Some of you may remember that in 2013 I helped raise over a million dollars with Wings Of Kilimanjaro for water wells and a school in Tanzania for the Maasai.
On the 20th we rise early and leaving LBC climb past Rock Climb and on through the rocks until we reach the glacier summit. The glacier summit is steep with several fixed line pitches.
Today we rest but I climbed two surrounding peaks looking for NCELL coverage. Nothing. The rest of the day is spent resting and getting ready for tomorrow when we climb back up to the summit, but this time to sleep for two nights.
Leaving Rock Camp, some of us reach the summit in 3 hours. Amazing views and the last hour is a really nice pitch of steep snow with several fixed rope lines.
Finally headed to Lobuche Base Camp and thought about the day before. The Khumba would be closed for the next 4 days and Sherpas would get to go down valley to their villages and reunite with their families.
Today we were supposed to be headed back to LBC to begin two rotations up the mountain and spend two nights on the summit which is at 20,000 ft, but between 6:00 am and 6:30 am, I was awoken in my tent from the loud distinctive roar of an avalanche.
Cold. Very cold. And bleak. Did I mention the cold? Even in the dinning tent we eat with big puffy down jackets and pants. Some wear gloves. When was the last time you struggled to stay warm just eating dinner?
So today we were supposed to go down to Lobuche Base Camp to begin the two rotations up Lobuche to acclimatize. We go here rather than through the Khumba Ice Fall to Camp 1 to avoid the trip up and down through the Khumba Ice Fall.
It’s been extremely cold and snowing every afternoon. The nights are so cold that despite venting the tent, every morning you wake up with condensation inside the tent.
Arrived in EBC in a snow storm. Felt great but stayed with a fellow climber who was really struggling. A lot of climbers struggled with the altitude because EBC is over 17,000 ft.
So we have been without any WIFI or cell phone service since leaving Periche on Wednesday. No idea what’s going on. The Masters has been played and someone has won.
The longest trek of the trip so far is today’s trek up to Periche, a nice tea house with showers and a chance for some laundry. The last of the tea houses for after Periche it’s all tents.
Leaving Khumjung today and headed to Phortse. We drop down into the river valley and cross the river and head back up the otherside to arrive at Phortse. Nice gentle trek with views of Ama Dablam.
News came from Everest Base Camp. The Khumba Ice Fall looks relatively good this year, or so say the Ice Doctors who have already carved, cut, hacked, and laid down the fixed lines and ladders through it.
The hike to Khumjung gives one beautiful views over Namche and one can see how the city is built into the horseshoe hillside. We are climbing a little higher now and getting close to the tree line.
