MountainZone.com



Alpine Ascents International

MORE EVEREST



NEPAL TIME:
 Home > South Col Dispatch Index > (5:47am PST) May 28 Base Camp Update

Packing Up the Tents
Base Camp Update
Base Camp- (5:47am PST) May 28, 2002

Henke
Henke
DISPATCHES
previousnext

Everest 2002 Dispatch Photo
Sea of Seracs
Photo Gallery
Well, now that the team is completely off the mountain, the expedition's and Base Camp's days are numbered. Yesterday the Sherpas worked double time, first carrying a load down from Camp II to cache at Camp I, and then returning to Camp II to pick up a second load to carry all the way down to Base Camp.

As Bryce and I welcomed them into Base Camp with cheers and handshakes we couldn't believe the size of the loads they were carrying. Some of those loads looked bigger than the Sherpas carrying them. They looked pretty happy to be getting the weight off their backs, too.

"We can always pick out the Sherpas zooming down through the Icefall compared to the snail's pace of the Western climbers..."
And even with that workload the Sherpa team beat the Western team back to Base Camp. We can always pick out the Sherpas zooming down through the Icefall compared to the snail's pace of the Western climbers. But our friends showed up eventually and were greeted with hugs, congratulations, cups of juice and kata scarves as they left the Icefall for the last time. They looked as glad to be back to Base Camp as we were to have them here. And of course Ong Chhu pulled out all the stops to feed their hungry appetites as well.

For a late lunch we had chili, cornbread, crackers with salami and cheese, soup, and chocolate cake. After that feast everyone settled in for a nap, only to be awakened for more soup, baked chicken, roasted potatoes, vegetables, and yes, cheesecake, for dessert.

Everyone hit the hay early, but we did hear a chorus of coughing throughout the night. Climbing at high altitude is very hard on the respiratory system so the coughing will probably continue for several days as people recover.

Rather than take a rest day today, the Sherpas decided to get the job finished. Once again they left early this morning to make their last trip up through the Icefall up to Camp I to retrieve the last tents and gear from the mountain. We were glad to see them back in Base Camp by about 10am. We were also glad to see the sun today for the first time in several days. Base Camp was decorated with yellow tents drying out before being hauled down and put away for the next expedition. The climbers were also glad to have it warm for their first showers in many days.

So tonight many yaks have arrived in Base Camp and tomorrow most of the team members will head down the valley for various modes of transportation back to Kathmandu and home. As soon as they leave, the rest of us will finish taking down the dining tent, their sleeping tents, and packing up the rest of Base Camp. Tomorrow we will also take down the communication tent and send the last of our cybercasts to Mountain Zone (I think), and by the day after tomorrow, Base Camp will be gone until the next season.

Cancha has just called us for tonight's feast, so goodnight for now.

Ellie Henke, Alpine Ascents International Base Camp Manager and MountainZone.com Correspondent

email a friend