April 11: With a brand new 4WD they go on the adventure drive to BC. The average speed is 10 miles per hour. At the Rongbuk monastery they stop to visit a prayer session. Only a couple of dozen monks live in the monastery. It looks like a tourist site. From here it is only a 30 minutes, slow motion roller coaster, ride to BC.

Wilco is really impressed by the view on Everest. Several teams are in BC already but our first concern is our cargo. We count al our 16 barrels, a sac and a crate and are happy that everything has arrived. On a nice flat part we put our tents. We work slowly due to the altitude. The Sherpa's put up the dining tent and cook tent. Hans informs the TMA about the Yaks to be available at the 14th . Hans and Wilco want two days of rest before going to ABC. They get 34 Yaks. It looks like everything will go according to the plan. After this good news Hans grabs a sac of peanuts and joins Wilco in his tent. Both are happy to be in BC. 

Everest Base Camp

April  12: The weather today is not as beautiful as yesterday. Quite some snowfall. They install the solar panels and put up a communication tent for the equipment. The second sat phone will go to ABC. The first aid kit is split in two to be put in the backpacks. Many Yaks and Tibetans are already in BC. Hans looks after the food and his own gear. Adrian, one of the two American climbers on their shared permit, complains about the coughing (due to the dry air and altitude) he suffered from all night. According to Wilco it will be everybody's turn ones. When Wilco overlooks the teams present in Basecamp he thinks that he and Hans prepared themselves in a professional way. It is going to be an exciting two months, and they want to go for it.