Camp One Yahoo!!!

< Newer | Older > Sat, 04/21/2007 - 08:31 — taloeffler
One of the many ladders that must be surmounted in the Khumbu Icefall.Mingma climbing the last ladder near the top of the Icefall.

Location: Camp One
Elevation: 6000 ish Meters
Elevation Gain: 700 ish Meters
Weather: Hot and Sunny-Clouding over now and snowing
Quote of the Day: Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you are probably right.

If you asked me this morning if I'd be lounging in a tent in Camp One this afternoon, I would have said the odds were near to impossible. For my 4:30 am breakfast, I requested one of my favourites: Japanese noodle soup with egg. It went down OK, but as I was doing the final packing job, a wave of nausea hit like a tsunami and I barely made it outside the dining tent before blowing breakfast all over the rocks.

Not the start of the day I imagined. Nerves perhaps. I went back inside sobbing wondering if I should call the WHOLE thing off. I finished my hot drink and packing and Mingma arrived.

I didn't fess up to my rough start, but thought I'd go for a bit and see if everything settled. We reached the first ladder in about 45 minutes and I nearly lost the rest of my belly contents. For some reason, I wasn't quite ready to throw in the towel so I keep taking it ladder by ladder, step by step, wave after wave. I knew I could pull the plug whenever it got too much.

About 2 hours in, the steps and necessary narrow focus of achieving those steps had settled my being. At brief standing breaks, I took in some calories. We never stopped for more than five minutes at a go. As we made our way through the "popcorn" section, (a nasty section of very rotten ice), I began to nurture a small glimmer of hope (like the sun that was dancing on the ice,) that I might actually make Camp One.

There was traffic in the icefall and I just let everyone on my tail pass through. One kindly German fellow remarked that I was "one tough lady." I wasn't sure at the time, but I'm willing to accept the title now. In the ways that we do when things are hard, I told myself I never needed to climb the Icefall again.

The wiring of our brains is amazing though because lying here in amazing comfort at 20,000 feet, I can already sense a seed of willingness to perhaps tackle it again. It was 5.5 hours of some of the hardest climbing/living I have ever done, but being here now makes every second of that toughness worth it.

We had a lovely nutritious lunch of soup, bacon, and M&M's (now you kids out there know how to eat better than that). I'll spend the afternoon hydrating and breathing as I've just made a big elevation jump. I have a slight altitude headache that I hope will pass with the above strategies.

As we topped the fall, my pace was dropping off and at one point, I though camp was much further off. I was doing some serious talking to my feet and legs to keep them moving. Then I saw the tents and my mind filled with yahoo!

The views of the summit, Lhotse Face, and South Col are truly breathtaking and intimidating as all get out. Not exactly sure what my plan is. It will depend on how my body reacts to this new elevation.

Thanks to all for thinking of me today-I’m sure it helped me get up the "hill".

Special Camp One hellos and hoorays to all the children of St. Francis of Assisi School, Outer Cove. Thanks for writing and letting me know that your mountain is half full! That's fabulous and keep up all that good physical activity. It will get us all up the mountain. Hello to Mrs. Furey.

BPT-it was a very Buddhist day! Very much like meditation.

Deb. S.-hope you are feeling better so I can show you how to play the game of hockey. Thanks for writing.

KW-hope the paddling is fine.

TA

This Everest-007 Update is made possible through the generous support of AppleCore Interactive, www.applecore.ca

Messages

Reaching deep within

Mary Clare Reinhardt — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 09:06

Great job, TA!!! You found strength deep within yourself and you did not give up! I love your comparison of nurturing a small glimmer of hope (like the sun that was dancing on the ice). I know exactly what you mean.

You should feel very proud. That German climber was right; you are one tough lady! Btw, I have a quote very similar to your "quote of the day"; "If you think you can, you probably can. If you think you can't, you probably can't."

Rest well and enjoy the views from C-1.
MC

"Always try; for in the end, this will be the true measurement of success." mc

way to go TA!!

irishclimber101 — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 11:21

Hey TA
Cheers from East Tennessee!!! Every step you take transforms you into a new person!!! How exciting...and challenging!! Thinking of you. Randy

Its a mind game

Roger Crawford — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 11:27

Hi Ta
Well done and a very positive day today. You have been high before and no doubt experienced those moments when doubt creeps in. The mind is a powerful yet fragile force at times. You have overcome this initial moment of doubt and have pushed on to Camp 1.

Altitude is a mean thing at times. Its not nerves that affected you today just the altitude and these feelings of nausea can be overwhelming at any time and totally out of your control (Ive been there also as recently as a couple of weeks ago). It comes on sudden and feels like it is coming from really deep down. It is a case of realising that whilst feeling quite crappy it will pass and with a positive and strong mind you will and have overcome.

Just watch now that you take rest and acclimatise adequately while at Camp 1. Dont get overely keen and feel you can take on the world and push on up too quickly. Get those fluids and tucker into you and take in the views.

Cheers
Roger in Sydney

Your face!!!!

