by Phill Michael
I'm typing from Everest Base
Camp...under clear skies and relatively balmy temperatures. It's like a
moonscape here, but the sky is a rare blue. Outstanding! B^)
I roamed around Gorak Shep this
morning...snapping pictures and generally enjoying being awestruck.
Gorak Shep
Chandra and Buddha looked ready to
motor...so off we went...like the proverbial 'herd of turtles'.
(Click here to see the video
"Burning Along")
I was moving especially slowly today,
so there were lots of opportunities to capture a few images. Nuptse was
particularly active today...shrugging off snow and ice with tremendous
force.
South West Face of Nuptse
The noises of avalanches and serac
fall were our constant companions. I had my closest view of Everest
(from the ground) to date and I was pleased. It's not so high...heh...%^)
Everest behind Lho La and Nuptse
(Click here to see the video
"Mt Everest")
Trundle along we did...and happy as
little clams in the sand we were. (Insert Yoda laugh here...or download
it
here .)
I took quite a few pictures while
walking along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu. Here are some...
On
the Way to Everest Base Camp from Gorak Shep
Trundling Along on Lateral Moraine
South West Face of Nuptse and Glacial Tarn
Walking on the Khumbu Glacier
After lots of heavy breathing and
many calories expended, we were able to see and hear the Khumbu Icefall.
The wind was pouring down through the icefall...making for an ominous,
yet beautiful, sound.
(Click here to see the video
"Khumbu Icefall Wind")
My head was pounding as I crept
along. Chandra and Buddha were carrying much more weight than me, but
were able to move much faster. As we stepped onto the glacier, Kharma
Sherpa came into view with a thermos full of hot tea in his right hand.
Oh ya. Attentive doesn't even begin to describe these Sherpa folk.
Perfecto! =^)
As I looked down into narrow, rock
chocked crevasses and listened to the spinning water in the mill wells,
I was reminded of the thousands of hours I have spent on other
glaciers...and smiled a little smile. Soon we were to be at South Side
Everest Base Camp. Joy! B^)
Kharma Sherpa and the Khumbu Icefall
Kharma was extremely patient and
adapted to my snail's pace quickly. We inched our way along and
finally met up with Dawa...on the verge of camp. Alex was waving from
near the mess tent...and before I knew it...we were there! I was
feeling the altitude...and ready to curl up in my North Face Himalayan
Parka.
Warm
Chillin' at EBC(Everest Base Camp)
I
walked from Lukla to EBC in these...and back
I took my Lifty boots out of my haul
bag...along with the parka...but didn't wear them. I was determined to
walk from Lukla to EBC and back in my open toed Croc sandals. No
problem. Dawa thinks it's never been done. I bet it has?!
Attentive Sherpa were swarming like
bees and slowly I began to feel less exhausted and more energized.
A short while later, Ben and Aga
showed up with tales of getting lost on the glacier, etc. We
watered('tea-d') and fed them and compared stories of hardship and
breathlessness.
Ben
and Aga at EBC
Alex and I decided it was time to
take some bio data with our Altitudetech pulse oximeter...and we watched
the scattered clouds part to reveal the Khumbu Icefall. The icefall was
was doing a nice job of sporting some late afternoon light.
Bio
Data at EBC
Khumbu Icefall with Late Afternoon Light
'Hey...why not test out the satellite
modem', I thought. I knew Alex was keen to call Julia...so we
configured...connected...and smiled once again. Success!
Satellite Communicating from EBC
As the sun set and the stars
displayed their brilliance, we became the Mayors of Campo Satisfaction.
Sherpa Stew was served...food was devoured...laughs were all
around...and we realized that soon we would be nestled inside our
respective Zulu 9 sleeping bags. The Mayors were about to become Wizards
of Warmth...though Everest was the one that was casting the spells
today...
