Hello Mountainzoners!
I've just heard from Vernon and the team up at Camp I. He reports they set a blistering pace up the Icefall today and arrived at Camp I within six hours of departing from Base Camp at 4 o'clock this morning. They said the Sherpas had already set up the tents at Camp I and as advertised, the wind was high, just as the weather reports indicated.
It was a great team effort to setup the group tent. And the team was safely ensconced in the tent, casually enjoying dinner, when they realized the storm was increasing. While they were discussing plans to fortify their encampment, suddenly a quarter of the cook tent blew out!
Caught with their pants down, they scurried like rats abandoning a sinking ship, and everyone realized the Minnow would be lost if they didn't work efficiently. So, with four shovels and eight men on deck, they rotated and built an 80 foot wall looking like a battleship built out of snow and ice. This sounds like Verns Denali experience kicking in.
Finally, proud of their work, they are sitting inside their re-enforced kitchen tent and enjoying another round of hot drinks.
They are guesstimating the winds to be blowing around 60-70 knots. They are crossing their fingers and hoping their camp will be there in the morning. Unfortunately the weather report calls for at least two more days of continued high winds. So, stay tuned for further events from up at Camp II on Everest.
So, even though the team would rather brave the elements up at Camp I, than stay here in the warm comforts of Base Camp when they hear me say it, this is Ellie signing off at Everest Base Camp.
— Ellie Henke, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent