52nd day of the
Brazilian Expedition to the Top of the World.
Base Camp (5,400m). Our dearest Base Camp.
We are trying to
relax, now that we are at Base, but our minds are on the higher
altitudes of Everest and Lhotse. We imagine our progress towards
the Top of the World, we have in mind all the details and we pray
God, every moment, for the weather to improve.
We are sure that
this descent to Base was more than convenient. The weather forecast
promises an improvement next Monday, so we have a deserved rest, a
great opportunity to renew our energies and, believe it, just a day
at Base is enough to make us feel brand new again.
One of the
advantages of Base is that we are at 5,400m, which is not low, but
it is an environment at least a thousand meters below Camp 2, where
we have more air to breathe, that is why we feel better here, we
sleep better.
Another great
advantage of Base is our competent cook Kurman. In our higher camps
we have to melt snow to eat, generally junk food. Here at Base,
Kurman fixes us a series of meals, always served in abundance.
Today, besides meat, we had beans, rice and polenta at lunch,
indispensable Brazilian goodies for the higher camps and, for
dinner, capeletti with a nice tomato sauce, and some parmesan
cheese. And also let's not forget hydration, as important as eating
in high altitudes, and a variety of teas and juices are always
present at Base.
Also important
is that every climber has his own tent at base, while in higher
camps, we pack 3 or 4 of us in each one. One tent just for you is
important for your moments of privacy, there you have your personal
items, family and friends mementos and you can sleep as you please,
you can listen to music and read.
At Base we have
a restroom, we leave the mountain and our conscience clean. We even
have a shower. Today I had a delicious hot shower, I put on clean
clothes and clipped my nails. Simple things when you are in a city,
but here in the heart of the Himalayas they have a special meaning,
improving a lot anyone's moral.
Yes, we love our
Base Camp, where we've been 36 days, but during this time, our mind
is always in the higher altitudes of Everest and Lhotse, where we
want to be next week, to finally, be able to go back to our real
Base Camp, our home, also known as BRAZIL. |
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