Michael has reached another milestone with the Camp 2 acclimatisation process complete.
Today, the full team will be assembled at Base Camp for a multi-day rest cycle in anticipation of another foray up the Mountain. But that wasn't without an additional climb beyond Camp 2 and the longest descent so far.
On 21 April Michael took his second acclimatisation walk beyond Camp 2, arriving at the base of the Lhotse face. Michael will need to climb this wall of glacial blue ice, which rises about 1,125m, using fixed ropes later. It rises at a 40-50 degree pitch with some 80 degree 'bulges' as well. But that's all coming up... The picture above features the climbing team in front of the face of nearby Nuptse.
Michael and his climbing compadres commenced their descent from Camp 2 at 6am on 22 April in windy, cold conditions. Working in three small groups, the first two groups arrived in Camp 1 by 7.45am and by 4pm all three groups were back at Base Camp. Pictured above: Two climbers, Cedric and Mike (not our Mike), are spending an additional night at Camp 2 and will arrive at Base Camp sometime today.
It sounds as if things are progressing well, the climbers are healthy and the plan is proving successful. By all accounts the weather has been great and with some rest and recuperation they should be set to commence their next climbs shortly. We hope to hear from Micahel while he's at Base Camp & we'll make excerpts from his diary available through The West Australian news updates.
While we can't promise anything––Michael's focus is on climbing––feel free to post any brief questions you might have for Michael and we may be able to glean some more insights while he's at Base Camp.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
An exercise in up and down
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7 comments:
Nice work, Mikey.... does the fine weather make the icefall even more dodgy than normal?? Was it as scarey as they reckon? Are you feeling stronger than in previous climbs because of all your training this time?? Is it true that you owe it all to the influence of your crazy climbing older brother??
God be with you Michael many from RV are praying you achieve what you want safely mate.
Do it for The Lord!
Ditto to all of the above questions, except the last one. It's very obvious that you owe it all to your favourite Mother in Law's awesome attempt at the Milford Track :)
We miss you Mikey.
XXX's
Sue
and to your anxious mother who took you on some hair raising trips which you faced with great equanimity and even managed to lose you in the Himalayas.
Yr father takes all the credit - sorry to all those above.
Yr Mother (Audrey)
G'day Michael
I'm wondering if you are as hard to get hold of on the mountain as you are back in Perth! Hey I hope everything goes swimmingly for you and that you achieve your dream of conquering Everest! All the best and our prayers are with you! Thinking of you mate! Malcolm & Inge George
The bit that blows me away is that for all the up and down you'll be doing Mikey, Ang Dorje has done it, laden, a dozen more times than you. So, what I want to know is, how buff is he, and more importantly, is he still wearing jeans?
AJ
I will also contend that it was Mikey's ambitious and hair-raising ascent of the second floor balcony in Hatfield Way (facing imminent and impending peril from real estate agents with sharp pointy teeth) that was THE turning point in his climbing career.
AJ
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