Everest South Side Expedition
Tarragona Everest 2003

04-24-03: Getting ready: Early in the morning, two of our climbers have left from Base Camp towards Camps 2 and 3, while 2 climbers who were at Camp 2 have left to Camp 3.  So, all the Tarragonan climbers have climbed to 7,200m.  The rest of the expedition is in perfect shape at Base Camp waiting for the last climber to arrive in the next few days.  As for the weather, it has just started raining and we are waiting for tomorrow's forecast.

Picture of climbers ascending to advanced camps

Anecdote:  Visitors

Today, after lunch, we have been visited by two members of the Vasco-Ecuadorian expedition who surprised us with their great electrical knowledge and have repaired all our speakers (4) that were broken, so now we can have our movie sessions and spend the time that way.  We could also exchange movies (like kids).

Picture of visitors

Picture of Pepe, his wife and Jacob

04-23-03: Arrival of the Tarragonan Trekking Team to Base Camp

On the 22nd at 15:00h Nepal time, the Tarragonan Trekking Team arrived to Base Camp.  Of the 14 members, eight came, the rest remained in the town of Gorashep, some 3 hours from Base Camp.  Among the members of the Trekking Team was the significant other of our doctor (he managed to surprise her). Two expeditioneers are on Camp 2 and they plan to climb to Camp 3 if the weather gives them a chance, although the forecast for the next few days is not good.  The rest of the team is at Base Camp, recovering and waiting for the installation of the fixed lines from Camp 3 to Camp 4.  The 23rd, Saint Jordi, we have celebrated it at Base Camp along with Jordi, the couple of María. Then we have gone with him to Ghora-Shep, where the rest of the Trekking Team was waiting for him and we could say hi to those who could not come the day before. We found there the three technicians from TV3 who climb to Base Camp, Lluis Palahí, Xavier Valls and the radio-link technician.  We shot a souvenir picture with all of them (Trekking and TV3).  Then the Trekking Team has continued to Periche.  We (María and Jacob) have managed to climb Kala Patar (5,570m) and enjoy the view of Everest from there.

Picture of the Trekking Team

Picture of Jordi and María sharing a Saint Jordi cake

Anecdote: The highest rose in the world

We have had at Base Camp the highest rose of Saint Jordi in the planet, because our doctor's couple has brought it to her, bottled in vacuum from Tarragona.  Everyone else has sent a digital greeting, made by Gerard, our technician, showing a rose and a picture of Base Camp to their respective couples.

Picture of María, Jordi and the rose

Picture of the digital greeting

Translated from Spanish by Jorge Rivera

Dispatches