Logistics team blog

1 message :: read>

?Mac, are you awake, it?s Rhys. We?re going now??

?Certainly am. Be careful, don?t do anything stupid and although it might seem like a busy place, it?s pretty remote and dangerous. See you in about 7 days.?

It was a glorious morning and for the first time in a long while the clouds didn?t appear at their usual time of midday. In fact it was so warm that the two Marks were sunbathing on a large rock next to their tent. I went over and joined them and the three of us were chatting away whilst enjoying the pleasant morning sun. Looking down the valley to the south, it?s the most stunning of views, with vast 7000 meter peaks rising above the glacial moraine and ice.

Lunch came and went and still the snow didn?t arrive. Maybe it would be a good day after all. I settled into the workshop and started work on a new ?key? that David Coates wanted for the bike calibrator. I had tried to make one out of an Allen Key, but the metal was so hard that I snapped 6 hacksaw blades in the process of trying to cut the metal. Instead I opted for a bar that is used for removing and tightening the spark plugs in the generator.

Taking the 8 inch long round bar, I had to turn it into a 1 inch long square bar of exactly the right dimensions. Holding the bar securely onto the workbench using a pair of Mole Grips, I carefully filed away on four sides, until eventually I had what I wanted. Once done, it was a simple case of cutting the bar to length.

I walked over to the Laboratory, where I presented the finished work to Dave. He was absolutely delighted and over the moon with what I had made.

?I?ll put this in a frame when the expedition is over? he joked.

With my work done for the day (yes, that?s pretty well all I did!), I called Lisa for a chat.

?Call me back?? I said as soon as she answered.

At around ?1:00 per minute, maybe more, I didn?t want to be on the phone too long. 5 seconds worth, that?s OK.

Lisa tried to call, but every time I pressed the button to answer, it all went dead. Eventually I gave up waiting and called her back.

?I?ve just received a copy of the new Bloc Eyewear catalogue and you?re in it four times! Three of them are full page A4 photos!?

I was chuffed. It would appear that the photos I provided from Cho Oyu II and taken by our Expedition Photographer, Paul Gunning, had been used throughout the catalogue. I can?t wait to see it and I?m sure that Paul will be very proud of his work.

As a newly published ?Male Model? (that?s pronounced mod..ell!), I strutted around the camp feeling rather pleased with myself!

?Form an orderly queue if you want my autograph!? I announced to the girls!

3:30 and the snow started. Well at least it was an hour and a half later than normal! It might have been late, but it was wet and cold and with the wind blowing, it was like a blizzard outside.

Boy, was it cold. Amazingly enough the temperature has risen quite markedly, but this has meant the snow that falls is a lot wetter than it has been. Allied to the fierce winds that are blowing though Base Camp and all in all the result is that we are cold all the time.

I fought my way back to the workshop tent, keeping my head down to protect my eyes from the blasting snow. As I reemerged, Kay called me over who was standing next to a figure dressed in Caudwell Xtreme clothing.

?Hi Mac.?

I looked over, but with his sunglasses on didn?t recognise the character. It was Andy Luks, who had trekked up with group E. I walked over and said hello, then set about helping him get things ready for his testing the next morning.

Post a comment on this article...

 Open message form

Comments on this article

Blog by Mac Mackenney