LaQuishia Stone and the Hanesbrands Team EBC Trek Dispatch
May 1-3, 2010 – From Pheriche to Gorak Shep: Part I
They say acclimatization is the most important thing as you climb higher and higher into the atmosphere on the approach to Everest Base Camp. Now we are moving very slowly and we took two nights at the village of Pheriche, at 14,000ft/4,266m, to allow our bodies to adjust.
We also visited with the doctor at Pheriche, Dr. Eric Nilles. We attended a lecture that he gave on high altitude physiology.
As we moved higher toward Base Camp it began to snow. It was cold! But it was also very beautiful. On our final night before we arrived at Base Camp, Jamie and Scott came down to our lodge at Gorak Shep to visit us.
At Pheriche we visited the memorial for climbers who have been lost on Everest over the years.
Dr Eric. Gave a very informative lecture on how our bodies behave at the lower air pressures of high altitudes.
LaQuishia and Mike Abbot listened to Dr Eric’s lecture.
Later LaQuishia volunteered to be a test subject. Here she is having her oxygen saturation measured before going into a rescue bag.
LaQuishia was a bit nervous going in but still smiling!
The bag is called a Gamov bag and it must be completely closed before air is pumped in to create more pressure.