14 NOVEMBER 2013 - EVEREST BASE CAMP!!!

Thursday (14th November) – today the team splits in two. Jake, Andrew and Richard (+ Tendy, Babu, Rabindra + Dawa (our specially-commissioned climbing sherpa) head off for Lobuche High Camp (5290m). They will rest and train for a summit bid (Lobuche East (6119m) at 0600hrs Friday 15th November. They will start their climb at midnight 14th.The likely temperature will be minus 15 deg C. Much of the ascent will be in darkness. Jake will update the blog in a few days’ time once he (and the climbing team) has returned from the dead (so-to-speak). Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Steve, Jon and Dave (+ Chirri and Ganesh) head north, up the Khumbu Glacier, via Gorak Shep (5140m) and arrive at the utterly desolate spot which is the modern-day Everest Base Camp (5364m) around 1420hrs. There is a real sense of achievement all around. The trek to EBC from/to Gorak Shep is wild and the nearest thing to actually climbing in the High Himalaya. For Jon and Dave it is their first (and probably last) experience of this extraordinary and iconic place. For Steve, this is his 4th visit (I’m getting too old for this –truly). Elation fuels our return to a hot drink and a resuscitating bowl of soup back at the Tea Lodge. As we sit in the warmth of our lodgings we think of our buddies high up the freezing mountain. May God protect them.