| An Italian and Australian team had
left for High Camp that morning. They didn’t know it, but they were in
for a very uncomfortable, and disappointing, three day stay at High
Camp. (photo: On the way for the training/acclimstisation walk) |
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| Temperature had dropped to -14deg C
in my tent overnight, causing water in my bottles to freeze ...... even
the contents of my ‘P’ bottle froze! (photo: Looking back along to the head of the Hinku Valley) |
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| Today we ventured up to the Mera La
glacier (5000m/16300ft) for a practical introduction to roping
procedures. It was a tough steep rocky path to get to the glacier, made
more strenuous with the thinner air. Once at the glacier, we put
crampons and harnesses on, then were instructed in rope techniques on
the ice. It was hard work as snow covered the glacier, causing the
crampons to ‘ball up’, which meant continually having to clear them
with the ice axe. It was also warm work, as the sunshine, coupled with
snow reflection, made it very hot. Amazing, considering our ‘icy’
surroundings! (photo: The end of the Mera la glacier where we practiced our roping/ice axe procedures) |
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| The training session over, we
departed for camp, arriving at about 1600. The heat we had experienced
during the day didn’t last, by early evening the temperature in my
tent was down to -4 deg C. (photo: Pyramidal mountains!) |
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