The waiting begins

< Newer | Older > Tue, 05/20/2008 - 11:47 — Mike Brennan

Me nearing the lower part of camp three on that Lhotse face again....alright, this was in 2006!Though the walk today from Lobuche only took three hours or so, it was quite taxing for me personally, somewhat alarmingly. It's a fiddly walk, much undulation with little feeling of progress being made, and at times it was hot. I may have been a bit dry again. The others, as is usual, seemed to fly along somehow.
It feels as though my marked weight loss has resulted in no reserve of energy whatsoever, such that once any recent food intake has been "utilised" I'm running on empty again. Not nice. I'm really going to have to "eat" my way back up this mountain!

So what's the news?

So we're back at base-camp and all the other climbers in our group are now up the mountain. Hmmmm. What exactly has developed while we've been away?
Well, our original plan was for us to go up to camp two the day after tomorrow(22nd). However, somewhere in the last few days there was either a dodgy day forecast, or a snowy day, because everyone seems to be a day behind where we expected. Thus, Andre and the Aussies have just gone to camp three on the Lhotse face, and Ran, Kenton and Rob only left for camp two this morning!
What we don't know yet, as our leader has gone walkabout this afternoon, is whether we now must expect to go up a day later, i.e. the 23rd....I suspect this will prove to be the case, as our ascent is inextricably linked to the recovery time needed by Sherpas in the first effort. It gets complicated. I wonder if Henry keeps writing permutations down. It'd drive me mad.
When I know, you'll be the first to know next!
Rest day tomorrow whatever happens
anyway. I bet you all think we have almost ALL rest days here, and you're not far wrong really.

Messages:

Simon, Vanessa and little Brandon, thanks for hanging on in there...it may be a while yet!
Heidi, how nice to have a supportive Aussie on our side, instead of the constant ribbing from our Antipodean "team-mates" here!
Bill, really love the poem, truly, thank you very much.
Rick, look forward to that house-warming....well, assuming I get a summit, that is!
Mary Clare, I really love your quote about "following in the footsteps of legends", so in tune with what I feel.
Finally Simon E, again, cheers for the reassurance . I'm obviously starting to get a bit edgy about the flight back, surgeries and all that, but we still have a bit of time to play with...a little bit!.

Responses from Greg:
Hi Di, thanks for your message, great that you are enjoying the site, Mike has done a fantastic job of keeping people updated with our progress. Back at base camp now, things are getting close, hopefully we move up on the 22nd and take it from there. Look forward to a meal at the Goshawk to celebrate, I definitely need a good 'feed-up'! Best wishes, Greg.

Replies from Ray

Colin & Dave
Well done guy's. Did you race? I noticed the time difference and if it's a race next year then i'll have to put some training in. I suppose this race will be a warm up for the C2C2C2C.
Anyway well done again, see you in a few weeks. Ray

Wrick the Wobber
Hi Rick. If you ever decide to go back to Everest, go back to the North side. I can explain better when we meet again, but believe me that would be my choice so far (as far as camp 3).
Let's hope the weather is kinder to us this time rather than in 2004. Build me a shrubbery! Ray.

Messages

Eat, drink and be merry...

Mary Clare Reinhardt — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 12:03

Hi Mike~

I hope you have the foods that you'll be able to "stomach" on your summit bid. As you mentioned, this will give you strength. So, I'm not sure how "merry" you'll be but eat and drink for sure!

Best,
MC

"The driving force of the human spirit propels us to do great things." m.c. reinhardt

Almost There...

Visitor — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 12:59

Hello Mike, it's Mark again. Good luck over the next few days, I really hope you make it! All eyes watching and fingers crossed from Basingstoke!

Greg

abigail1 — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 13:04

Greg, glad to hear from Elaine last night that all is well and you are nearly there. Good luck to all of you.
Been showing the pictures to your old Dragon Boat crew here at work. At least one of the team went on to a much greater challenge!
Take care
Joanne, Billy ,Abi and Emily Locke xx

Not long to go now

Cas — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 14:00

Mike
Eat as much as you can and more ....drink lots of liquid and then go and climb this mountain. Don't let to many negative thoughts enter your head ;stay positive. I will post the Champions League Final result for you tomorrow...although your team is not playing this year :- )

Keep the good work up...don't worry about all the faster climbers...Fiona Adler tought me a very good thing last year. Just put one foot in front of the other and keep going...Its not a race....just get up there. She made it and hopefully so will you

Regards

Cassra

"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday"

Ann T — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 14:19

Champions League final tomorrow.... I'll be cushion watching again tomorrow evening!

