Thurs 12^th April 2012 Everest Base Camp 5300m

Rest Day

Hmmm, no rest!

Once again a cold night, somewhere in the region of minus 13 Deg C. Every morning, despite trying to vent the tent I wake up to a layer of quite visible frost not only on the inside of the tent but also on my sleeping bag and any clothing or item (such as a mobile phone or iPod).

Every day we hear at least three or four quite large either snow or rock avalanches.  we tend to hear then more when in bed and some

Its light about 5.30am and I am always wide awake when the Sherpas come around with the hot towels and tea.

This morning we split the camp in two, effectively the WWTW guys and me, and the rest. We went off for a little 60 mins trek to get a view of Everest from a nearby ‘hillock’ and take some PR photos whilst the rest went to a much better vantage point but which would have been difficult for the film and photographers because of the number of people about.

Well what should have taken an hour took a bit longer as our Sherpa Guides seem to get lost! We ended up scrambling up some quite steep slopes and at 5,350m you really feel the bottom of the lungs, well at least I dd.

Afterwards I began to feel a bit odd.

I had sat next to one of the guides last night who was complaining of a chest cold. He had taken today off in bed.

Went to bed at a reasonable time. Not feeling too good.