Sat. 20th October. Birthday dinner for George

George was 16 on the 6th October, but this weekend was the first opportunity we had to celebrate his birthday 'en famille'.

We gave him 16 blocks of Cadbury's chocolate and a couple of books on bodypainting! Surely a 16 year old boy's dream presents!


In the evening last Saturday we went for steaks at 'the Breakfast Creek Hotel' - a Brisbane institution with splendid eye fillet steaks.
Here are Madeleine, George, Nicola, Nicola's boyfriend Brady, Paula & myself.

Day 25. 3.10.07. Final day in Kathmandu.

And so the adventure was reduced to this - shopping for pashminas!!!



After a final lunch at 'Mike's Breakfast' the UK contingent flew off and I left next morning.
A great trip.

NEXT TRIP K2. 2009.

Who Knows what day it is? DESPERATE Hangover +++ (Day 24 actually)

A little bit under the weather after the adventures of the previous night - Tom & Jerry's, Sam's Bar etc. not to mention the early bottle of Moet et Chandon Phil & I started with.

Yeah, but I'm not smiling inwardly. The Northfield breakfast certainly helped. OH MY GOD! Someone shaved my beard off!


Recovery was so good during the day that we were on the piss again that evening. Here at a very good restaurant called 'Kilroy's'.
Tom & Phil.


Myself & Didi.

Phil is accused of doing some 'irritating' table drumming in Tom & Jerry's Bar. How rude!

Day 23. 1.10.07. Jhangmu to Kathmandu and a shave!

At the border we said goodbye to Tengpo, our Tibetan guide. For any one of 50 reasons he is THE coolest dude in the world.


After crossing the Friendship Bridge into Nepal we chill and have a dhal-bhat lunch in Kodari.


Only 6 hours to Kathmandu - but spectacular scenery in the Bhote Khosi gorge.


And so to Kathmandu and a close shave.


The rest of the evening is lost in a haze. Could an excess of alcohol have been involved?

Day 22. 30.9.07. Rongbuk to Jhangmu via Tingri.

Magically, Everest appears just after breakfast, then we turn our backs on it and head off on the 'Friendship Highway' towards Kathmandu.


We had lunch at Tingri, not quite a one horse town.


Incredible view of Shishapangma on the way - 14th highest mountain in the world at 8013 m., 26,291 ft.


Then there was Jhangmu!

Day 21. 29.9.07. Thank you to our Sherpas.

We had a little ceremony in the mess tent to say thanks to our Sherpas who looked after us so well. They were a great crew and forever smiling and tolerant of we geriatric westerners.

Thanks to Dorje,


To Mindoo,


To Dendy,


To Sonam,


To our chef, Jumba,


And to our sirdar, Lhakpa - always smiling!

Day 21. 29.9.07. Camp 2 to Rongbuk.

A long day's walk down the moraine - but at least it was downhill! AND tons of Oxygen!!!


Amazingly, Rongbuk has a 'hotel' which has no shortage of Lhasa beer.


The place is run by some very cute Tibetan ladies.


Phil makes the right choice.

Day 20. 28.9.07. ABC to Camp 2. - Going Down!

Everest summit shrouded in it's 'cap cloud'.



Back on the Mallory Highway.


The chasm in the glacier just above Camp 2.

Day 19. 27.9.07. Rest day at ABC.

A beautiful day! Tom, Dendy, Lhakpa & Mike had left at 2.00 am. to try for Lahakpa Ri but snow conditions turned them back just before Lhakpa La.


The whole Everest massif.


The 3rd step and summit pyramid 8,850 m., 29,035 ft.


Makalu, 5th highest mountain in the world at 8463 m., 27,765 ft., seen across a cloud free Rapui La.

Day 18. 26.9.07. Avalanche & walk to Rapui La, 6400 m., 21,000 ft.

Just after breakfast all the snow fell off Changtse. This was a big avalanche - as they say, "you had to be there". The photos don't do it justice.


These guys at the next camp were literally running for their lives - and were OK.


Then it was on with the crampons and into the glacier.

Day 17. 25.9.07. Acclimatization at ABC.

Whoah! A spot more snow. Basically a 'relaxation day' (trying to breathe) at ABC.

Day 16. 24.9.07. Camp 2 to Advanced Base Camp, 6340 m., 20,800 ft.

A spot of snow overnight.




It looks cold and it certainly was.


In the evening, as a mark of respect for the cuisine of the 1920s expeditions, we get stuck into the Quail pate and water biscuits that I brought specially for ABC.

Day 15. 23.9.07. Acclimatization day. Walk up the Mallory Highway.

My new friend, the ice-axe.

The Mallory Highway is the central moraine between two glaciers - existing here as massive ice pinnacles or 'penitentes' between 50 and 100 feet tall.
We walked 2 or 3 km. up to gain height and get the views of Everest's north-east ridge.




The ridge with the 1st, 2nd & 3rd steps and the summit pyramid easily visible.