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Friday 21 Apr 2000 Kangchenjunga Base Camp
This Easter Friday morning started as usual with breakfast at 0400 for James Raitt,
Larry Foden, Aleck Burrell and Roddy McArthur who then set off up the mountain with
another 24 days of rations for Camp 1, through the deep snow that fell during the
storm that enveloped us yesterday afternoon and evening. Pema and Da Phuri also carried
up to Camp 1 and in the customary Sherpa way they set off well after the first four,
carried larger loads, overtook them on the way and got back to Base Camp earlier.
And all with a lovely smile on their faces!
Once James and Co had departed for Camp 1 the expedition leader sent and received
our daily emails and contacted the Fleet Weather and Oceanographic Centre (FWOC),
at the Royal Navy's Fleet Headquarters in Northwood, Middlesex, England (near Watford).
The FWOC have been collating meteorological data for our area (Latitude 27o 42 09N
Longitude 88o 09 01E (Nepal Tourist Dept Data)) and emailing it to us daily during
the middle watch (Royal Navy term for the period between midnight and 0400). The
data provided tells us the temperature, wind direction and speed at various altitudes
but needs the expert analysis of the FWOC forecasters for us to know what this actually
means on the mountain. What we really need to know is whether it going to snow, how
heavily and for how long. The forecast until the 26th Apr is basically good with
a few snow showers only. This facility is vital for our safety on the mountain and
is very much appreciated.
Life at Camp 1 started earlier today as it takes longer to get up and about at their
higher altitude where it is much colder. At 0600 Ady Cole radioed down to Base Camp
as part of the twice-daily radio check at 0600 and 1800. Ady reported that they had
had a comfortable night but that much snow had fallen which would slow progress towards
Camp 2. The temperature at Camp 1 at 0600 was minus 10o C.
Our agent in Kathmandu, Kit Spencer, has tracked down yesterdays missing resupply
items (the 20kg of lamb, 20kg of chicken, Nangilo bread, fresh vegetables and 300
metres of hose pipe). The pilot had to drop it all off in the village of Ghunsa as
he was operating at the limits of his aircraft. Apparently a Sherpa undertook to
deliver it to us. We estimate that will take at least 4 days. What do you think are
the chances that the food will be fit for consumption?
Today's photo shows the BT "Mobique" system which both teams used to send and receive emails during the trek and which the main team are now using to make voice calls to the FWOC.
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