The Khumbu Icefall

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Today I stood facing the Khumbu Icefall after camping at its base for the first time and after having read about and envisioned it for many years, it is a daunting piece of ice. So the die is finally cast!

Who then are the climbers? In no particular order?Dr Mike Grocott ?Senior Lecturer in Intensive Care Medicine- is our expedition leader. Dr Sundeep Dhillon is our climbing leader and Dr Chris Imray ?vascular surgeon- is deputy climbing leader. Drs Mick O?Dwyer, Nigel Hart and Roger McMorrow make up the Irish contingent. Dr Paul Gunning ?Welsh- and I -South African/Irish- are both consultant anaesthetists from London. Dr Dan Martin is a PhD/Anaesthetic trainee working for CASE and finally Dr Jeremy Windsor makes up the 10th member of the summit party.
We also have 5 support climbers who will be ascending to the South Col. Dr Denny Levett -PhD/Anaesthetic trainee and the boss? wife- and Maryam Khosravi ?medical student- provide the ?glamour and brains? to the outfit. Dr Paul Richards is a GP but has orchestrated the phenomenal power logistics for the expedition. Dr Andre Vercueil, another South African, is an intensivist in London and highly accomplished climber. Finally we have Vijay Ahuja who is a medical student and provides the brawn.

Least we forget, we also have 3 film crew attempting the summit from the BBC and IMAX. And finally our greatest climbing asset is the 20 strong Sherpa team who will ascend into the Western Cym, with 12-13 aiming for the summit.

We are an eclectic bunch to say the least, but the next few weeks should see us forming a strong team. With so many doctors who are used to ?calling the shots? within their own practices, it will be interesting to see how the blend of personalities works out. The principles of the expedition are ?Safety, Science and Summit?. The bulk of the science will be done on the trekkers, an area with which the climbing party will have mixed contact. Up until now, we have been involved in the Xtreme team testing either as subjects or as researchers. As we ascend the mountain, I am sure that the process of ?tuning? oneself in for the summit attempt will start playing a bigger priority, the science being conducted within the safety of the environment we find ourselves at any particular time.

To sign off this time, we are all acutely aware of our physiology and the effect hypoxia has on it. Living for 3 months within the Xtreme Everest ?institution?, in a foreign environment, also results in abnormal flora that our guts are exposed to, different foods and easy transmission of respiratory pathogens. Happy Easter to you all and I am happy to pass on any messages.

Patrick Doyle

Comments on this article

By: Mark Roots	When: 18th Apr 2007 10:43
Hello Jeremy, I have to say I view the site with envy and do wish you all the very best during the expedition!! I wish I was there instead of working here in the office.. Take it easy and climb safely! Mark

By: Danni

When: 13th Apr 2007 23:43

Message for Maryam:

Maz, I cannot believe you are actually doing this!! I've been reading the blogs but there definitely isn't enough mention of you and all the things I'm sure you're getting up to on the side of the mountain! :) More pictures of you too please so I can see you're really ok! The work you are all doing sound amazing. I'm sending good vibes for perfect climbing and results. Missing you tons and tons my darling. Danni xxxx

By: Charlie Loveday	When: 12th Apr 2007 16:04
Dearest Vijay Had a lovely chat with you today. Good Luck with everything and ill do my work and sort everything out...hopefully Missing you love you loads

By: Jim Pengelly

When: 11th Apr 2007 22:18

Wishing you all the very best of luck for the climb. Maryam - did you manage to stop yourself from opening your present until you reached base camp? :-)

Jim P

By: Jeanne Le Roux

When: 11th Apr 2007 13:14

Happy Easter PAT!! horse riding in Burgundy was my easter egg..not as exotic as you....my thoughts are with you all!

Jeanne

By: anand ahuja	When: 9th Apr 2007 21:18
England narrowly lost to Australia.Bangladesh won against SA! Eng. not out of it yet. They must win against Bagladesh-- not a walk-over-- Ask India and SA Keep you posted. Thank you Patrick and all-keep blogs coming. Off to US and will try and follow progress. Anand

By: Arthur Morgan	When: 8th Apr 2007 21:17
Happy Easter to ALL the Team, from a warm South Africa. Mountain Club of South Africa wishes you well ( especially Gwen ).

By: anand ahuja	When: 7th Apr 2007 17:54
Hello all, very best wishes. spectacular photos. Nice to read Vijay's name mentioned in the blog. I am sure you all are having memorable time you will recount to your children and grand-children. Anand

By: Pamela Bryant	When: 7th Apr 2007 13:30
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend Lesley who is on the trek. She is exactly two months older than me and I guess far fitter. Happy Easter all. Pamela

By: Mike	When: 7th Apr 2007 10:15
Hi Pat and Team. Great to hear from you and news on the effects you will start suffering. Hundreds here interested and following closely so please ask all the bloggers to keep posting. J&Q walking at 11 mnths - must be the Doyle genes. Kate well and the poms arrived safely for their safari. Good luck everyone there - Lots of love - Go safely - Mike

By: Pam Chrispin	When: 6th Apr 2007 22:18
Hi Patrick, great to see your brain not too dulled by hypoxia so far, at least you can remember where you come from! Excited that you lot are now estbalished at EBC, hopefully see you in just under 5 weeks, unless we (Trek H) arrive just as you're making your final assault. Best wishes from all at the West Suffolk, careful through that icefall! Pam

By: Cameron Imray	When: 6th Apr 2007 21:59
I would like to say 'Hello' to my father, Chris Imray and wish him well on his ascent of the mountain. Happy Easter, Daddy xxx

By: David Hillebrandt	When: 6th Apr 2007 11:54
Oh........life's hard when you do not work. Just realised no Archers, no wonder, its friday not sunday! Still hot and sunny just like a sunday. Dave H.

By: David Hillebrandt	When: 6th Apr 2007 11:50
Sunday in sunny Devon. Leisurely breakfast, Archers omnibus, may sit in garden marking DMM papers. What a different world but my thoughts are very much with you all. Dave H.

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