Time to Reflect

The second we entered China communication was difficult, so apologies for limited personal updates on the expedition so far. It was an amazing trip, and reflecting back provided some invaluable lessons that I will take forward.

Advanced Base Camp (ABC) welcomed us with great facilities that made the stay in the mountains a little more comfortable. Dendi, the Sherpa Chef, always cooked up a storm morning, afternoon and night - which powered us for daily Himalayan slogs, up and down the mountains.

It was a great pleasure to experience a Puja, a Nepalese ceremony, that takes place before stepping foot on the mountain. It was great to share this experience with the Sherpas and also to experience drinking alcohol at high altitudes!

Moving up the mountain, the walk between ABC and Camp 1, the scree slope, became the bane of our lives. A rubble covered slope which seemed like we were always taking one step up and sliding two steps down! And it was always in my mind that I may have to attempt this slope around 6 times during my stay.

Being in the Himalayas during an earthquake was quite an experience too. Such a vulnerable environment, made even more dangerous by random avalanches. Thoughts were always with the climbers high in the mountain during this time.

The acclimatisation process was a complete success and all members of the team were fully acclimatised for a summit push, providing the mountain would present itself. It was a waiting game, seeing out storms, and when we got the nod it was a amazing feeling. Being turned around at camp 1 due to bad weather was a massive blow, then given the chance for a second attempt and being turned at Camp 3 was a real knock - but an invaluable lesson! The mountain is always in control and must be respected.

7,500 metres was our high point and I personally felt really strong pushing up the mountain. I've been told by the guides that this is a great position to be in, in respect to the preparation for Everest in 2012. The lessons learnt and experience gained have laid solid foundations and I now feel confident that a crack at the tallest mountain in the world is within my grasp…

6 months of prep and continued dedication is all that stands between me and this life changing challenge!

Pull ups at 6,000m - On acclimatisation walk from Chinese Base Camp

Himalayan Slogging

Pushing to Camp 2 - Early Morning

Oxygen Training

Me at Hight Point - 7500m

Just before being told we we're going down

Back at Camp 2 after being turned around

Lovin the Mountains

Hand Wrapping the Ice Cliff

Keeping warm

How you doin??

Life above the clouds, love it

Himalayan Sunset

Surrounding Peak and Local Yak

Me and Cho Oyu with a Glow

View from my tent

Amazing looking Peak

On the way up........

Advanced base camp

Sherpas on Ridge

The Team

Some communication at last.

Paul has just called home using a Satellite Phone and we have enjoyed a long awaited update.

He is now very well although it took him over 10 days to clear up the stomach bug he picked up in the early days. He is feeling strong and the last climb he made from Camp 1, up to Camp 2 and slightly beyond, was comfortable so he is quietly confident that he can make the top.

Tomorrow, providing the weather stays good they will begin the final push and if all goes to plan he should reach the summit in 3 days time. It then takes 2 days to return to BC and from here he will packup his gear for the last time and start the trek for home. He anticipates that he could be back in England on the 2nd October, some 4 days ahead of schedule.

He has promised to make another call, either from the summit or when he returns to BC so when he does I will post another update on his behalf. In the meantime it is necessary to follow the Adventure Consultants link to monitor the expeditions progress.

Thanks for following this blog.

Team are Safe and Well

You may have seen in the news that there was an earthquake in East Nepal yesterday evening.

You will see through the Adventure Consultants blog that Paul and the team are safe and well, despite feeling the quake from their camp.

Keep checking the blog here.

What no Mobile Signal!

For everyone following Paul's blog we unfortunately have a slight issue with getting updates.

It would appear that there is no mobile reception at Chinese Base Camp, so while Paul may be writing new entries he has no way of getting them back to us.

I have included a link to the Adventure Consultants web site below where you can at least follow progress of the expedition although it is clearly not written by Paul.

http://www.adventureconsultants.com/adventure/ChoOyu2011Dispatches/

When he moves further up the mountain things may improve but not sure at present so please keep checking.

Managed to Recruit a Local Dog

Early start and acclimatisation trek was today's plan. We started in the dark with head torches lighting the way.

Walking through town we managed to recruit a local dog. First thoughts were he was going to be a pain in the arse, but boy were we wrong!!

This dog stuck with us for the whole 6 hour trek up to 5,200m. He led the way and picked a safe and logical route to the summit and we trusted his route back down to town too! He would walk ahead, turn his head to make sure we were following and then carry on. He would even curl up and rest when we took our breaks.

He was an amazing guide and great addition to the team. And this gave Victor and Felix the morning off.

Maybe we should see if he would be up for Cho Oyu!!

From the summit we had a perfect view of Everest and Cho Oyu, and other surrounding mountains. I sat there and took it all in. There is such a beauty about these ranges...

Lunch and a lazy afternoon was in order for me, as I am still running a temperature. Rest and more boiled rice and flat Coke was on the menu!!!!

We had a briefing on the agenda for Chinese Base Camp (CBC) and above this evening. This seemed to fix me and I'm just so excited to get on the mountain now.

Neil with our adopted friend

When we rested, he rested

Great trecking companion

Now in Old Tingri

4 hours drive and 2 acclimatization climbs.

Handling the altitude but have got a bit of food poisoning so I have experienced emergency no. 2s on the mountain many times. Imodium down and rice and flat coke for dinner so hopefully I’ll be back to full strength tomorrow.

The walks have taken us to 5,200m and opened up some amazing views of snow capped peaks and Cho Oyu. The team dynamics are wicked and the banter is flying around like you can’t imagine. I can only think that the dynamics and personality mix is going to increase motivation and spirirts for the push to the summit.

We are now in Old Tingri and will be here for 2 more nights. More acclimatization and then we move to the Chinese Base Camp. We have Felix’s 30th Birthday on Monday so plenty to look forward to.

Few Funny Dreams

5 hours in the car today, destination Shigatse. On arrival we checked into hotel Manasarovar and headed straight out for lunch to Ta Shi Lhun Po monastery. This is a very important monastery as it was founded by the first Dali-lama in 1447. They also have the highest sitting Buddah statue in the world.

There are thoughts and suspicions that some of the monks in the monastery are Chinese spies!

After the monastery we took a walk up to 4,200m which was good acclimatization.

On the route down we span more prayer wheels which will hopefully bring us luck and good fortune on the mountains.

Got a 6/7 hour journey on the road tomorrow and another acclimatization walk up to 5,000m. Apart from a few funny dreams all is good with the altitude.

Looking forward to see Chinese base camp and to get on the mountain.

2 days away!!!