Berg Adventures 2013 Everest Expedition Dispatch
April 25, 2013 – Clear Skies Below, High Winds at Top
It’s the evening of April 25th at Everest Base Camp. Things look quite different today. It’s the first day in many days that we haven’t had a least a little bit of precipitation. In fact, through the early afternoon, skies were perfectly clear here. We’re getting concerned a bit about winds up high. Our team of course is still resting, recuperating from their first rotation, five days up and thinking about going back. But there’s been a big drawn of climbers and Sherpas move up in the meantime. In fact, we’re getting reports that it’s really quite busy up at the Western Cwm now, in Camp II, and probably the lines will begin to advance up the Lhotse’ face as early as tomorrow. But, as I said, we’re watching the winds.
Our Sherpas, three of our Sherpas, Tashi, Tshering, and A Rita did a carry to Camp II today, and they got back in good order. They carried the last of our oxygen bottles up. But they did report there were considerable winds in Camp II. Todd stayed around Base Camp today, took a shower and enjoyed sun. In the meantime, Daniel and Steve took a hike down to Gorak Shep just to stretch their legs and they returned by midafternoon. By 5 o’clock, when the doctors at our neighboring camp, Base Camp ER closed the clinic. Daniel and I went over, we were joined by Italian climber and the helicopter pilot Simone Moro, and we got a game of mountaineering Monopoly going over with the docs next door. It was quite enjoyable in the late afternoon. Now, it’s time for dinner. I got to go get Daniel and tell him the Monopoly game is over for now… (lost satellite transmission).
Listen to Wally's call
The weather is different today. We have clear skies even in the afternoon.... for the first time in many days.
Simone Moro, Italian climber and Helicopter Rescue Pilot, Dr. Suzi Mackenzie from Scotland and Daniel ready to play Monopoly, Mountaineering Edition.
Soon after we started playing, Wally owned "Mount Everest” and he was also drinking "Everest beer."
Monopoly, Mountain Edition