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 Home > South Col Dispatches Index > April 16 Dispatch

Ladder Style
Base Camp - Wednesday, April 16, 2003

Benitez
Benitez
DISPATCHES

Everest 2003 Dispatch Photo
Base Camp
Training

Off to work we go....

Day by day, bit by bit, life here at chez Base Camp gets more and more settled.

Last night, Matthew and I went to have a pleasant dinner with his friends on the South African team; amazing conversation and pizza. Today was all about review: review of rope systems, ice-axe usage, how to hit someone on the move with a snowball, and lastly, how to practice crossing ladders in leather shoes, blindfolded, backwards. No joke!

As the snow fell this afternoon, we all challenged each other to see who could cross the ladders with the most style. Matthew did it with a rock on his shoulder. Vern did it two-by-two. Bob ran. Paul crawled. I went blindfolded (thanks to all that work with Erik Weihenmayer two years ago!). Then the French team showed up to try to outdo us, Lakhpa, our sirdar Sherpa, went across in Tevas...on and on. Thank God this ladder is three feet off the ground and allowed us to play around.




Bruno found out that he will be in The New York Times as the first actual customer at the cybercafe here at Base Camp. What is this world coming to?

For myself, I spent the afternoon reading, drinking Tang, catching up on my journal, and dreaming of Thailand. Whoops, too soon for that.

So, we are as set as we can be to begin our work on the mountain. Tomorrow, perhaps, might be yet another rest day, before heading up, up, and away.....

Till then,
Luis

Luis Benitez, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent

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