Berg Adventures 2013 Everest Expedition Dispatch
April 19, 2013 – Team is Living Well after Four Nights in the Western Cwm
It is called the "Valley of Silence". The Western Cwm was named by George Mallory when he viewed it from the Lho La in 1921. Our team established Camp I at an elevation of about 19,100ft/5823m, in the vaguely defined area where the Icefall stops and the flat expanse of the "Valley of Silence" begins. The photos the climbers sent down will show that there are many big crevasses and much challenging glacial terrain past Camp I.
For two nights now the team has been living comfortably at Camp II, elevation approximately 21,500 feet. They will spend one more night at Camp II, and then descend on Saturday back to Base Camp for rest.
This will complete what Everest climbers commonly called the "First Rotation" on the mountain.
Today the Sherpas brought us this collection of photos that Steve, Todd and Daniel have taken in their first days climbing and living above the Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest.
Lead Climbing Sherpa at our Camp I, 19,100ft/5823m above sea level, at the top of the Khumbu Icefall
The view from Camp I shows that there are still many crevasses to go and the imposing Lhotse face lies beyond
Packing up at Camp I
Daniel ready to start from Camp I
Bound for Camp II
For the move up the Western Cwm between Camp I and II Todd pendleton had his warm down jacket at the top of his pack, just in case.
Steve holds the rope taut for Daniel on a ladder crossing as the team moves between Camp I and II.