ABC

I’m pleased to report that everyone has returned safe and sound and in good spirits from two very difficult nights at the North Col. Max was the first to arrive in camp this morning utterly exhausted, dehydrated looking ‘all the mountain man’ after blazing trail through knee deep snow down the Col and falling into a crevasse as he crossed the Rombok glacier.

A warm breakfast of beans, toast and bacon soon sorted him out as he began to recount the previous days adventures and a clearer picture of the hardships the team had endured began to emerge. Throughout the rest of the day other team members continued to make their way down - generally exhausted but ‘buzzing’ from the eventful previous two days which saw tents being blown off the North Col, tents buried in snow, avalanches, lost gear due to high winds, near frost-bite, a team member falling into another crevasse, problems lighting wet matches, patience required to boil water, boil-in-a-bag horrors….. Everyone was happy that this ‘stage’ - the 2 nights at the North Col - had been completed and were eagerly looking forward to heading down to enjoy the luxuries of Base Camp.

Unfortunately for Matt, Pete and I, our time was still to come. While the others slept soundly enjoying the oxygen rich air of ABC, I spent a sleepless night worrying about the coming few days…