After a small breakfast at six this morning, we set off through a pretty deserted(but cold) western cwm towards camp one, and then down through the ice-fall to Base-camp. I find I can't tell how I'm going to feel physically up here until I get going, and today I felt disappointingly "leggy". We got to camp one in fifty minutes(that's me and Nadir. Ray and Greg were long gone, as usual), a fair time, but the next section between camp and the true top of the ice-fall was fiddly and slow...also the sun hit us and took it's usual toll. I soon got very sore, rubbed toes, mainly due to the earlier non-arrival of my medical kit at camp two...I needed preventive elastoplast!
So the journey down was unfortunately a bit of an ordeal for me, but we got there in the end...another safe passage at least.
It was odd to meet up with the rest of our large group again, and the camp itself has altered a lot with the melting of the underlying ice in the moraine. My tent platform survives, just, but Ray's tent has had to be moved, as was half expected.

Plans for summitting?:

We have exciting news. We have a weather window, that looks promising, and is maybe a week long!!
In practise, a first group of maybe seven climbers may be starting up in two days to camp two, and a second group with Ran may be going up in four days. Our group of four will now make a third group, and we are encouraged to be back here in BC for the 21st, presumably aiming at a summit date around the 24/25th? Much can change with weather etc, but it's looking encouraging anyhow!!

In the meantime I'm keen to descend towards Pangboche at around 3900m for rest and some better food(chicken was a great success with the others a few weeks ago!). I need a boost to my strength and morale right now, as my weight loss is likely to be affecting my strength at this stage. It feels odd to think of walking AWAY from our objective so near to summit time, but there is a precedent for this, and if I don't do it ( and I was one of a few NOT to descend at this stage in 2006) I'm sure I'll regret it if I fail to summit again this year. What a ghastly thought that is...to have put myself through so much again for, ultimately, a hatrick of failures!. I guess if that doesn't motivate me, nothing will...
We may go on down valley tomorrow, to maximise our time there, we'll all talk later about that. Hmmm, chicken.

Messages:

Jonnny, great message, thank you! The end is at least in sight, and well done United!
Colin and Sue, I appreciate your quiet support, and hope to have some decent pictures to show you in a while. Hope the smoking story is still a successful one too!
Jenny, pleased to have you watching, and how can you imagine I'd need reminding who you are! You are unforgettable. I hope all goes well with you.
Ann C, I wish I was as sure as you are about my success...it's jolly hard here, but I'll be doing my utmost.
Paul, thanks mate for your kind words, I know that you truly know how tough it can be on that face...it's not too safe with so many on the ropes at one time, not unlike lemmings really, but beggars can't be choosers.
As for the Col, I think I WILL be spending an "extra" night there, window permitting, and your own encouragement about doing so eases some of my reservations! Time will tell. I notice that those trying without supplementary oxygen like to sleep at the col before trying for the summit.
WP, thank you again for your kind words and best wishes, I hope you finish the journey with me.
Ken, glad to have you along. You know, some diabetics have tried this, and feeling like I do most of the time, I have renewed respect for their efforts. It must be a nightmare for them.
Finally, Harry, no earthquake knowingly felt here I'm afraid, but there are so many avalanches all around us it'd be hard to know for sure what has triggered one exactly. They can be scarey enough.
The ITN news item may have morphed into a spot on today's lunch-time news apparently...all a bit messy, broadcasting..

Messzges from Ray
jan
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY DARLING WIFE JAN
Thanks Darling for your support and backing for this trip and all the other daft things I do. Without you behind me I would not be back here.
All my love Ray X X X

Claire & Paul
Thanks for the update again, at least we can relax for the next couple of months. No doubt the rumors will start before then but who believes in rumors? Glad you are looking after Jan and Pip. Give Pip an inch and she will takeover anywhere. We should be having a few days rest before heading back up the hill for the final time. No doubt Mike will inform everyone of our summit date when we find out.
Take care Ray.

From Greg: sorry for delay in replying:
Hi Barb and family, thanks for your support, good that you are enjoying Mike's site, we eagerly await new messages each day to keep in touch with the real world! Back at base camp now, all our acclimatization done, just waiting for our window now. Best wishes, Greg.

John W; hi John, thank you for all your support, the crevasses are indeed austere and cavernous, and they are getting bigger as the season goes on! Listening to music helps, it seems to diffuse the danger, Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending is a favourite! Best wishes, Greg.

Elaine and Heather, hope you are both ok, it seems unreal that it is nearly seven week's since I left, not much longer now hopefully. I am looking forward to us going camping with Minx, if the weather holds out! Oh, and I can't wait to share some decent food, ....roast, Italian, curries, bread, cheese, you name it and I am missing it! I will have to stop before I go crazy. I will try to ring tomorrow, lots of love, Greg xxx.