 Mt. Everest journal entry:
April 23, 2009
Typical Day at Base Camp
“I wake up about 5 a.m. following in Dad’s
footsteps as an early riser. I hear the
distant rumble of rock slides and avalanches
coming from the steep slopes that surround
base camp. We are safe on our rock and ice
plateau. It is already light, so I peer
around the tent at the dozen photos I have
displayed in the net pockets, of family and
loved ones. I reread the cards and notes of
encouragement that I keep safely tucked
inside a Ziploc bag. My fingers and nose
are cold, so I snuggle back into my –25
degree rated sleeping bag, and enjoy the
warmth until about 7:30 a.m. when the sun
heats up the tent. Pee bottle, tooth
brushing, wet wipe clean up, and sunscreen
application, all prepare me for the day. I
hear muffled coughing in the distance, as
climbers with the “Khumbu Cough” clear their
throats. I am one of them. The Sherpas
have been busy at work and ring the 8 a.m.
breakfast bell. Off to the dining tent for
tea, oatmeal, eggs, meat, and toast. Our
group of 14 climbers and 5 guides share
stories of restless nights, stomach
ailments, and headaches as we refuel our
bodies. Today is a rest day, so our only
activity consists of hiking to “downtown”
base camp, about 20 minutes away to purchase
an apple pie from the bakery tent. The warm
smells bring back memories of pancake
Sundays back home. The remainder of the day
is spent resting, relaxing, and
reorganizing. I take a small bag of laundry
to one of the Sherpa, and he washes it for
me. Later, I see it spread out on the rocks
to dry. The next day with about $5 spent, I
have clean”ish” clothes. I sign up for my
15 minute email time slot and wait in the
queue to connect with loved ones back home.
It is not my day for the once a week shower,
but I sign up on a wait list, so as not to
miss my turn. Around 5, the bell rings
again for tea time. Cheese, crackers,
salmon, and snacks are set out for all to
enjoy. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and is an
eclectic mix of foods. Pizza, pasta, momos,
artichoke hearts, soup, and salad, are all
served at the same meal tonight. Each meal
ends with a bowl of canned fruit adorned
with some kind of cookie or cake. We finish
dinner in about an hour, as we listen to
songs played on someone’s Walkman or IPod.
Back to the tents around 7:30, I hear the
hushed sounds of people calling loved ones
on their “sat” phones from inside their
tents. By 8 p.m., all is quiet and we are
ready for another night of much needed rest
at 17,600 ft. All is well.” |
