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April 22, 2001Manantial Everest 2001, We advance in the midst of difficulties. It seems that winter will never end, yesterday as we returned from setting up camp 1 on the north col, our cook greeted us by saying, among other things “ Too much wind, the wind just blew the dinning room tent!” This is the same wind we felt as we had about 300 meters from camp 1. |
We can only imagine what he felt since he was alone our kitchen helper, Shulding, had gone down to Base Camp to attend the other 5 expedition members. Omit, a stocky fellow, who owns his own restaurant in Katmandu loves to cook as much as he hates to walk, “I would rather stay in these conditions for 2 months than to return to base camp”.While Omit was battling with the tents, Fercho, Piton, Manolo and myself, where on our way to camp 1. Although attached to the fixed lines, we had a lot of trouble staying in one place. We constantly had to stop and wait for the tiny ice particles that flogged our backs to subside since it was like standing in front of a hurricane.
We waited with Fercho and Piton for Manolo, who as usual likes to overload himself. It took as a while to find the deposit of equipment left by our Sherpa a few days earlier. We had expected to find more than just a deposit. We had no camp, we borrowed a shovel to install our camp. Usually this job is done by the Sherpa, but today we are Sherpa and clients. In other words what some day used to be called mountain climbers. After a while Manolo reached camp and we found him a place to stay with our friends from the Spanish expedition since they had a tent for 3 and were only two. They really are nice people, not only did they give them a place to stay but gave him food and water.
The next day we set up an additional tent and reinforced the other one where three of us had slept. I think we have left them bomb-proof but I hope the wind feels about it the same way.
As we arrived back to the ABC we also found a message from the Yaktor. “Chief, as we arrived to B.C. we have found all sorts of difficulties, since there is no infrastructure for us here, there is no food and nothing to prepare what we have. Because of difficulties with the communications, the cook for the Spanish feels no commitment towards helping us. Our teammates have had to ask all sort of favors from other expeditions, could you please see how you can help us, in the mean time we will fend for our selves.”
Although we had already reached an agreement with the Spaniards, it seems that the radio communication between the ABC and the BC were faulty and they had not been able to relay the message. We’ll see what we can do for them from up here.
Everest 2001 Lhotse 2001 Expeditions and News
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