2015
7 Nov – starting our summit attempt
Breakfast is served at 730am, we are aiming to leave base camp at 8am. We all meet in the mess tent. Xav is pretty much done with his packing, Glenn seems to be as well, I feel a little behind in selecting the gear and what to take, what to leave behind. There is already […]
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6 Nov – rest day and anticipation
The pressure is slowly increasing. Today is our second rest day but we all know that tomorrow we start the final push. We have to start packing tonight to make sure all the critical gear is in the bag without carrying too much. 1 item forgotten could compromise the summit push.
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5 Nov – 40th birthday in the mountains!
Today is a rest day (as well as tomorrow) in order to recover from the past 3 days of very high altitude, and to build red blood cells, it’s a critical step of the acclimatisation and an important milestone of the expedition. I like the way Chris puts it: “your body has taken a hit […]
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4 Nov – Camp 2 to Base Camp, the long rocky way down
it’s 9am and we are packing. The usual morning routine (by now you all know it): melt snow, drink hot, eat a freeze-dried porridge or cereal of your choice, freeze your ass when you get out of the 32 degree inner sleeping back to the outside -10 degree world in your undies and t-shirt, get […]
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3 Nov – Mountaineering to Camp 2 – the real deal! – 5500m to 6100m
Today is the real deal. We wake up and start the morning routine of melting snow, preparing ‘breakfast in a bag’, eating, packing our huge down sleeping bags, stuffing our backpacks, dressing for the weather (sunny but cold). We hit the slope for a 600m / 5 hours ascent. Ice axes are not required for […]
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2 Nov – Mountaineering to Camp 1 – 4900m to 5500m
9am start to camp 1. It’s a long day of walking in altitude towards camp 1. I think I make it in 4:58′ a little after Chris and just before Xavier and Glenn who follow around 20 minutes later. We all have our rhythm and pace and it’s important to listen to our body in […]
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1 Nov – Rest day & Patrick helicopters back to KTM
Today is a very sad day for all our team as we are loosing Patrick. He has been sick for the past couple days and is helicoptered out of base camp to Kathmandu. Patrick has been the coordination leader of our group of four guys, has done an awesome job liaising with Adv Peaks and […]
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An inspiring email from Lorraine
I want to share with you an inspiring letter from Lorraine. She has followed us from the beginning of this trip, supported our efforts, donated to our charity campaign and been cheering for us all along. Thank you so much for your support Lorraine! — Dear guys, I take this opportunity to congratulate you all […]
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31 Oct – Mountaineering to Camp 1 – 4900m to 5500m
Beautiful day out, great dark blue skies. First section down the Moraine is tricky with a rope and icy slope. Then 2 hours to cross the moraine, which is very tricky, slippery and windy path. Patrick leaves us at the end of the moraine, he is feeling sick and has had headaches for the past […]
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30 Oct – Base camp day 1 – Puja and training
Puja in the morning, the local Lama comes from Phu village with his assistant. After setting up the offerings around the altar, the lama starts singing the prayers. We are all gathered around, surrounded by 6-7000m mountains. It is surreal. The clouds and sun mix together in an atmosphere far from our own worlds. We […]
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