Local time: 18:00 11 Nov 2007
Location: Gorak Shep
Altitude: 5150m
Weather: - 10 C in our rooms, -18 C outsideat night. Sunny all day.

Hi everyone its Paul B with our daily update.

Trek to Everest Base Camp
I was thinking yesterday's climb to Pumori Camp 1 was going to be impossible to top, but today's trek to Everest Base Camp was equally as spectacular.

We were blessed with an even better day than yesterday. Apart from the occasional mountain top clouds, it was sunny and clear all day.

The trek to Everest Base Camp took us primarily along the same route as yesterday, except, at the turn off to Pumori, we continued along the glacier ice flow until we reached Base Camp.

Everest Base Camp
I have no idea how Base Camp could ever exist. The location is a huge space comprised of rocks, boulders and the underlying glacier ice, and nothing more. It's human determination and ingenuity that turns this inhospitable place into a living and working village during climbing season.

We arrived at the last summit attempt for the year was packing ready to leave for the winter. This was the first Thai natonal attempt at the summit and we met and spoke with the climbers on our approach to camp. They made 8000m and were forced back by the bad whether that we also experienced 3-4 days ago, but they will be back!

We spent well over two hours in Camp and were kindly given a flask of tea by the Thai support team. Again many photos and much video was taken of the Camp site, the surrounding mountains and glacier ice.

Ice Fall
We later ventured into the ice fall for our first experience of trekking across pure glacier ice. Not an easy task, but a great experience none the less. We also spent some time scrounging through the ice and rock for any lost or discarded items of interest from previous years.

Dazza had his heart set on finding an ice axe, after Dave's find of one in Antarctica, but had to settle for and oxygen mask from the 70's. I also found a piece of a helicopter that crashed in the area many years ago.

The Near future
After the past 4 very hard and rewarding days (Gokyo Lakes, Gokyo Ri, Pumori Camp 1 and Everest Base Camp) we now face 4 relatively easy/short days as we physically prepare and approach our final major goal of our time in Nepal. Island Peak (6189m)

Cheers for now
Paul B

Your Messages
Hi Deb
Great to hear from you, its only been 2 weeks, you slack Aussie. You knew my bum would be exposed at some point :) The beard is coming along well but I'm just not to keen on the icicle thing. So I might reneg on that bit. Soz

It has been very to date, mainly due to my lack of proper training, but well worth it. Everywhere we go its more beautiful scenery after another. Finally got to Base Camp today, see my main update for details.

Hope to hear from you before the next two weeks pass. Hope all is well with you and your world in London. Back soon enough.

Cheers
Paul B

Hi Charlie
Great to hear from you.

Soz if I'm making you jealous, you'll make it here one day I'm sure. Just had two fab days Pumori Camp 1 and Everest Base Camp. Lots of photos and video to show for it.

Very weary at the mo, early mornings, long days climbing/trekking etc. but well worth it. Next 3-4 days are easy as we prepare for the climb of Island Peak next Friday or Saturday.

Can't really say I'm missing London too much at present. But I will be back in 2 short weeks. Hope you had a great parade on Sunday.

Cheers
Paul B