Early start in Camp 1. With the best intentions in the world, getting up and out of a warm sleeping bag at 4am is a feat in itself when the outside temperature is sitting around -15. I forced my gear on slowly while attempting to remain in the sleeping bag and it wasn’t until Sona Sherpa arrived with the black tea did a man really start to rev the engine. Black tea and sugar. Hook it to my veins please.
Once the crampons were on and everyone was packed away, we started steadily towards Camp 2. I was happy to set pace behind Sherpa Milan and enjoy the surreal display of natural beauty that surrounded us. Everest to our left, Lhotse straight in front and the grand, ever extending western face of Nuptse to our right.
The clouds drifted in and out, pierced by the sunlight, turning them into a prism of light that reminded me of the Pink Floyd album cover ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. If I wasn’t looking at it with my own eyes, I’d nearly think it was an AI edit of reality in front of me. This trek is direct and Camp 2 is forever on the horizon. We could see our destination but it took a few hours to reach it and rest.
My team-mate Adam Sweeney suffered the consequences of not eating the day before. His appetite was non-existent and he was paying for it now, forced to grind his way for the last portion of the hike to the tents. Camp 2 is basic with simple provisions and food. That was to cause its own issues.
