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Report 3

At the foot of "Big E" - Advanced Base Camp

24 April 2006

Chilly greetings from Everest Advanced Base Camp (ABC), situated at 6,400m. Since last week the expedition has moved on and we are now at the foot of
"Big E".

This means unzipping our tents for a stunning view each morning for the whole of the North Face. However, it also means temperatures dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius during the night – and that’s inside the tent.

I went on the 23km hike on Sunday and Monday, sleeping at Interim camp on Sunday night. The long trek went really well and I was even a bit faster than last year. In fact the whole team – climbers, film crew and others – did well.

Once again the sherpas had done a fantastic job setting up the ABC. They have already been preparing for the next stage of our climb, setting up camp at North Col and fixing ropes to 7,500m.

We are all trying to get comfortable here. You get out of breath just reaching for your drinking bottle and sleeping is done in intervals, since the high altitude makes you want to go to the toilet more often. My appetite is challenged, but eating is crucial – the body’s demand for calories is twice that at sea level. Generally, I’m feeling good, though I would like the quality of my sleep to improve.
 
Most of the team went for a hike towards crampon point (the place where crampons are first used) yesterday and that went well. The plan for the next week is to go to the North Col / Camp 1 on "Big E" at 7,066m, coming back to ABC on the same day. After a few days of rest we will then return to North Col to sleep and acclimatise further, readying for going even higher.

Until then this is Mogens signing out, closer to the top of the world.

High spirits.

Mogens

8 April 2006:  Mogens arrives at Everest Base Camp.
Read Report 1

14 April 2006:  Puja blessings and the readying for the climb.
Read Report 2

29 April 2006:  On fire for the fight of each step.
Read Report 4

6 May 2006:  The waiting game begins.
Read Report 5

9 May 2006:  It's a go: I'm heading for summit.
Read Report 6

15 May 2006: My best shot - but I did not reach the summit.
Read Report 7

22 May 2006: I'm off on another summit bid.
Read Report 8

27 May 2006: A bolt of lightning – and I plod down the hill again.
Read Report 9

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