Keep up your strength Mike. Them rest days are there for a reason. Keep focused, keep going and stay safe. x

P.S. This quote tickled me today:
"One day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he said, "Is it half full or half empty?" So I drank the water. No more problem" - Alexander Jodorowsky (film boffin)
... use it as you will! (yes, I've been going through one of my sillyosphy quote books this afternoon.... in case you can't tell!)

Good luck!

Visitor — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 15:13

Don't let your mind get the better of you! You've got what it takes. Go for it!

Lexy von Peterffy

Just me again...

Visitor — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 16:20

Glad my comments raised a smile.....I went on a solo adventure to the USA many, many years ago and in the airport waiting for Freddie Lakers Skytrain to New York (yes, sadly I AM that old) I nearly bottled it and went to Blackpool instead, thinking I needn't tell anyone!! Glad I didn't though.....adventures & risks are what makes us who we are....in everything we do!! Succeed or otherwise (never mention the 'f' word)....the adventure will add something to who you are and to the rest of your life! Thats gotta be worth it isn't it???? It has already.....I can tell from your blogs!! You into NLP??
More hugs. Jacq.xxx

Greetings Dr. Brennan..

wmpopper — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 17:04

Hope that much is well in base camp and that the weather conditons are favorable and that you are eating and resting well. The "watercolour in the rain" is a powerful provocative image. I hope that your physical and mental energys are replenishing. And that the "watercolor" is drying, and will soon be suitable for additional brushwork, colours and details which will yield clarity and definition to your "work of art". Thank You for sharing your thoughts and emotions here at this website during these past weeks. Your narrative and images have provided a most valuable insight into the process of climbing Everest and the various challenges and problems which arise for such an Adventure's participants.
Take good care and be safe. Your family and friends await your return.
WP

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Visitor — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 20:48

GREG
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for the 22nd, I will be in Ireland for the weekend (girlie weekend) on the day so mum and John have asked me to send you wishes on the blogg before I go. They havent got a clue how to use it.....

What a place to be on your birthday, dont worry I will have a few guinesses for you!!!!

Lots of Love
Jackie, John , Irene and a big birthday hug from Jessica (who could probably send you the message herself she so computer literate for 11 arent they all!!!)
Take care, and as usual Mike is doing a brill job love always xxxxxx

Greg

Visitor — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 21:52

Hi Greg and gang,
I can't believe I've just got a message back from Mount Everest - ain't technology wonderful sometimes?!! Thanks again to Mike for the constant updates and for passing all the messages on. Joanna is over here at the moment for a few days - she's hooked too and we'll be watching avidly over the next few days. Happy Birthday for the 22nd. Good luck and see you soon, Di x

good luck

Visitor — Tue, 05/20/2008 - 22:51

Greg and the team
good luck from all of us in the rat race . one word "Inspirational" the more i read the more i am awe of anyone who has the b****s to do what you are doing. come back safe

Paul, luke Jayne Barb and Steve

And Finally....

hpspeel — Wed, 05/21/2008 - 08:43

...we are watching the ITN News at 10 with Trevor McD every night now. They are showing great footage of the mountain as well as interviews with Ran, Kenton plus others. Last night they showed them tackling the ice fall (with Ran going from BC to camp 2) and it looked truly awful! Hope you fully recharge your metaphorical batteries over the next couple of days. Eat eat eat! Willing you on buddy. Harry

hi from west coast scotland

Visitor — Wed, 05/21/2008 - 10:58

hi mike we are on our way to jura with richard and some friends of his as they are running the paps of jura at the wekend. we are all loaded up with bikes and midge repellent. we are having your favouriete shepherds pie tonite. dont worry you will be fine. sue will send you some reiki. can you send us a message when you are leaving base camp. we send youn lots of kisses and west coast hugs. take great care and enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and all the rest. Fiona, sue, richard. xxx

Keep going the end is in sight

Visitor — Wed, 05/21/2008 - 11:17

Many thanks to Mike for your fantastic diary.

Ray

We, in Computer Development, have been monitoring your progress every day. We send our best wishes for your climb to be a great success. You are so brave and daring.
On a personal note I got very strange looks from my passengers, while in a traffic jam in Harrogate on 8th May, as I clapped and cheered when the news broke that the Chinese had summitted. I think Mike's Diary may be effecting me too much.

Not long now. Keep up the great effort.

Amanda x

Happy Birthday to Greg/Daddy

Visitor — Wed, 05/21/2008 - 11:22

Hi Greg, it was lovely to hear your voice this morning. Wishing you a Happy Birthday for Friday- Heather and I will be thinking of you all day - as always. Stay focused and stay safe. Here is a big birthday kiss from us two X- Hope you catch it! Don't forget any crucial equipment for your summit bid. Good luck to all of the team. Go for it! Love you Greg - Elaine and Heather xxxx