Base Camp - Weather Window Update & Special Thanks

The massive white plume of spindrift blowing from the summit provides every indication that the allusive weather window is still a way off. The wind is ripping into the North East Ridge of Everest as I type. We are still the only team left at Base Camp as the other teams moved up to Advanced Base Camp over a week ago to chase a rumoured weather window. We heard the news today that the Chinese Tibetan Mountaineering Authority (CTMA) rope fixers would leave to start fixing the ropes between 8300m and 8848m on the 18^th of May. 

Unfortunately for many of the teams currently waiting at ABC, this delay conflicts directly with a rumoured weather window between the 17^th - 18^th of May. I can only begin to imagine the frustration that the teams at ABC are going through and am now even more comfortable with our decision to stay at Base Camp until there is definite confirmation of a window AFTER the ropes have been fixed. I suspect that other teams will soon start to trickle down from ABC in an effort to allow their bodies to recover.

We get our weather forecasts emailed to us at least once / twice per day along with an accompanying analysis of temperatures, wind speeds, precipitation….

I emailed Sevenoaks School, Ridgetown District High School and Future Hope for some additional weather updates to take advantage of their internet access and get some weather insights from the students. Their responses were immediate and I have passed the data on to both Zac and Chris to compare with the data we are getting in. Special thanks to the boys at Sevenoaks as you provided us with a very interesting date / window which has since been the focus of significant discussion (positive!) and debate… Will confirm details tomorrow!!

So, as you can imagine, between the weather, the ropes, the politics, there is no shortage of drama here and we’re only at BC! Fortunately because our chef Ganu is fantastic and absolutely determined to fatten us up with his copious meals, we are all in excellent spirits, eating and sleeping well and enjoying the relative comforts of Base Camp.