RODNEY HOGG

With the weather forecast changing and pushing the summit window out by 2 days we have delayed our departure from BC. The revised plan is for a departure tomorrow morning and steadily working up the mountain with a planned summit push for the 7th or 8th day to coincide with the weather window when summit winds will hopefully have dropped from 90 km/h to around 10 to 15 km/h.

Team 1 left BC this morning on their summit bid and I leave tomorrow with team 2. This is likely to be my last blog for a while as the internet connectivity above BC is very unreliable and added to that I will be focussed on climbing the mountain safely. If I have a mobile reception I will tweet my progress. (follow the link to my Twitter). The plan is to move up in stages from BC to Intermediate camp then on to ABC. I intend to have one days rest at ABC before progressing on for the summit bid. I will move up to North Col from ABC then on to Camp 2 and then on to Camp 3 before the long summit day, this will all be weather dependant but all going well I plan my summit attempt to put Pudsey on top of the world sometime between the 15th and 17th May. Many thanks to everyone who has been following my blog and for all the support I have received whilst being on the mountain.

Malcolm and Richard Walker having established their objective of reaching the North Col have decided to head back home to the UK, they left this morning with Alan Hinks back to Kathmandu. Ricki has been suffering from a chest infection and has decided to go back down to Zhangmu for a few days to recover. The summit teams have now been established, Hempie, Charlie and Duffie will make up the first team, Justin, George and myself will make up the second summit team. Team 1 will leave BC tomorrow (Monday) and team 2 will leave the following day (Tuesday). If Ricki is well enough he will join up with team 2. We endeavour to work our way up the mountain with one rest day at ABC then a push through our high camps to the summit and catch a weather window when the winds are at their lowest in just over a week’s time. I’m feeling that I have recovered at BC although any form of exercise does require heavy breathing which is a reminder that you are above 5000m. The excitement amongst the team has increased knowing that the time has come and we are shortly about to try and realise our dreams.