Acclimatisation (continued)

The way the afternoons’ scenario played out would have been a perfect skit for ‘The Muppets Climb Everest’ or an opening chapter in a modern day version of the mountaineering classic, ‘Rum Doodle’.

The team consisting of Josh, Keith, Noel, Stephen, Tim and myself set out clamouring over the flat boulder-strewn terrain sporting harnesses, backpacks full of rations, a 50metre rope and about 100 gigabytes of memory cards to document the great adventure.

Heavy breathing echoed through the valley as the team climbed higher and higher over the moraine, stopping only to take the 137th obligatory Everest photograph or catching ones breath after sliding down the steep sand slopes. Stephen and Josh fixed a rope on a steep technical section while the team looked on and topped up their tans.

“Watch and learn boys” shouted Josh as he jumared and abseiled his way up and down the rope while Stephen (also known as Spiderman) manoeuvred his way along the flat face of a giant boulder.

A plume of spin drift circled above Everest. The team then went on to prepare to shoot some action-driven, patriotic mountain footage for a rugby game at Twickenham - a performance worthy of an Oscar- while stunt-doubles, hair, make-up and photography were held on stand-by poised with their Zinc sticks in hand.

Following the filming, high-fives were performed all round as it was decided that some reconnaissance was required to check up on an impressionable young American team mate, young Max, who had decided to go for a polar dip in one of the ice-cold bright turquoise glacial lakes between the moraines. Amidst loud cheers of ‘USA, USA’ (which set off a small rock-slide), Max did a swan-dive of Olympic quality into the blue-green waters and resurfaced with a triumphant bow under the glowing sun, thereby confirming his newly bestowed title of “Maximuscle”.

The remainder of the acclimatisation exercise was spent skipping stones across the glacial lake, making (and losing) bets (Josh) whilst basking in the sunlight, regularly topping up on SPF to avoid the dreaded “racoon-eyes tan” already sported by some members of the team. After about an hour, it was remarked that it was time for tea so the team packed up their bags, adjusted their ropes and headed back to camp, pleased with their progress and mentally preparing for the journey ahead.