Everest 2021 Update – Andrew Hughes – 3rd May
A wonderfully written update from Andrew Hughes, climbing with Madison Mountaineering – 3rd May
“No mountain is climbed the same way and you can only climb the mountain your own way and within who you are.”
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“The last handful of days we have recovered as best as possible at 17,500 feet from our first rotation. Nursing Khumbu coughs that have subsided now, but linger still as this environment does not seem to desire any form of full recovery.”
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“We now prepare to depart over the night for our second rotation. At 2 a.m. we will circle the Puja altar partially and begin our way up through the Khumbu Icefalls once more. The route will not be the same, so despite our having climbed through the Icefalls already we will be discovering the evolutions of the ice that have occurred.”
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“One of the bigger days thus far, Camp 1 will be a but a place to refill bottles before pushing onwards to Camp 2 for the night at 21,500 feet. We will take a rest day which will be followed by another major push up the Lhotse Face reaching for lower Camp 3 at around 23,000 feet without oxygen to spike our bodies one last time.”
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“Waking early we will descend the next morning all the way back to Everest Base Camp where climbers will choose whether to remain or drop back for a recovery before the third and final rotation – the summit push.”
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“Once again, I ask for your protective thoughts and prayers for our team as we push back into a realm where we relinquish so much control over the environmental threats around us. Thank you all for your continued support – eternally grateful to you all.”