Day #35

Location: Camp 2
Altitude: 6300m
Local Time: 7:55pm / May 2
Weather: Cold (40's) snow

What a difference a day makes ...and 700m. Yesterday was grueling as we pushed and pulled ourselves (by jumar) straight up the Lhotse Face. The face was mostly exposed ice so we really had to dig in with our crampons on every step that we took. Additionally, due to the extreme angle, we had to contort our feet into sideways motions as it was impossible to place one foot directly in front of the other as in a normal walking routine. Most of the time we were "duck walking" and were using all crampon points to dig into the ice.
I entered Camp 3 in a whiteout and could not see our view until this moning (see posted picture). The view was absolutely breathaking as far below lay the Western Cwm. and Camp 2, and directly above was the yellow band of rock and Geneva Spur which are famous Mt. Everest landmarks. After pictures and admiration of our little perch we descended the Lhotse Face for Camp 2. However, this feat was not easy as again the pitch was extreme, and now we encountered large groups of climbers headed for Camp 3. With extreme agiolity, skill, and the utmost of safety we were able to pass these climbers while always keeping ourselves attached to the safety lines. These processes were sometimes time consuming, but very necessary as mistakes made on the Lhotse Face can be deadly!
Safe and sound back at Camp 2 we now relax and prepare for our trip back down to basecamp tomorrow! By completing that trip we have followed a well laid out acclimitization schedule and should be ready for a summit bid!
(please refer to Rob's blog from a few days ago which details how we can spend those remaining days to the call for the summit).
Many factors come into play now such as weather, health of the climbers and sherpas, and ropes being fixed to the top of Mt. Everest.

*I challenge everyone to look up at the full moon tonight as we share in nature's glory from around the world!

Your Messages:

Carol:
Hi sweetheart. It's great to be back to Camp 2 ... safe and sound! I'm sorry that I could not write much last night as my hands were pretty numb due to the cold! I had a headache on arrival to Camp 3 last night, but felt great today!
It was intensely hot earlier this afternoon, but now is snowing and have had to layer up a lot! I'm typing from the warmth of my sleeping bag and all is well.
Time is ticking now as we play the waiting game! Thanks for keeping me abreast of your travel plans for the next few weeks as we will need to stay in close contact.
I will be thinking of you tonight as I gaze at the full moon.

I love you and miss you terribly :>)

Pat :>)

AORN Friends:

Paula ... thanks so much for the NASCAR updates! And what great news that Jeff Gordon is doing so well!!!! I do look forward to a race together and am sure that Carol will come along ... even if I have to drag her!
Thanks for the update on Jessy and I am sure that you are correct regarding the scholarship activity increasing on my return!

Rose ... in addition to being wrapped up in the warm blanket of thoughts and prayers from friends ... for added comfort I am wrapped in my down sleeping bag! Thanks for keeping me on the front burner!

Tom ... how great to hear from you! I had good intentions of making contact before I left, but things got too out of control! Thanks for logging in and hope you can continue to follow the adventures. Thanks for all that you did for AORN while there, and most importantly, thanks for your friendship!

Bonnie ... basecamp is HQ for all of the teams and has support staff, mess tents, communication tents, etc. Camp 1 is very primitive with tents established and you cook your own meals. Camp 2 is more progressive and has a mess tent (heated) and the team can congregate here as there is limited power off batteries for light at night. Camp 3 is as Camp 1 and very isolated on the Lhotse Face. When going to camps where you cook for yourself you plan ahead and take rice/noodle packets, soups, drink mixes, etc.
Review Rob's blog from a few days ago as he tried to detail what our experience will be once we get the call to go for the summit. Since we have transited these camps we will know what to expect as far as supplies, conditions, etc.
Offhand I would have to say that you could probably google Mt. Everest and find the pictures that you are requesting!
Thanks so much for sending the positive energy to Carol. Yes, she is surrounded by a great support system, but it helps to know that others like you care so much for both of us! I have always considered AORN as family and Bonnie you make it a reality!

Canadian Friends:

Julia ... thanks for sharing your travel stories. Isn't it fun? In 1984 Carol and I backpacked around Europe for 6 months ... it was great! Look forward to swapping stories when I'm home for Danny's wedding!

Jenna ... thanks so much for the hockey updates as I don't receive many! I hope that you can keep me up to date. Go Sens!!!!!!

