Logistics team update

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The weather forecast couldn?t have been more wrong, as we basked in the warm sunshine on the veranda at the back of the dining tent (now referred to as the ?BBC Terrace?!), drinking Sherpa tea and eating bowls of porridge.

Mike Grocott called in.

?The team left at around 8:00am,? he said. ?Some of them will be there at 11:30, the rest anywhere around 2:00pm.?

With a few hours to go before the climbers arrived back in camp, we decided that it was time to do some washing. I had fixed the gas shower again using the Thortex Repair kit for the Sherpas and they had now connected an electric water pump to the shower, powered by a very old looking generator that Imax had given up on. I had watched in bewilderment as bits of wire were attached to various electrical things and then water started to flow up towards the shower.

?Hello Mac. Is it ?doby? day??

It was Graham.

?Yep, thought it was about time I washed my stinking socks!?

He had arrived back in Base Camp looking absolutely shattered. The climb back down the icefall had taken him just a few hours, as he was keen to get through it before there were any avalanches or falls. Half way through their descent, Mike had called out to Andre with some concern as he had seen a large avalanche hit in their vicinity. Luckily, both he and Maryam were clear of the falling debris and no one was injured.

It wasn?t long before the other climbers started to limp into camp, looking exhausted and relieved to be back in the comforts of Base Camp. Even though we are at 5300 meters, living under canvas and coping with temperatures down to -20 degrees, it must seem like luxury compared to what they had to put up with at Camp 2.

Lunch was quickly served for the returning heroes of the hour. Hot soup, chips, beans and hot-dog sausages were up for grabs, along with copious quantities of cheese as requested. There was also not a slice of Spam to be seen either (also requested!).

They were all very pleased to hear that the shower was fully operational again and soon disappeared to their tents to return with wash bags in hand!

It wasn?t long before Base Camp resembled a ghost town as more and more of the climbers sought the refuge of their beds for the remainder of the afternoon. The sky was turning black and large cumulus clouds grew menacingly in the distance to the south of us.

It did look like snow and as the sky grew blacker, we put on our down jackets and waited for the impending storm. Maybe I was right, but after all, I was just the messenger, not the forecaster.

Dinner was a very civilised affair, served with both red and white wine! Not having drunk any quantity of alcohol for over a month, it only took a small glass to put most of the team in the party mood! Gwen however decided that she would have a whole 2 glasses and this meant that on retuning to the dining tent after a loo visit, she woke up wedged between two rocks ? maybe it was time for her to turn in for the night?!

With much joviality, the party continued until the wee small hours. There was a real sense of team spirit as we talked of events above and below the icefall. I thought that the sense of camaraderie on Cho Oyu II was good, but here at Everest Base Camp, it?s even better.

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Blog by Mac Mackenney