Mt. Everest Expedition 2014: Dispatch #5

April 7, 2014    

Expedition Leader: Dean Staples, IFMGA – New Zealand 
Expedition Guide: Ang Dorjee Sherpa – Nepal/ USA 
Base Camp Manager: Caroline Blaikie – New Zealand / Scotland 

Team members: 
Nick Durack – UK
Yoshio Goto – Japan / Hong Kong 
Jake Frykberg – Australia
Jon Johnston – Australia / USA 
Anatolii Stegniei – Ukraine 
Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir – Iceland

Dendi one of our base camp cooks
shows us that even the mundane
task of putting on sun cream
can be fun

Pheriche 

We have all arrived in Pheriche where we will spend 2 days acclimatising which is a nice way of saying we are going to rest tomorrow.

Dr Sophie receiving a sundi from
Lama Geshe

This morning we had a Puja with the Lama Geshe, asking for safe passage on the mountain. It was a ceremony that lasted an hour and involved chanting, prayers, throwing rice and being blessed by the lama. This is always an important event for the Sherpa and climbers alike.

Pangboche monastery

Caroline, our Base Camp Manager along with Sarah and Mark will have arrived in Base Camp today to prepare camp for all of us arriving in another 5 days.

Dean