Day #25

Location: Camp 2
Altitude: 6400m/21000ft.
Local Time: 8:30pm / April 21
Weather: Cool (40's) windy/snow

Today we went from Camp 1 to Camp 2, and although the trek was only 3 hrs. with an elevation gain of 350m, the hike was grueling across the Western Cwm. as the heat was intense! The views of the Lhotse face are constantly in our view as we walk towards the sheer walls that we will eventually climb straight up to Camp 3. As we trekked to Camp 2 we traversed lots of smaller crevasses and now feel like a ladder expert as I have absolutely no fear at all of crossing them.
Camp 2 has a kitchen tent and sherpas to provide meals. All of us are doubled-up in tents and I share a tent with Bob from New York Ciity. After lunch today we all retired to our tents as a gentle snow carpeted the area.
Plans for tommorow are tentative but may include a hike to the base of the Lhotse face.
All is well here and I truly enjoy your responses. I have challenged my fellow climbers to take a turn at doing a daily blog so sometime in the near future there will be a daily blog from a variety of my 8 fellow climbers.
I am hopeful that all of you can spread the word about the Summit Scholarship as it is my goal to raise $1 for every foot of altitude of Mt. Everest (29,035). I am doing as best I can from here, so am relying on all of you to invest in the future of nursing.
According to Sandra (Palmetto Health Richland) a recent email from the Health Care Advisory Board (Washington, DC) had a link to an article about my climb and the scholarship. Information about the scholarship can be found on my site.

Thanks so much,

Pat :>)

Your Messages:

Carol:
Hi sweetheart. Another hot day today as we crossed the Western Cwm. The mountain views were stunning and took my mind off the intense sun. Am using lots of suntan lotion and lipbalm and am challenging the "Kiss My Face" products!
May call you Sunday morning dependent on our schedule here!
I did check my system and saw that the last email sent to you at home was undelivered? Hopefully test ones sent since have worked! I now love ladder crossings and am no longer intimidated by them ... but still have the fear of heights!
I love you and miss you terribly :>)
Pat :>)

AORN Friends:

Rose ... thanks as always for your contnued support. Keep rounding up the troops for me at AORN!

Canadian Friends:

John & Jane ... glad to hear that Julia is home. Hope she had a great trip. Hope David & Donnie are busy in their summer jobs and making money for gas/insurance for their vehicles. I met with the Canadian team doing the filming and are posting daily updates to www.findinglife.ca

Nicky ... great to hear from you and glad that I have the opportunity to help others through my climb. I am hoping that more schools log on to track my climb as the students will get the education of a lifetime. No worries on the scrubs attire and I hope that Evie continues to be interested in a health career. Say hi to all and see you in July?

Sue ... no worries, I actually love ladder crossings now ... this one wasn't secured very well!

Fran ... thanks for checking in. Please keep Mom up to speed as I don't want her to worry!

Columbia Friends:

Barbara ... thanks for your post and sorry that I missed the Murraywood function. Thanks for the prayers and look forward to sharing the adventures!

Amy ... I have truly enjoyed being able to connect with so many people. It really makes such a big difference. Thanks for the prayers.

Cam ... the hike from basecamp to Camp 1 took me 5 1/4 hours. No idea on how many climbers are in the icefall at any given time ... maybe 50-100?

Brian ... thanks for the post! I actually like ladder crosings now and do take time during the crossing to admire the depths. It hasn't quite got me over the fear of heights, but I have a new appreciation and respect for glaciers/crevasses. Say hi to all and don't forget to star gaze when you can!

Cathy & Kev ... no worries, I will have lots of photos to choose from for you to use and appreciate the offer. Thanks for keeping in contact with Carol and give my best to Kev.

John ... great to hear from you and glad to see the use of "my everest" to denote challenges that we have in our daily lives! Lots of marathoners climbing Mt. Everest ... seems to be a training theme! Say hi to your 6 yr. old for me and tell him that we do get lots of rest to prepare us for the climb! Keep in touch!

Belinda .. thanks for the support and I intend to be safe. I am hoping that I can be a good role model for those that are hesitant to push themselves outside their comfort zones!

Rick ... my former boss and inspiration ... you probably have influenced me in someway to climb this hill! No worries on the yellow snow, I'm a Canadian boy and we learn that early in life!

Palmetto Health Friends:

Allison ... thanks so much for your post. I will need much stronger legs for what comes before me on the next few climbs!

Prithvi ... great to hear from you. Look forward to visiting with you on my return to share stories on India and Nepal. I am sure that you will have good stories for your grand-daughter! Painful is a daily part of the climb as we continue to push ourselves higher and higher!

Minnie ... no worries, I will be safer in the future as I have too many friends to come home to that I want to share stories with and get reacquainted!

Sandra ... thanks for the update on the email from the Health Care Advisory Board ... cool stuff! I'm glad that the word is getting out! Yes, it's nice to have a tentative schedule now and puts things in perspective.

John ... glad that you were able to access the site. Hope you can share info with Wendy as have not heard much from her since the trip began. Tell her that I am using her ascender quite often to go up some prety steep pitches. Hopefully Gordon has already contributed to the Summit Scholarship fund on behalf of the practice ... if not, there is still time!

Theresa ... thanks for the note and, as always, thanks for creating opportunities for the student nurses at the University of South Carolina.

Jay ... glad that Kate contacted you. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers as the excitement level is about to increase!

USC Friends:

Elsie ... thanks for sharing your Nepal story. It's a beautiful country with lovely people. Keep in touch.

Lisa ... thanks for the support. Hope Research Camp was a success, look forward to being there next year! You hit it right for the Khumbu ... beautiful and desolate!

Eric ... great to hear from you! Look forward to sharing tall tales on my return. Miss everyone there!

Bev ... say hi to Justin for me and I will give him pointers on how to climb the mountain!

All The Others:

Bill & Michelle ... thanks for clearing up the post on the plane ride as there were a few that I took for rides that got out and kissed the ground! Tell Bill to sign on when he posts so I know it's him :>)
Basecamp is quite an amazing place and there are so many people from so many places there.
Not sure where George is at ... shoot him an email!

MC ... thanks again for your support of not only myself, but all the other climbers! It's nice to have a game plan, even though it may change a few times! With the puja behind us we are climbing forward! Am enjoying the luxuries of Camp 2. Thanks again for the quotes ... love them!

David aka Demento ... so far so good at Camp 2. I will look for rocks in the future for pictures so people can see how big I am! Look forward to seeing you in July! It's freezing here inside my tent and srape the frost off the inside in the mornings (am typing with my sleeping bag wrapped around me ... cold fingers!)

Richard & Karen ... a heated jock strap sounds inviting ... wish I had one! Thanks for the update on the Ottawa Sens ... we will take whatever fans we can get! The Khumbu is chilling in that it needs to be respected ... and we do!

eMK ... great to hear from you. I am sure that your Dad could have outrun that avalanche if he were there with me ... not that I think your Dad would ever want to be in the Khumbu!

Helen & Wally ... great to hear from you and I have relayed your best wishes to Mike. He is doing great and has become a good friend.

Garland ... great to hear from you. It's been way too many years! Once I get home from this trip I will be in touch regarding Utah and Africa. Thanks for the invite and keep in touch!

Ron ... I remember you well and miss all my friends at MMC. I do keep up with David and try to visit at least once yearly. Keep checking in when you can! If you geet a chance say hi to Dorothy and Camilla for me.

Tim ... great to hear from you also! Enjoy the tropics of Manila while I freeze daily! Will email you on my return home. Check in when you can!