The weather today has been pretty good and has allowed James Raitt and team to reach Camp 3 today, which is a very good effort considering the fact that they have been down in Base Camp for longer than the other two teams. They carried in some gas and sleeping mats and put up two tents. That may not sound like a big deal but at that altitude (7200 metres) it is an effort just to breathe because there is less than half of the oxygen available at sea level. Putting up one small tent will have taken at least an hour and they would have had to have a good rest afterwards. It is extremely difficult to try and explain the amount of effort required to perform simple tasks at high altitude. Just getting into a sleeping bag is a huge effort and can make you gasp for breath. We are still getting breathless performing simple tasks at Base Camp but there is a marked difference between what we can do now before we get breathless compared to what we could do three weeks ago.

The four Sherpas went up to Camp 1 this morning and made very good time indeed. We could see them approaching the Hump some two and a half hours after leaving Base Camp which is very quick. They are going to go up to Camp 2 tomorrow and then do a carry to Camp 3 the same day. That way Camp 3 will be pretty well established and not far off ready for occupation by James and Co. However, before they occupy the Camp it would probably be prudent for James' team to spend a couple of nights lower down, perhaps at Camp 1, getting better acclimatised as they will certainly feel the altitude when they start the process of putting in Camp 4.

Whilst we are on the subject of acclimatisation; for those of you interested in the progress of Alan Hinkes, he went up to Camp 1 last night and is spending a couple of nights up there. Alan is listening in to our radio checks at 0600, 1200 and 1800 and piped up himself last night for a chat. This is both good for his morale and safety as we can keep a weather eye out for him, not that with all his experience he needs a babysitter!

Today's picture shows Ian Venables in the Rock Corner on the way from Base Camp to Camp 1.