April 18
Before starting up the mountain, several days of rest are on the schedule. In order to begin moving up the mountain, we need to continue acclimatizing and, most importantly closely watch our personal health. Several of us, me included, had contracted some kind of cold or intestinal issue on the way up and, even their remnants may be a minor concern at lower altitude, these issues can return and most likely get worse higher on the mountain.
Before starting up the mountain, several days of rest are on the schedule. In order to begin moving up the mountain, we need to continue acclimatizing and, most importantly closely watch our personal health. Several of us, me included, had contracted some kind of cold or intestinal issue on the way up and, even their remnants may be a minor concern at lower altitude, these issues can return and most likely get worse higher on the mountain.
The next few days can be spent at base camp, or an option that a few people have already taken: descent to a lower altitude for a few days in order to cure these ailments before getting higher on the mountain. Thinking about this option I, too decided to go down for a few days to get back to 100 %. There is really no hurry at this time, and it’ll be far better to begin the real climb as healthy as possible. So, another climber and I in company of a Sherpa hiked down to Pheriche, a village 3000 ft below base camp. I’ll be staying here for 3 days, and then return back to base camp.
Things will be a bit slow for the next 2-3 weeks while we will continue acclimatizing and going through two rotations higher up on the mountain. The real climb is at least 4 weeks away, of course weather permitting. And the weather has not been great, according to the sherpas it has been the coldest spring for many years. Well, it is one day at the time here, and right now, patience is most important…
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