{"id":37314,"date":"2020-05-28T05:38:19","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T11:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=37314"},"modified":"2020-05-27T18:02:49","modified_gmt":"2020-05-28T00:02:49","slug":"virtual-everest-2020climbers-back-in-base-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/28\/virtual-everest-2020climbers-back-in-base-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Everest 2020:Climbers Back in Base Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

The fictional team is back at Base Camp, recovering both physically and mentally from a grueling summit push.<\/p>\n

In the real world, the Chinese survey team summitted and the national team is expected to summit on Thursday. After weeks of delays due to deep snow, \u00a0the Tibetan rope team finally got to the summit on Tuesday. This one of the latest dates ever to reach the summit on the Northside. Mingma G<\/a> posted on Facebook that the Tibetan team included Dorjee Tsering, Tenzing Norbu, Dunpa, Tashi Gombu, Tsering Norbu, and Dorjee.<\/p>\n

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Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas<\/a><\/em><\/strong> is a joint project of Alan Arnette<\/a> and several global guide companies. Our objective is to entertain Everest fans during the Coronavirus spring closure<\/strong> and raise money to help the Climbing Sherpas who are not working this spring. While there will be accurate historical<\/strong> references, this series is a work of fiction<\/strong>. Names, characters, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously<\/strong>. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Please join us by making a donation using the links below plus by adding your Everest experiences in the comment section.<\/p>\n

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Climbers Back in Base Camp<\/h2>\n

The two women wrapped their arms around one another, watching the helicopter disappear over the top lip of the Khumbu Icefall, Boyfriend gently swinging from a rope hanging from the belly of the chopper.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to get down there.\u201d Girlfriend cried to Guide. \u201cWe will, we will. But for now, we all need to get to Camp 2 for rest. We will go down tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the AS350 B3 helicopter hovered over the Base Camp helipad, Sherpas and Docs from Everest Hospital grabbed him and took him off the rope. \u201cLet\u2019s get him to our tent, \u201c Doc said.<\/p>\n

\"Helicopter<\/a><\/p>\n

In the tent, he laid down on a cot with a mattress. Doc took his blood pressure and oxygen saturation measurement. This time it was in the high 80s, up from the low 70s at the South Col. The color had returned to his face. \u201cNow, that was something,\u201d Boyfriend said, referring to the helicopter ride. \u201cYes, not many people have ever taken a long-line from that altitude,\u201d Doc chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are doing better than what we had heard, but you still need to get to Kathmandu as soon as possible. We worked with Adventure Rescue, and they are sending another chopper, should be here in 20 minutes. You will check into a hospital for further observation and tests plus a chest x-ray.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Back at the South Col, Old Man, along with Nawang, Passang, and Pamba, had rested for about an hour. They needed to get going to reach C2 before dark. It had already been a long, exhausting day. The Climbing Sherpas debated short-roping him and decided that Pamba would attach one rope but not keep it too tight.<\/p>\n

Loner, Snorer, Buddies, and Dutch passed through C3 just as Guide, Nawang, Girlfriend, plus She with Mingma reached the base of the Lhotse Face. It was 3:00 in the afternoon. The winds picked up slightly.<\/p>\n

They saw two figures moving towards them as they got halfway to Camp 2, it was their C2 cook, Chuldim, and the cook boy. They had packs. Meeting them, Chuldim offered, \u201cNamaste. Congratulations, Didi, both Didi\u2019s. Hot Lemon?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The team arrived at Advanced Base Camp throughly worn out, not only physically but emotionally, especially Girlfriend. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say,\u201d she began at dinner. About that time, Old Man walked in. \u201cHell, I\u2019m done. Where\u2019s that helicopter?\u201d He added with a smile.<\/p>\n

Guide came in, \u201cGot a report on Boyfriend. He\u2019s in hospital in Kathmandu.\u201d Girlfriend broke down, tears streaming down her face. \u201cHe\u2019s stable, and the Docs there say he\u2019ll be fine and make a full recovery. I talked to the Docs at Everest Hospital at Base Camp, and they said he looked pretty good for what he\u2019d been through.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team ate dinner, but there was little conversation. Everyone just wanted to go to sleep. \u201cYou know the Icefall drill. Walking at 4. It will take about an hour to get to C1 then another 3 to go down. You\u2019ll be amazed at how good you will feel with each step lower.\u201d Old Man snorted, \u201cHell, I hope so!\u201d Everyone smiled and let out laughs of relief. They were going to miss the old coot.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

With headlamps lighting the boot track, the team of members and Climbing Sherpas got to C1 faster than Guide had expected.<\/p>\n

Entering the top of the Icefall, She paused for a moment. The combination of wind, snow, and gravity had all come together to create a magnificent ice garden. She felt immense gratitude. She also felt relief that this would be the last time She would go through the labyrinth.<\/p>\n

She took out her sat phone; the battery indicator showed one bar of power left. She pressed #1. \u201cWe are at Base Camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Climb On!
\nAlan
\nMemories are Everything<\/p>\n

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Climbing Sherpa Support<\/h2>\n

Who, how much, and how often you donate is a personal decision. Maybe you climbed with one of the guides, or plan to one day. Perhaps you have followed them for years and want to support their Climbing Sherpa team, or maybe you support by geography – Nepali, American, Austrian, British, New Zealand. It’s up to you and will be much appreciated.<\/p>\n

My sincere appreciation to those companies who accepted my invitation to join Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas<\/a><\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n