ABC - The boys go up

It was absolutely sweltering and I contemplated attempting to be the first person to climb the North Col in a bikini… Fortunately, I’d left my boots and gear inside of my tent and my role that morning was purely for purposes of ’hair and make up’ -- I was the photographer and also carried some extra water and snacks before one of the final ascents up the North Col before the ’Big Day’ in mid-late May.

ABC

I’m about 120% positive that my least favourite part of the trip up to ABC is the section of the Moraine Superhighway following the stay at interim camp.

Interim Camp (IC)

I brushed the old sooty cigarette butts to one side of the tent with my mittens and threw down my ‘North Face Blue Kazoo” sleeping bag. The smell of old, damp cigarettes, stale body odour and yak dung made me wonder whether splitting the 20km walk up to ABC from BC had been a wise move.

Base Camp

We’re now in the tail end of our final day at Base Camp before heading back up to ABC tomorrow. We’ve spent 5 days here recovering from our first venture up to 7000m and are now feeling sufficiently ‘rested, fed and watered’ to attempt yet another Everest milestone - 2 nights at the North Col and a trek up to 7800m before returning back down to the luxuries of Base Camp in about 6 days time.

Basecamp - When Nature Calls

I don’t’ think that an account of this Everest adventure would be complete without an overview of a topic which is discussed regularly in excruciating detail during nearly all mealtime conversation. Toilets.

Tragic News

We just received tragic news passed down from the Sherpas at ABC. A Hungarian climber has tragically been killed at what our team has dubbed ‘The Cave’ - a large cave-like ice formation about mid-way up the North Col. The ‘cave’ collapsed as the climber passed in front of it. Devastating news and everyone at camp is again reminded of the ultimate power of the mountain and that no matter how fit, how strong, there are greater forces at play.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the climber, his family and those affected by these tragic events. For the first time in 26 days I’m feeling ‘homesick’ and look forward to calling my parents this evening.

Showering at Basecamp

Today I washed.

Basecamp Lethargy

Yawn. Stretch. Repeat. Sunday morning. Bliss.

Walk back down to Basecamp

North Col Day - 7000m

Armed with my ‘Big Girl Boots” trekking poles, several layers of down, and the most positive attitude that I could muster up under the freezing cold windy conditions I began my 1.5 hour ‘slog’ to “Crampon Corner” and then onto the headwall of Everest North Col. It was 8:30am, about 40 minutes later than I’d planned to depart but I just couldn’t find the energy to ‘kick start’ the engine. I think I was missing my Starbucks vanilla latte and the morning papers to help get me in ‘the zone’.