53rd day of the
Brazilian Expedition to the Top of the World.
Base Camp (5,400m). The time for the final attack has come.
The atmospheric pressure has stabilized. The weather is good. The
weather forecast is very good. All the team is enthusiastic. The
will to accomplish our objective is immense. We have no doubt, the
time for the final attack has come.
That is why today
was a Sunday for rest, and also for concentration and preparation
for our attack to Everest and Lhotse.
We decided
something more important, to forget the other expeditions. If, for
instance, we coincide in the final moments, that's fine, but making
plans depending of the Japanese and the Koreans is not very
encouraging, because these expeditions don't inspire much trust. In
fact, the Sherpas of all the expeditions have the big desire to be
together, but I advised ours not to count on it.
I write today's
Online at dusk. It is now 17 hours and 50 minutes here in Nepal,
exactly 9 hours in the morning in Brazil. The sky is loosing its
blue intensity, but it is calm. The sun doesn't touch our tents
anymore, just slightly the higher parts of the mountains, which look
golden. The twinkle of one or another star can be seen, it is
getting dark fast.
From our chorten,
which can be seen in yesterday's picture, with its dangling prayer
flags, irradiates a dense smoke that is scenting everything around.
Bouquets of ginepro and fistfuls of burning incense, like an
offering to the gods, asking for a safe final attack with a
guaranteed success. The Sherpas, and each one of us, have a
contemplative and hopeful look.
I invite you
also to say a prayer! For our final attack to be a success, to be a
great Brazilian victory! Let God light our way and give us
strength, and protect us! Amen!
In today's
picture, the pyramid of Everest, as seen from Kala Pattar, 5,600m,
which we climbed before we got to Base Camp. (next
dispatch which is also up...) |
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