Ice fall April 12

< Newer | Older > Sat, 04/12/2008 - 09:44 — Angus Murray

Looking down between my legs as I cross a ladder today.Hello to the North Housers who have been sending me posts. Remember I was only training when I hung out my window with my safety belt! Hello to Lori and Gord in NYC. Today we entered the Khumbu Icefall for the first time. This is an area of crevasses and seracs (ice towers) just above base camp that extends to camp 1 at 6065 m. You may have seen photos of climbers crossing crevasses on ladders, this is the icefall. We climbed about 300 vertical m then came down. The heat in the icefall can be intense as the snow and ice reflects all that solar radiation, who would have thought I would be so hot climbing Mount Everest. Even with my full brimmed hat on and my 30 SPF sun cream, I still got a bit of a burn, I will have to use zinc cream next time. Some interesting news awaited us on our return, the Ice Doctors, the Sherpas who build and maintain the icefall, cannot complete the route to camp 1 (C 1) until a group of Nepalese soldiers come into base camp. We shall see how this affects us.
Angus

Messages

Hello from Newmarket

Visitor — Sat, 04/12/2008 - 10:31

at the ice fields, awesome. the sunburn factor who would have ever thought that and in a month you will be in your snow suit all trussed up. hope you re keeping hydrated and the food is palatable. how is the book club going? you must be meeting some interesting people along the way.
ah, the joys of mountainering. love you, hulio

Hello from Megan/Katrina/Owen/Galen

kcholack — Sun, 04/13/2008 - 00:24

We are absolutely enjoying reading your updates, as are many families at Evergreen. Such a truly amazing adventure you are on. Megan speaks very highly of you to everyone and says "hello. We also got some sunburn today, 19 degrees in Shawnigan.
Enjoy further adventures - Katrina

Khumbu and greetings from Mt. Albert etc

Visitor — Tue, 04/15/2008 - 01:59

Hey Unca Gus we are all rooting for you and hoping that the political implications and the noise of the world does not impact on your dreams....we are following your travels via St Jacobs ,Newmarket and Mt. Albert daily..It is great to read all the names of friends (hi Gordo and family)and fellow adventurers we have heard of in Conversation through the years are following your Quest... I truly wish I (we) could be there . Adam is definitely po'd at the possibility of political intervention......We have snow here ( just a dusting for April but nothing like the Khumbu.and envy the heat you have...We know you have the skills to make the dream happen and abilities to make the right choices in times of need ....like do I save the sister or the canoe??? (Horseshoe Rapids BC) - by the way Alison was glad sisters won that challenge!!!!..... Sending pure thoughts and love ...The Lew Crew Mt. Albert...Ont.

Reading and Dreaming along .....

Visitor — Wed, 04/16/2008 - 05:42

Probably have missed you But none-the-less when you read this know the family in Calgary is thinking about you .... IAN