One Giant Leap

Two days ago, we returned from Camp 3 (7,100m) on Everest, therefore completing the last of our acclimatization cycles before the summit bid!

At 3.30am on 26th April, we set off once again up the Khumbu Icefall. This time round, our objective was to get to Camp 3, sleep one night there and climb up towards the Yellow Band the next morning. Camps 1 and 2 are now familiar places to us, we stayed one night at each camp before heading up the Lhotse Face towards Camp 3 on the 3rd morning. A bit of background here: the Lhotse Face is a sheer face of near-vertical ice stretching 800m – the terrain on this face is extremely steep and climbers have been known to experience difficulty kicking into the hard and dry ice on this section.

It was a long and tiring plough up the Lhotse Face towards Camp 3. We took about 8 hours to get to our tents, which sits at the highest section of the entire campsite. Once we’ve settled into our tents, we had a bit of dinner before retiring for the night. We slept without oxygen and woke up early the next morning for our short climb towards the Yellow Band, a horizontal section of rocks that sit below Camp 4.

We toggled with the oxygen systems that we’ve learnt to use at Base Camp, and strapped on the 7.5kg oxygen bottle onto our backpacks to begin the climb. We journeyed for about 1.5hours before we reached the bottom of the Yellow Band and turned back towards Camp 3. Once back at Camp 3, we packed up and left for Camp 2 and subsequently, Base Camp.

We’re currently recuperating at Base Camp, waiting for weather reports of favourable weather windows for us to make the summit bid. While waiting, we’re abiding by the principle of ‘active rest’, where every other day, we hike up to surrounding peaks like Pumori and Kala Pattar. This is important for us to stay active and healthy for the summit attempt.

We’re thankful to be safely back at Base Camp. Just yesterday, we witnessed a major avalanche on the Khumbu Icefall which saw the left section of the icefall crumble down. It happened a day after we’ve returned, at the same time we would’ve been travelling through the icefall. This is a timely reminder for us that climbing is a humbling sport. Climbers don’t conquer Everest, they survive this giant of creation.

At this point, we’d like to wish our naming sponsor, NATAS (National Association of Travel Agents Singapore), a very happy 30th anniversary! Although we’re not able to join in the celebrations physically, we’re with you in spirit and hope to bring back good news!

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