Testing day    21 April 2005
Our last rest day today. Packing, hydrating, and to add insult to injury, the girls from Brown University, came by to test us in the realm of remote speech monitoring systems that try to pick up hypox

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 i

Khumbu Icefall    19 April 2005
Crampons bite into the ice on ever changing and often uneven terrain. Concentration and constant awareness are required to ensure as many of the ten crampon points on each foot penetrate the ice evenl

Technical Ice Course    18 April 2005
We awoke to yet another perfect day at BC. The main focus of today was negotiating a technical ice course at the base of the Khumbu Icefall. Paul and Luis rigged ropes over awkward and steep ice terra

Club 02    17 April 2005
This is what happens when you have a rest day and are feeling good! Matt Kitchin, Matt McDonald, Phil, and Brendon were hard at work building a 'deck', of sorts between tents they aptly called

Ladder Training    16 April 2005
Today at BC was all about rest, socialising, trying to kick the 'yucky lurg' and ladder training.

It seems this season more of us than usual have been afflicted by sore throats, head

The times they are a changin    15 April 2005
What a day! The trekkers left us after breakfast, amid a flurry of hugs and well wishes. They are off down valley and will be back in the land of email and indoor plumbing in no time! We wish them all

Base Camp Puja    14 April 2005
It came as a surprise to folks this morning when our first tent night was ended with hot towels and tea in bed! The superb Sherpa staff has continued to spoil us today with Chongba's team serving