We are presently camped at Camp II, high in the Western Cwm at an elevation of 6380 meters, and those who are still a little bit backwards, we're also at 21,300 feet above sea level.
Today we took an acclimatization hike up to the base of the Lhotse Face. All the climbers are feeling the altitude so we stroll along at a very moderate pace. My grandmother could overtake us, but then again she has oxygen and we don't have that much up here.
As we were hiking through the fog, it gradually diminished and the sun came out and very soon we were stripping down to our long johns.
It's difficult to believe how much force the sun has at this altitude. It feels like you're in a sauna and underneath an infrared lamp all at once without any wind to stir it up. It was quite oppressive.
But we ended up taking our hike anyway, through the crevasses of the upper Icefall and the Western Cwm. And we got a beautiful view of the Lhotse Face as the clouds raised. We could see where our Sherpas were moving up to Camp III and putting in our tents so we will be set to come back in a week from now and do our acclimatization night at 23,000 feet.
Most everybody is in real good spirits. We've had, certainly, some altitude symptoms, but we're trying to go slow and take it easy, and drink, drink, drink as much as we can.
That's pretty much it for Camp II. You can tell I'm still a little bit breathless from walking over here, but please join us again tomorrow as we report the descent through the Khumbu Icefall....
— Vern Tejas, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent
