NEWS: 12th Sep 2006
 
Onwards and upwards

A snowy and blustery start to the day, as the camp is stripped, and loads prepared for the Yaks to carry to Advanced Base Camp (ABC). Four of us hang back to ensure that the loading goes well. We also have to fashion a safe way to carry a flask of liquid nitrogen- and create a ?litter? using poles from the mess tent.

We set off at a slow pace, and I am enchanted by the silence. Snow fall always deadens sound, and- despite the vast open landscape- this is no different. The track winds and sweeps up and down, with a slow steady gain. Suddenly, the weather clears, and we travel the last 2 hours in glorious sunshine along a wide ridge- the glacier to our right sweeping onwards into Nepal. We swing left, and suddenly Cho Oyu is ahead of us, in a glorious (and, to me, terrifying) splendor.

A little while later, and we find our camp- a new site which the Sherpas have prepared for us, a little way down the valley from other expeditions. It could not be better- and were this a hotel, we would be paying top dollar for the views alone. We even have a drop toilet, although straddling it requires loose seems and ligaments?.

Once installed, we relax, while Mike G, Sundeep and Jon M go off to a ?guides meeting? with other expedition and climbing leaders. They return suitably refreshed, with tales of an extensive bar and ?yak steak sizzlers?.

I retire to bed after gazing at the stars. We are suddenly in the heavens- the milky way really looking like a cream spill into the blackest of coffee, and the stars needle pricks of iced white. I could stand there for ever, but eventually the cold gets to me.