snowy afternoon

First snows
20 April 2005    
Today has been a rest day. Shortly after breakfast a wall of cloud came up the valley, giving us a day of snow, our first for the trip. Gerrard, myself, and Pemba Sherpa made our first trip into the icefall yesterday. We moved independently from the rest of the team. It took two hours for us to reach the start of the fixed rope. Pemba was in front with a yak bell and l put a short rope on Gerrard and coached him through the rolling pressure ridges of solid ice. Two hours up the fixed rope and we crossed our first ladder. Time to turn around now so as to clear the way for the injured expedition leader (leader of the Canadian team, as mentioned in yesterday's dispatch).

Gerrard enjoyed the sensory experience of the icefall and looks forward to moving through to camp two. Gerrard will be the second blind person to try this.
All the best,
Paul Rogers