Everest North Side Expedition:  Adventure Peaks

 Current Tibet Date/Time

Report No 7 -  6th May: The team are currently all safe and well at BC. Everest has been seriously hit by over 100 mile winds causing extensive damage to tents and camps. Our team have been lucky in terms that they haven’t lost any tents at BC and ABC, as some expeditions have been reported to have lost everything and have had to abandon any chance of summiting. We are waiting for the winds to drop before the Sherpas can go to the North Col to check the tents there and at 7500 meters camp. A summit bid for the 10th May, is now out the question. The team will wait at BC for the weather to come good.

3rd May: We are all back at BC since Friday. Since our last report, the majority of the team have spent two nights on the north col at 7010m.The weather was good during the morning but heavy snowfalls followed for both afternoons. Sharing 2 and 3 to a tent was an experience ! I managed to survive 2 nights sandwiched between Conan and Phil, we hardly had space to breathe and enjoyed frosty condensation dripping down on us in the morning. The slightest movement and we rolled into each other. Phil and I even managed a few boxing matches during the night to gain extra space due to all the space that Conan had managed to capture.

Every little task is an effort at altitude but we managed. We all ventured up the North Ridge during our two night stay at the North Col, some higher than others but all reaching new personal height records of up to 7600m. The views are spectacular from here for the brief moments before the next snow storm arrived. It was quite crowded on the col and this will only get worse. Collecting snow and boiling water is a lengthy process up here, but we all enjoyed lots of hot drinks, cupa' soups and boil in the bag meals. Our Sherpa team were with us as always and starting to transport gear to camp 2 at 7800m and preparing supplies for 8200m camp.

It was great to descend again to the relative comfort of ABC. Peter descended straight to BC deciding that beer and chicken was the lure to get there. Wallid departed North Col first, 2 sleepless nights not suiting his temperament at all. Phil looked after me on the descent and Conan passed by with the video ready at all times. At one stage Peter tried to get rid of Wallid but only succeeded in ripping the flysheet with his iceaxe.

So here we are at BC, resting and relaxing before our summit bid. Dave had a bad cough and did not go to the North Col this time. He is now on antibiotics and we are all here together in good shape. We are at BC at the right time as the winds have increased dramatically, the jetplume is in its glory and the weather forecast for the next few days is not good with winds as strong as 140kmh.

Hopefully the weather will improve in one weeks times for a possible summit attempt by the team ! Patricia.

Dispatches