Camp 2 - 6377meters; 20,917feet
    
19 April 2005

Camp 2 - 6377meters; 20,917feet

The crew is learning what it means to have to fend for themselves at this high elevation. This morning I woke everyone up around 6:30 am so that they could be ready when the sherpas arrived from BC to help carry their personal gear to Camp 2. As it was when the sherpas arrived about half an hour early and so we got off just after the sun reached our camp.

The walk today weaves in and out of some very large crevasses. In fact the longest ladder we had to cross the entire trip was today - 3 sections horizontal across a seemingly bottomless abyss. Otherwise the walk was very enjoyable. Our camp is located abut midway along the line of Camp 2. Remember there are as many as 20 or more expedition using Camp 2 on their way to climb both Everest as well as Lhotse.

After we arrived in Camp 2 we heard that some one broke their ankle near Camp 1 today. They were rescued and returned safely to Base Camp where there are plenty of doctors. Now Camp 2 is another matter. Small injures can cause real problems. We are all trying our best to stay healthy and in good physical shape - a real trick at above 20,000 feet.

Right after dinner a sherpa from another camp came by to ask for my help with another sherpa who had damaged his shoulder. Their camp is located above ours about 500 ft but that takes about 30 Minutes in the dark at this altitude . I was able to reduce the sherpas shoulder and get him resting comfortably. This she pa is a friend of mine so I know how important it is to him to be able to use his right arm.

The incident with the broken leg in the icefall and the injured shoulder at Camp 2 reminds us all that we need each other to be successful in the mountains no matter what expedition we are part of in the beginning.

Tashi Delek,
JMW