Valerio Massimo Everest Expedition 2009

Me on the summit of Cho Oyu with Everest in the background

Base Camp – Day 2, sunshine…

April 10th, 2009 by Valerio

Finally arrived at our Everest Base Camp yesterday in a blizzard, although it is good to be here, reunited with all my stuff that came from Kathmandu via yak and the end of daily packing.  We are now at 5,300 meters.

 

We left Dingboche on Tuesday morning in brilliant sunshine and with a completely snow covered landscape, as it had dumped 30cm overnight – it was stunning.  We trekked up past the memorial chortens – this is where all the Sherpa’s and western climbers who died climbing Everest are remembered.  Many famous and experienced names on the various plaques, beautiful yet once again very sobering, given almost 300 people have died on the mountain.

 

Soon after we arrived in our Lobuche Base Camp, where we spent two nights acclimatising to 4,950 meters.  Here at last we are in a ‘controlled environment’ – i.e. hygiene.  Many of the team are sick in some way, including all but one of the guides, so it is important to get out of the tea-houses, and Lobuche village itself is actually built over an open sewer – nice.  Russell (Brice), who had been delayed due to weather in Kathmandu stormed into camp after an improbable trek straight from Khumjung, and promptly left for Everest Base Camp at 6.15 the next morning – even the guides were shamed.  He’s an animal.

 

We left early yesterday morning and arrived at our Everest Base Camp in a howling blizzard.  Not having wanted to carry my massive down jacket I hunkered down in what I had in my pack (not much), and waited for the yaks.  To keep warm those of us that got in early helped the sherpas with some of the camp work.  Finally five hours later the yaks arrived and I got into my walking sleeping bag of down trousers and jacket, Michelin-man style.  As you can see from the picture below, people ‘dress up’ for dinner – last night was minus 20 centigrade.

 

This morning I was woken at 7am to ‘bed tea’, which is basically hot tea and a hot towel to wake you up.  Mornings are hard – you are comfy in your sleeping bag but the condensation from your breath, which freezes to the roof of your tent during the night, starts dripping down on your head as the rising sun melts it, and almost everything is just a little wet, including my head.

 

Poking my head out of the tent I found brilliant sunshine and staggering views, although the actual summit of Everest is hidden behind its west shoulder.  We are in a ‘dead end’, a sort of horse-shoe shaped ring of high mountains, truly as someone once put it, ‘in the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods’.

 

We have been advised to rest today.  There are a few people really feeling the altitude, either walking around like zombies or lying in their tents.  I’ve been lucky and feel fine – touch wood that it continues…

 

So we’re finally here – home until June.  The camp is a hive of activity as it is still being finished and Discovery Channel have started filming today.  The infamous icefall looms, menacing and ever present, right in front of us.

 

For now over and out from EBC – more updates soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me at the Sherpa chorten memorial with Ama Dablam behind

Me at the Sherpa chorten memorial with Ama Dablam behind

Arrival at our Everest Base Camp on a snowy and windy afternoon - the view from my tent

Arrival at our Everest Base Camp on a snowy and windy afternoon - the view from my tent

 

Chris Macklin and David Tait, dressed for dinner (it is cold here).  Note David's bandana - paranoid about getting sick

Chris Macklin and David Tait, dressed for dinner (it is cold here). Note David's bandana - paranoid about getting sick

Day 2 sunshine!  Team doctor Monica Piris with Everest's west shoulder (the summit is hidden) and the infamous Icefall behind

Day 2 sunshine! Team doctor Monica Piris with Everest's west shoulder (the summit is hidden) and the infamous Icefall behind

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12 responses so far ↓

  • We read the latest posting today, and Jemma and Piglet were so impressed by Valerio’s tales of cold, discomfort and hardship, and by the pictures of thin tents on a frozen wasteland. They were imagining what kind of super-prince it would take to withstand the world’s bitterest elements.
    It was SUCH a SHAME therefore to break it to them that, when Valerio called me from the sat phone this morning, he told me that their camp is the most luxurious at the base… they have a wide-screen TV, a DVD player and cinema seating. All of which was brought up from Lukla over the last 9 days by a family of barefoot sherpas.
    The entire team may be in ‘the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods’ but only Valerio has actually packed his throne.

    A, J, P x

    BTW: Big shout for the latest innuendo-fest: apparently a hard morning leads to everything being a little wet as Valerio pokes his head out. Phnar..

  • Wow, how many people are there at Base Camp altogether – is Discovery Channel filming your ascent or there independently? Apologies if I’m being slow – didn’t realise there was a TV crew there too…The photos look absolutely beautiful.

  • Brilliant progress Valerio. We are as excited as we can be, still at home here. Your pics and comments are an inspiration and make me wonder if there is any age limit on such an expedition?! We are all following you with the greatest of interest and enthusiasm.
    Greetings and Happy Easter from all of us here at home land.

  • Happy Easter! Got your messages but cannot get through to you on any line, I am now in Geneva so please try +41228602010 or +41792004562 when you can. xx

  • I am glad to see even at Base camp the Ray Ban Aviators are putting in an appearance!
    Remember the factor 50 every day, the red beard won’t stop Rudolph from appearing!

  • Team Doctor Monica Piris looks a bit of alright…say hi from me.

    Px

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    спасибо!!…

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    thanks for information!!…

  • .

    спс за инфу!!…

  • .

    спс за инфу!…

  • .

    thanks for information!!…