Everest Update 12 April: Scott Parazynski: Happy Easter from Chomolungma

Days 22/April 12, 2009 (Easter Sunday): I was starting to feel a bit sorry for myself, and even more for my family back home, waking up a half a world away on Easter Sunday, punctuated by a sharp rock situated squarely between my shoulder blades. I could tell it would be a sunny, warm day just by peering at my vestibule, a bright ray of sun already piercing the tent.

Days 22/April 12, 2009 (Easter Sunday): I was starting to feel a bit sorry for myself, and even more for my family back home, waking up a half a world away on Easter Sunday, punctuated by a sharp rock situated squarely between my shoulder blades. I could tell it would be a sunny, warm day just by peering at my vestibule, a bright ray of sun already piercing the tent.

Much to my surprise as I opened the tent fly on my way to breakfast, I saw four small chocolate Easter eggs at my stoop! At breakfast, naturally brown hard-boiled eggs had to pass for the psychedelic, home-colored eggs I’d typically make with Luke, Jenna and Gail, but great nonetheless!

I’m thankful for good friends — Doug and Michelle will have my family over for Easter this afternoon — and for the beautiful environment in which I find myself this Easter. Although there won’t be an Easter service here, it certainly is a beautiful sanctuary to reflect in.

I’ve never been accused of being politically correct — I still say “Merry Christmas” when others seem to prefer “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” — so I wish you and yours a Happy Easter from Everest Base Camp… or if that doesn’t work for you, Namaste.

Scott

Forward Planning

The Icefall Docs have made it to within 100 meters of the Camp I plateau in the Western Cwm, by latest report. They have a rest day today, and expect to complete the route by tomorrow. Given this information, our Sherpa team plans to outfit Camp I the day after tomorrow, and several of us plan to head up for our first rotation then as well (Tuesday).

I spent much of the morning with Eric and Ang Jangbu sorting through our medical kits for Camps I and II, and plan to test our Gamov bag later today or early tomorrow. A series of climbing team briefings are planned for tomorrow, to include all the logistical and technical details folks need to consider while living and moving up the mountain in the coming weeks.

While up high on the mountain for 2-3 day rotations, my blogs will come to a screeching halt. That said, my personal satellite tracking device, SPOT (SPOTScott), will be my “pulse” on the mountain, and you should be able to see Danuru (SPOTDanuru) and I working our way up to as high as Camp II if all goes as planned. Keith should also be arriving in Nepal, and you’ll be able to follow his observations as he acclimates to this unique environment.

Finally, Keith and Miles may post some of my journal notes from this phase of the climb last year, when Adam Janikowski and I first slugged our way above the Icefall to Camp I.

In Closing

Many of my trekking friends recently summited Lobuche Peak, and all are now on their way home on foot, helicopter and/or plane. Congratulations on your time here — you’ll be missed. Time to log off for tea time now — as Les would say with a Knoxville twang: “I’m on it like a rat on a daggum Cheeto.”