weeks a new batch of Harrington / Adlers and Co will be walking the same paths and enjoying the same things we have been. Sorry we are not sure caused the shadows on Google – maybe clouds or shadows from another mountain? Perhaps you are looking at the interface between the old sat photos and the new higher resolution pictures the cover Everest.
Liz,
Thanks for your message. Not long to go now!! We have been having a fantastic time here and it is great that you will get to experience it all for yourself soon.
Regards,
Damien
Hi Guys,
Welcome to BC!! The dispatches have been great thus far. Paul, hope your throat is better. When do you think you will head to C1? Sounds like AT are treating you well.
Alan Arnette
Hi all
Enjoy and get ready for the next leg of your journey, Paul. It must be great having your two brothers with you in BC!
Stay healthy,
MC
“This day may be over but be ready to adapt, improvise and execute for tomorrow is on its way.” mc
Hi Guys,
Well done on making it to Base Camp. Obviously Paul is an old hat at it, but great job Tim and Dame for getting there with minimal training. Sounds like you’ve had a great time along the way too.
P.S. Did you get the spa suite tent or are you only in the deluxe tent?
Brad.
Hi Guys
Congratulations on getting to Base Camp- now for the resting!!
So sorry we missed your call last night- loved hearing your message. We were out with Fiona, Neil, Marg, Beck, Leah and Meals having a farewell dinner for Beck (as she leaves Monday) and Marg.
Glad your throat is fine Paul, how’s yours Tim?
love Dad and Mary
Well done, all of you! you really made it to EBC, this is great!:) hope everybody is feeling OK!?
Unfortunatelly TA is not really well, the doc in EBC said it is time for her to head down valley to get some thick air and R&R as she cannot get completely well there. She asked someone for passing her greetings to you Paul, so here it is: “thank him for sharing his experience of last year. I’ll hopefully meet him when I get back from the Pheriche “spa” :-). Mingma will accompany me down to Periche or Deboche or Pangboche. Our trip leader says it might be good to see trees.”
Do you know how many readers are following you guys? I just cannot believe the number how many reads you get on your post… hundreds for each. I wish your adventure would motivate as many people as possible to get out of their comfy chair and do some trekking.
Mira
Dame, it was great to hear your description of basecamp – really helped us to understand what it all looks like. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention last year but I didn’t realise how rocky it was and, judging by the photos, your description of it being like a mine area sounds spot on. I went out for dinner last night with Beck, Fiona, Mum, John, Marg, Neil and Leah. Had a lovely time and really great to get the chance to say goodbye to marg beck and fiona. Keep enjoying yourselves on what is clearly an amazing experience.
love meals
Hi Paul,
I’ve been following your second climb and feel you’re going to make it this time. Congratulations on making it to basecamp.
My friend, TA Loeffler, just received disappointing news from the doctor that she should return to ‘thicker’ air to recover from the cough which was triggered off again today on exertion climbing the icefall. She will go to a lower level tomorrow with Mingma.
Trudy
Hi Steph, we are eagerly following your route by looking at the website. Congratulations on making it to base camp. we hope you are feeling well and don’t have any sort of stomach bug. We think about you and talk about your journey everyday. Know that you are in our prayers constantly. What a grand adventure!!! Much love, Susan, Hans, Christa, Evan and Karah
Hi Paul, Tim & Damien
Well done on your arrival at Base Camp – I hope that I am as successful as you guys. The photos are great but now they seem a bit scary for me!! Paul, I hope that you are arranging a comfortable bed and a sofa for me to relax in on my arrival – plus a glass of wine!! Fiona & Beck were too busy to climb Doona Buang yesterday so I just went to FTG & today I’ve been for a walk with Jacqui & the 3 dogs. We had a lovely night together last night with dad and Mary and the girls. The time to depart is quickly approaching so I only hope that I will be able to keep up with everyone. Rest now and keep well, love Marg
Hi guys,
Great to hear that you are doing a bit of landscaping around camp, less for we gals to do when we arrive (-: I’ m beginning to feel very under-prepared and overwhelmed but with a bit of luck that won’t translate into reality and I’ll be under control by the 25th. The weather in Melbourne is quite ridiculous. It was 28oC today which makes my pile of warm goodies look like overkill but I think I’ll keep them in the bag! Looking forward to the next instalment and here’s hoping the next stages go well.
Liz.
Hi guys, well done on your successful trek into Base Camp! Glad to hear that you have not suffered too much with the altitude. I really enjoyed your description of the Base Camp surroundings Dame, definitely gives a good picture of what we are in for…the steamed sandwiches sound particularly intriguing. Perhaps you could introduce this new culinary delight to Ballarat (?)
Beck Ad. (Sister)
Enjoying your up dates. Just amazing pictures. Iam not a climber but would like to be there to get a rock to go in my collection. Safe climbing ,take care Frank .Happy Valley Labrador. Canada