Monday 20th July
July 20th, 2009 by Jake
Down in BC as per usual today. Not feeling too bad after our 30hrs up the hill, other than some slightly stiff calf muscles from the descent!
Today unfortunately we've lost another member of the team, who has wisely decided to head out after sustaining a painful (although non-critical) injury a few days ago in BC. It is a real shame to lose yet another member, and it was very sad waving him off in the helo this afternoon. Having said that, as I write this, he is probably enjoying a well earned shower in Skardu, and will hopefully be back home by the end of the week - lucky bastard!! We are now down to 7 members, from an original 10 climbers, and I hope that we don't lose anyone else. Having said that, we are hopefully going to be joined by another 4 climbers who have finished on Broad Peak, tomorrow, so a fresh injection of conversation around the BC dinner table, we hope.
Other than the (unfortunate) excitement of the helo evacuation today, it's been another quiet yet warm day in BC. Within 20 minutes of the chopper leaving, I'd grabbed the newly vacant tent and moved house. My original tent and platform, which had done me proud for the last 5 weeks or so had very much come to its end. Every night the cracks that emulated from directly beneath my bed tore my platform apart, until I was left with my feet hanging over a 2 foot drop, where the ice had melted all around the tent. So this morning, before the helo arrived, I spent an hour levelling out a new platform (with very generous dimensions this time), and then claimed my spot this afternoon. As well as the location, it is nice to have a new tent - one where the zips all work, and where I can shut the doors of the inner tent. By the time I came down off the hill yesterday, my inner on the old tent had well and truly given up the ghost, so last night I had a rather tedious cold wind blowing through my home!
Now with fresh tent, platform, and a nicely spring cleaned inner, I am ready to face this week as fresh as a daisy. Pity bad weather is going to hold us at BC for at least 3 days, although it will give me time to appreciate my new accommodation! Let's hope that tonight is more comfortable than last night!
Today unfortunately we've lost another member of the team, who has wisely decided to head out after sustaining a painful (although non-critical) injury a few days ago in BC. It is a real shame to lose yet another member, and it was very sad waving him off in the helo this afternoon. Having said that, as I write this, he is probably enjoying a well earned shower in Skardu, and will hopefully be back home by the end of the week - lucky bastard!! We are now down to 7 members, from an original 10 climbers, and I hope that we don't lose anyone else. Having said that, we are hopefully going to be joined by another 4 climbers who have finished on Broad Peak, tomorrow, so a fresh injection of conversation around the BC dinner table, we hope.
Other than the (unfortunate) excitement of the helo evacuation today, it's been another quiet yet warm day in BC. Within 20 minutes of the chopper leaving, I'd grabbed the newly vacant tent and moved house. My original tent and platform, which had done me proud for the last 5 weeks or so had very much come to its end. Every night the cracks that emulated from directly beneath my bed tore my platform apart, until I was left with my feet hanging over a 2 foot drop, where the ice had melted all around the tent. So this morning, before the helo arrived, I spent an hour levelling out a new platform (with very generous dimensions this time), and then claimed my spot this afternoon. As well as the location, it is nice to have a new tent - one where the zips all work, and where I can shut the doors of the inner tent. By the time I came down off the hill yesterday, my inner on the old tent had well and truly given up the ghost, so last night I had a rather tedious cold wind blowing through my home!
Now with fresh tent, platform, and a nicely spring cleaned inner, I am ready to face this week as fresh as a daisy. Pity bad weather is going to hold us at BC for at least 3 days, although it will give me time to appreciate my new accommodation! Let's hope that tonight is more comfortable than last night!