Desi ... thanks for letting me know that Father Pierre is following along ... I need all the extra help I can get! Thank Matt for me on the Jeff Gordon update as it looks like some other NASCAR fans have stepped up to keep me informed also! Thanks also for the Sens report ... Go Sens!

Mom & Dad ... it was so nice to hear your voice Mom and sorry that I could not talk long! I am very thankful that you are being kept up to date on the adventure and look forward to sharing it with you in person when I come for Danny's wedding! Keep the candles burning!!!

Columbia Friends:

Danielle (aka Oscar) ... great to hear from you and glad to hear that the bone injury won't keep you down too long! Be careful though as you don't want to re-injure that bone and be out even longer! Say hi to Kristen!

Alma ... thanks for continuing to spread the news of our journey. Yes, it is a full moon tonight so will be gazing at it and thinking of friends and family doing the same!

Elizabeth ... great to hear from you! I am sure that once my brother Danny puts your location on the blogger map you will be very isolated from all others! I am very happy for you that you are getting this exchange experience as it will make you a better person for understanding another culture, knowing another language (or two), and having a better perspective on world affairs. As you may remember Carol spoent a year in Norway as an exchange student, and years ago we hosted an exchange student from Colombia, SA for one semester!
Yes I have already visited a few temples, and prayer flags are everywhere. The sherpas are fantastic people and we could not do anything without them.
Best of luck in the rest of your program and look forward to hearing a few stories on your return!

Palmetto Health Friends:

Sandra ... we are an unguided trip as we don't have guides and/or Sherpas until Summit Day. Since Rob has summitted twice he is sort of our unofficial guide, of which we really appreciate. Henry is our mastermind and organizes everything and as a result does not climb with our team as much as he would like to! He did lead us into the icefall on our arrival and gave us excellent classes on ladder crossings ...of which now I love!

USC Friends:

Alan ... glad to hear that the semester is over and all went well in NURS 231. It has been my pleasure to have you as a student and wish you the best of luck in the future.
Hopefully sometime in the early fall semester I can do a presentation for the CON with lots of pictures and tall stories!

All The Others:

Ken (NZ) ... the entire team have enjoyed all the blogs and appreciate the different perspectives.
It is our privilege to have Rob along ... he is a godsend!

Ken (Australia) ... Anna read your blog today and was very appreciative. She had to explain to me the SSB ... sounds inviting!

Bill & Michele ... this is truly nature unspoiled and is so nice to share it with those that have the passion ... as you do with your fellow horse riders! Y'all are invited to our mountain home once we are settled in so we can share lots of stories ... and maybe even George could find his way there too!

Wendy ... Mike read your blog today at lunch and shared with the team what Ethan was doing at school. Ward immediately commented that Mike must be one proud Dad ... and we can see that he is! I appreciate that the school will now be following along and hope that we can educate them a little!

Cathy ... we were all impressed with Rob's blog as it helped us to know what to expect also!

Mira ... Rob did not mention specifically why is attempting a third summit, but from what I have seen he is bringing a lot of his experience and leadership skills to help us. Yes, it it is great to have family and close friends nearby as it is an opportunity to share the adventure of a lifetime!

Jen ... Bo read your message this moring and it brought a great smile to his face.
It's been my pleasure to help families stay connected and appreciate your warm thoughts for the team!

Jean ... thanks so much for your donation to the Summit Scholarship, and thanks also for sharing the story of the valedictorian of your class. Imagine how many lives she could have touched in her nursing career, but now through the scholarship established by her husband she is doing just that!
As always I appreciate the kind words and support.

MC ... I shared your kind words with Rob and he is appreciative. The entire team is thankful for your support and wonderful quotes!

Ann & Graham ... we are headed down to thicker air tomorrow and will see what is planned as we anticipate the call to head back up the mountain. Thanks, as always, for you support.

Ron ... wow, great updates on NASCAR! And Jeff is the points leader ... just great! I contacted NASCAR for over a year before I left wanting to take their flag to the top of the world to show how big the fan support is ... but my requests fell on deaf ears!
Great job on your work with NASCAR to raise money for charities ... I love their eagerness to do this! My only race to date has been Darlington last year, but look forward to many more in the future!

WP ... great to hear from you and the moon over the Lhotse Face is unbelievably beautiful. I wish that Ansell Adams had been here as I would have this print framed!

Christiaan, Brigitte & Timo ... Mike read your blog and appreciates you checking in on the adventure. Sounds like he has extra work to do when he gets home!

Al ... I shared your posting with Mike and he is very appreciative. Keep in touch!