Visitor — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 11:32

if you could see me.... I was dancing around with my morning coffee when I read where you are!!! camp one - wow!!! wow!! wow!!
You will certainly be entitled to many many VD's when you return.... that smiling "skinny" facy can get you anywhere.... so jut as you eat the dips... one bite at a time... take that mountain!! back to dancing!! love Mavis

High 5 TA

Visitor — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 11:33

Well done. My quote for you today:

"a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher

Cam

GREAT JOB!!!!!!

irishmatthew — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 14:01

You did great today TA! I am sure today was difficult for you but I can feel that your confidence and form are improving each day. Just take it one step at a time (sorry for the cliche). :) I hope you get to enjoy a nice rest day.

Matt from Tennessee

Your on your way!!

truvei — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 14:28

It's so good to hear that you've made it to Camp 1 with after the 'morning' sickness. I've been reading up on climbing at the heights you are climbing and it seems that nausea is not unusual.
Enjoy your aclimatization and the fact that you are on your way to the top. I love this quote...
"Life is brought down to the basics: if you are warm, regular, healthy, not thirsty or hungry, then you are not on a mountain... Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop." — Chris Darwin -
He wrote a book called 'The Social Climbers' - fantastic true story.
Take care, Trudy

WOOHOO!!!!!

Visitor — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 14:34

Congrats on making Camp One. Hopefully the doubts have subsided and the anxiety with "making camp one" has eased into the reality that you are up there, sitting amongst the surrounding peaks.

You're doin' it!!!

The Mind

Fiona Adler — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 14:57

The mind is truly a funny thing and learning strategies to get it thinking in a good way is more difficult than you'd think. For me it never helped to ask myself whether I could get to the next camp or not. I found it much more useful to ask myself whether I could keep going for another hour. And funny enough, those hours get you places! Everest is too big to look at the big picture. Just focussing on the goal for the day or the hour is more than enough.
Congratulations on getting to camp 1. Fantastic acheivement. For some reason (self doubts probably) I didn't write about it last year, but the first time I was there I had a nasty headache for 2 days.
We're all thinking of you up there in your little tent,
Fiona

you go girl!!!

daviecrewcut — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 15:36

Hi TA

we are so excited that you made it to Camp 1!! You have overcome sooo much to get to this point! I can't imagine what kind of strength it took to NOT 'throw in the towel'...your German climber was right on the money!! We are watching and thinking about you...if positive thoughts can help, you are well on your way!!
love,
Nancy & Erika
GFW, NL

You ROCK! From Alexandria, Virginia USA

kfinn — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 15:41

My girls and I (6 and 8 years) are following the climb of your team. I almost got sick with you when I read about your nausea. You are wise to do it at your pace AND you ARE a tough lady! A well deserved rest for you at Camp One--congratulations. My daughters and I are so inspired by your will and determination and are delighted at you postings. Keep focused. We know you will make it to the top. I'm friend of Steve Giesecke of Washington State. Please let him know we are cheering for him and praying for all of you. Stay safe. BTW you are making the odds possible. Rock on!

Congratulations TA

Visitor — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 18:30

Well done TA,
I guess congratulations are in order for having accomplished the difficult feat of climbing to Camp One. It sounds that your inner coaching worked and the rest you got earlier in the week has paid dividends and helped you get where you are now . I have NO idea of how difficult it was....I try to imagine. I am keeping the students at Holy Trinity up to date on your progress. When we returned to school after the Easter break I related much of the news of what was going on since Easter Sunday, and the restful period that you required. I especially liked the journal entry at the Hotel Himalaya. We are studying India in our Social Studies program in GR 4 and in our textbook there is a photo of a woman making dung patties outside her house. When you talked about the yak dung fuelling the fire....we are really curious about what kind of heat that would be :) Also myself and the students are thinking about you alot....I ate a vanilla dip donut and thought of you .....at the Aquarena when I brought my class to swimming lessons....(but they are not my favorite kind of donuts). We listened to your audio updates at the learning resource centre and read your updates from the screen. The photographs are incredible.
Keep safe....we are following your progress...and will pray for your safety.
Gr 4 students Holy Trinity
Paula C.

the path really is the goal,

Visitor — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 20:05

the path really is the goal, isn't it? so each step you've already reached your goal. and each breath you've already reached your goal. and each time you have maitri, you're at your goal. even if you aren't moving at all.
there's really nowhere else to go b/c you're already there!
and congrats on camp one! back patting is definitely in order.
bpt

Camp one

Ann — Sat, 04/21/2007 - 21:20

Hi TA,
So glad to hear that you are comfortable at camp 1, it really is an achievement!The photos of the icefall were very cool, thanks for taking the time to post them! Good luck going back through the ice and keep pushing!
Ann and Graham

its just a big hill !

book — Sun, 04/22/2007 - 08:04

well done to you and mingma.the view to the summit must be amazing.what a difference aweek makes.last week sick and full of doubts . now climbing where legends like tenzing and hillary have gone before you. acclimatize well and return to basecamp safely. cheers [ken. n.z.]

Good going TA!!

Sandra D — Mon, 04/23/2007 - 00:15

TA, Great job getting to Camp 1! Hope all continues to go well with your health! You have done an amazing job of getting well and getting to Camp 1. Your photos are beautiful! Stay strong and tough!

Keep safe
Sandra