APRIL 14 --- After several tries we were able to connect to the satellite via voice phone and had to get Tom Whittaker out of bed to answer some questions. There is a 12 hour time difference. They are one/half day ahead of our time. Tom said that upon arrival at base camp they had good weather conditions and he felt "fit as a fiddle." Then he carried a load 3000 feet up the mountain in one day, and was stricken with diarrhea which sapped his strength tremendously. He has been sick in bed, but says he feels more stable now. He said he will attempt to get a longer fax message out to us today to make sure the fax system will work while they are higher on the mountain...gogrimm

APRIL 15--- Fax received 9:00AM MST Everest Base Camp, Tibet. C.17,000 ft. April 15th, 1995. Weather: Snowing lightly, wind out of S.W. Temp. 28 degrees F. It has been clear and calm for two days. A weak storm moved in this P.M.

Health: Greg Child has been congested with sinus problems, headache, sore throat, and occasional fever for 6-8 days. I have been healthy apart from a heavy dose of gastroenteritus upon arriving at base camp. Not only contending with the thin air of base camp but also a rear end that is singing like a canary. Leo Dickinson is congested with a chest infection, but is handling it well. We work on filming projects and organizing gear. All good things! Tom Whittaker

APRIL 16--- The antibiotics are doing their stuff---no more canaries. Take a short, but steep hike 1,200 ft. up the side of a medial morain to test my legs and lungs. Both feel good. APRIL 17--- Head down to Rongbuk Monastery. On the way, picked up by Tibetans on the way out. Give us a ride in back of 3-ton truck. Stop at small monastery, 1 &1/2 miles from camp, perched on a morain. Shown into house with trap door. Secret shrine hollowed out among the rocks. Then shown round the ruins stopping at sacred spots to leave hair, grind rock and eat powder, touch sacred spot with forehead. Lunch on dried mutton and chang. Back to truck. Stop at sacred spring for drink and wet head and out to Rongbuk. Walking back high on morains, passed 3 ruined monasteries surrounded by the ruins of their villages. These monasteries are some of the highest places populated by people in the world---16,500 ft.

APRIL 18--- Join Dr. Dick Price from New Zealand to hike 6 miles over morain to 18,500 ft. lake camp, used for some of the other North Face routes. Many large snow partridges calling and displaying. Saw a group of 6 immature female sheep.

APRIL 19--- Hike back to base camp. Greg Child is looking very strong. We have both acclimatized well thus far.

 

• The Sponsors
• The People
• The Route and Itinerary
• Expedition Log
• Epilogue and Base Camp Pictures