Khumbu Icefall Day!

Woohoo! I got my first taste of the legendary Khumbu Icefall today - love the icefall! With regards to the ladders, I need bit of convincing! Okay, here's the deal - I've been in icefalls before, and I enjoy climbing through the icefall - over and through the hills and valleys of ice and snow. Sometimes the grade is mellow, and you're able to take it easy; sometimes it's steep, and here (in the Khumbu) the icefall doctors have set up ropes so you can haul yourself (and the backpack on your back) up the ice cliff or hill. All that fun obstacle course stuff I did at summer camp and Basic Training is totally paying off! Up and down and all around, the path through the icefall zigs and then zags from one side of the valley to the other. Now, regarding the ladders - I practiced for about 1.5 hours at Science North before I left knowing that this was only a taste of how tricky it would actually be - and sure enough....whew!

So we came to our first ladder, and it was on a normal angle - like you'd have if it were leaning against the side of your house. The next one was a short (maybe 8ft) one, laying across a short crevasse - these two ladders were no problem - then we came to the tricky ladders.

Imagine a wide (like 20ft), deep slash in the snow - and then imagine two

12 ft ladders roped together - the spacing between each step is about 12 inches and your crampon points barely touch the rung on either end of your boot. You grab the rope that is laying in the snow on either side of you - clip into one (in case you fall, of course). You have your foot on the ladder, crampon points barely hanging on - and your still on the snow! Your next step takes your foot over the abyss - you're leaning forward, pulling the ropes behind you - a very unnatural position - and you take your next step. Now you are over the crevasse, and I don't care what anyone says - you're heart is pumpin'! You're not sure if your crampon will stick while you take your next step, or you worry that your crampon will stick and throw you off balance (this happens if you try to take a big step - trust me - I know!) Then you're wondering if the ladder will tip since your weight is mostly on one side of the ladder at any one time. Oh my, my heart was pumping indeed! But this is my description of the first three trips over these double ladders. I hope with time, and more practice, that I will become used to the ladders, and that will be that.

On the way back, while on that easy, flat, short ladder - my bandana fell off my neck - and all I could do was watch it fall in the crevasse! When I got to the other side, I looked down, but it was totally gone! This is a bummer - as my bandana reduced sun exposure, and most importantly, helped moisten and heat my breath, and reduced throat problems. Now I'll have to come up with an alternative.

We all came back to the tent. I kind of went ahead because it was so hot on the glacier! (I'm Canadian - when I left, it was still winter! I need time to adjust to this heat!) I downed some lemon juice, and then put my kit away. We had lunch (spam, french fries and boiled veggies), and some people changed their minds about going up tomorrow, but I'm still tracking to go up to Camp 1.

I'm going to pack my stuff, and read for the rest of the afternoon - and drink lots of water!

Hopefully, when you hear from me next, I'll be at Camp 1.

Meagan