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Report 7

My best shot - but I did not reach the summit

15 May 2006

I am back in Advanced Base Camp (ABC) after attempting to reach the summit. It did not go to plan.

Acute mountain sickness struck half an hour after leaving Camp 3, at 7,900m. This meant going from feeling super to being dizzy, lightheaded, off balance, almost fainting, and vomiting - all in the space of five minutes.

It was a scary experience. There was only one thing to do - get down as soon as possible and back to ABC to recover.

We were held up an extra day at Camp 3 because of the weather, and I think this may have triggered the sickness.

At that height you are on borrowed time and with our fast acclimatisation programme I don't think my body was ready. However, it is ready now and I'm hoping I will have the opportunity for a second summit bid. I certainly feel motivated for it.

We put 12 people on the summit yesterday, so many congratulations are due to them. They had a hard, cold day with a lot of bottlenecks - more than 60 people went for the top.

Signing off with 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

24 April 2006:  At the foot of "Big E" - Advanced Base Camp.
Read Report 3

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

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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