Settling in at base camp

< Newer | Older > Tue, 04/15/2008 - 11:13 — Mike Brennan

The gorgeous Gregory today at BCHi folks, Greg here, just a brief message to give an insight into our adventure so far. Everything has gone according to plan, the trek in from Lukla was an amazing journey in itself, walking higher and higher up the valleys where roads do not exist, slowly acclimatising. I have found the Nepali people and sherpas to be wonderful, living in high mountain passes with few resources, they live with great dignity and humility, full of warmth and happiness, they provide a stark contrast to our consumer driven selves in the western world. As we have moved up the valley the scenery has become ever more spectacular, the mountain vistas need to be seen first hand to be believed, I would recommend the trek in to everyone with a reasonable degree of fitness who doesn't mind roughing it a bit.

We all arrived safely at base camp on Sunday, and were warmly greeted by Henry and the team. It was a welcome relief to see that all our kit had arrived in good shape, and nice to relax for a couple of days and get to know people before we start to make initial forays into the icefall soon.

To all family and friends, thank you for kind messages and words of support recently, it really helps to give me strength to face the challenges ahead with you all behind me in my endeavour.

Love and kisses to Elaine and Heather and Minx xxx

Messages

This is Mike now! I envied Norman and the rest so much your lovely family roast! Food, food, food! Graham, great to hear from you. You know how much I valued our time together, and I hope we may yet manage some more climbs again, if not perhaps on the Ben! I will certainly be sensible about turning around, but I'm pretty determined, that's for sure.
Simon, have a great time in Lisbon with Jacq, and I look forward to golf again very much, back permitting. The icefall is apparently "average", we go up ourselves for the first time tomorrow, will know more then!
Janet, sounds like you enjoyed Spain, and nobody deserves that more than you.

We still have had no access to e-mail here at BC, but live in hope I'll be able to send and read soon.

Gill
Thanks for the update Gill i've just been on the phone to Jan it's good to have so much contact with people back home i've never had this on any other trip.
Susan
Hi Susan glad we are providing so much entertainment for everyone. I am looking forward to getting on the mountain for real in the next day or so weather depending. Thanks for the messages.

Messages

Your progress

Sally Boardley — Tue, 04/15/2008 - 14:19

Hi Dr. Brennan,
Am following you all the way. You all seem to be enjoying yourselves, but I expect it will be getting "serious" from now on. It is very interesting reading all the reports each day. It must be a wonderful experience. I sincerely hope that you make the summit this time. As a patient, we miss you at the Surgery!! I suppose I shouldn't remind you of work!!! By the way, we had a great time in Brazil, would recommend it to anyone. the weather was superb, and it was good for my beathing!!.. Hope you are getting used to your "oxygen" mask which I know you don't like very much, but "needs must". Here's hoping that I will be able to purchase a Congratulations card in the near future!!! Good Luck.
Regards Sally B. (the elderly patient!!)

Greg Roberts

Visitor — Tue, 04/15/2008 - 14:38

Hey Greg,

I saw your handsome features on the website today. You are looking neater than normal, your beard is better culivated than when I last saw you. I thing maybe you have too much time on your hands at the moment.

Well done for getting so far! Look after yourself.

Best Wishes,

Adi, Margo, Flynn and Egan (Gloucester, England)

Hello Greg!

Visitor — Tue, 04/15/2008 - 17:03

It's been fantastic to follow your progress so far, thinking of you, keep safe mate. Seems to have been some problem with the photo link my end because its showing a really shaggy- looking yak in front of a tent today. Glad to hear you're settling in nicely at base camp,and acclimatising well. Hope you are getting loads of pics to show us all at Halton, can't wait to see it all, but following it all in real time from this far away is even better!Looking forward to the next instalment,cheers, Paul. P.S.- If you get a spare minute could you have a bit of a tidy up outside please and put some of that litter in the bins, thanks.

Following the story with interest!

benster63 — Wed, 04/16/2008 - 09:55

Reading all updates avidly - keep up the fantastic work with the blog. It must help whiling away the days at BC! Good luck to you all, send my best to Ray and Rob. Say hi to Henry - don't let him beat you at Monopoly this year! All the best, Ben

gregs beard....

Visitor — Wed, 04/16/2008 - 15:46

greg,

i want to see that beard become a real brian blessed type beard with icicles drooping off the ends.
keep well la and see you back in blighty.
off for a lope around tatton park later; not quite everest i know, but hey...
steve.

Hi Greg

Visitor — Wed, 04/16/2008 - 16:13

Glad its going well. We'll expect lots of pics - for those of us who don't have any sort of fitness and will never get to see it in real life! Good luck & stay safe. Love Mary, Sian & everyone in Rehab at Halton

Gregory

Visitor — Wed, 04/16/2008 - 19:46

Hi Greg,

here I am sitting in your office, doing your work, coming to the end of my 3rd late in a row and I have finally found that bisuit drawer:) Things are looking up. So far all is going well for me here and it sounds like the same can be said for your expedition. I look forward to hearing more about your exploits and seeing more photos (when you can get to send them). It all sounds amazing so far.

All the best for you and your team and I hope your hard work pays off.

Now I'm sure I saw some cookies in there......

Chris S.

Hi Greg

atherton — Wed, 04/16/2008 - 19:57

Its great to see you (its been a while) hope your having a fab time on your adventure wish i had the nerve to do something like that, if not only to get away from the 4 kids!! wishing you the best of luck and the rest of your journey a safe one.

Look after yourself

Lots of Love

Vikki and family, uncle Jim, Auntie Shirley, Karen, Nicola and there families too XXX

Kangchenjunga

Visitor — Sat, 04/19/2008 - 11:29

Hi Greg
Geoff here,
looks like we won't be able to meet on the summit as planned as poor weather conditions in India are forcing me to jog up Kangchenjunga instead.
Anyway we'll share stories in the County Court when you return.
Good look, you surely now will be the most handsome mounaineer ever to summit everst.
Geoff
p.s. You were right, this Mickey Mouse suit does make climbing a tad harder.