 Mt. Everest journal entry:
May 22, 2009
Summit Day Begins!
“We awoke from our brief afternoon nap at
26,000 ft. and had “breakfast” at 9:30
p.m. There was a flurry of activity in
camp in preparation for our 10 p.m. summit
push. The Sherpa team, who had been in the
shadows during the prior 7 weeks, were now
in charge of our safety and well being, each
having summited many times before. They
knew the routine and quickly went to task to
insure we did not leave any minute detail
undone. Tshering,
 my Sherpa climbing
guide, loaded my pack with my oxygen bottle,
then proceeded to dress me like a
kindergartener on her first day of school.
Interior pockets were loaded with things we
needed to keep from freezing, like water
bottles, energy gels, snacks, headlamp
batteries, and camera. Exterior pockets
held spare glasses, hand warmers, summit
flags, and extra gloves and liners. Tshering zipped my coat high, check my tank
of “O’s” and my oxygen mask, adjusted my
goggles, snugged up my hood, and closed it
tight around my neck. Then, he carefully
lifted each foot and attached a crampon,
making sure the fit was secure. Next, he
loaded my ice axe, helped me put on my
oxygen filled pack, then buckled the
straps. Lastly, he put on my mittens and
pulled them high over my coat sleeve, like a
mother sending her child off to play in the
snow. The only thing missing was the kiss
on the forehead to send me on my way.” |
