Everest Marathon 2007
Groundhog Day
Kath Turner / 29.11.2007
Since the last report we have climbed to higher altitudes each day. It\'s been like ‘Groundhog Day’: 6.30am - bed tea, by 7am kit packed, by 8am breakfast finished and on our way. 3pm arrive at campsite, unpack kit, meal at 6pm and into sleeping bags by 8pm - curled up around Sigg bottles full of hot water to try and keep warm. Each day exactly the same, but what differentiates each day is the altitude and the changing scenery.
The weather during the day is perfect - sunny and warm, but at night it is freezing. To give you an idea of the conditions, by 5pm there is frost on the outside of the tent, by 6pm frost inside the tent. Your breath freezes as soon as it leaves your body.
During the day because of the dry conditions - it is extremely dusty and dirty - we are all filthy, our kits are filthy and most of us have given up washing - there\'s just no point. Conversation turns to what we will do when we get back - glass of wine, bath, shave, haircuts etc. Here we see children running 2 miles up mountains to school each morning- no Chelsea tractors here. The kitchen boys and porters who work so hard for us are always singing no matter how hard their work is. It makes you realise just how much we take for granted back home.
The scenery is of course breathtaking - during the day and at night when there are stars from horizon to horizon. As we have increased our altitude - up to 5440 metres (Gokyo Ri) inevitably there have been casualties from mild to severe altitude sickness - with one person having to return home already. People have given up their personal time and money to compete in this race, and to raise money for causes they believe in but to get to the start line is an achievement in itself and some won\'t make it.
Yesterday, I got \'gored\' by a yak. It didn\'t damage anything important - just my left arm, so I won\'t be arm wrestling for a while - but it\'s an illustration of just how tough life out here really is! (And why you should give Yaks a wide berth!)
[Look under galleries for archive pictures of the trek from Tengboche to the start line.]
SleepMonsters
