Thank goodness for logistics

11 messages :: read>

I am sitting in my office, listening to Miles Davies. You may think that I have miraculously transferred back to Archway, but in fact this is courtesy of the fantastic Logistics team that we have here. I am sitting in a Drash shelter, at a wooden table, with my laptop, printer, Ipod and speakers, and laminator on it. We have mains power, most of the time, and it is roughly comparable to being in a normal office, without the cold and lack of oxygen, of course.

We have been at base camp for three nights now, and yesterday was particularly cold as it snowed in the afternoon. The views are amazing (another difference from the Archway office!). The ice fall, that our climbers will have to navigate in a few days looks awesome, and definitely not to be taken lightly.

More and more climbers are arriving and setting up camp, and trekkers from all parts of the world are ambling through to look at the ice fall. We have had visitors ourselves, in the form of some of the Young Everest Study investigators. Also, a Consultant from Charing Cross hospital.

Mike Grocott is very pleased with how things are going so far. The research is on schedule, despite temperamental machinery, and everyone is working well together. Tomorrow, we will have a Puja ceremony first thing. This is the blessing ceremony that appeases the Goddess of Mount Everest.

I had mixed feelings when I first arrived at base camp. I was pleased that I had finally reached our destination, but nervous about the fact that we will be here for at least eight weeks in an extreme environment. Temperatures are dropping to -20 at night, and I am getting extremely cold feet despite my boots which are supposed to cope with temperatures down to -40.

Still, it being Easter Sunday today, we had an Easter Egg hunt, with BBC guy ob Liddel acting as a superb Easter Bunny at 06.30. Happy Easter to one and all.

Post a comment on this article...

 Open message form

Comments on this article

Blog by Kay Mitchell