Sir Ranulph reflects on his trip to Camp 2
May 1st, 2008 at 3:11 pm |
During his last trip to Camp 2 Sir Ranulph suffered from severe exhaustion due to lack of sleep. Sir Ranulph said: “I got pretty much ruined, or that is how I felt, by this filthy cough. I’m now on penicillin and the doc has said to go down the valley would be very beneficial to the recovery process.
“When I got up to Camp 2 I felt fine. The process is normally to stay there to acclimatise to that new height, which bodies aren’t accustomed to. So two days up there is considered to be an ideal amount of time.
“When I got there I felt great and congratulated myself secretly on having got to Camp 2. Then I developed this lurgi, if I can call it that, and couldn’t breathe, and breathing is important.”
Sir Ranulph found that his cold, combined with a common condition called Chain Stokes, made it necessary to try sleeping with oxygen. Due to exhaustion his journey down from Camp 2 to Base Camp took eight hours. Developing a cough, known as the Khumbu Cough, is fairly common and descending down the valley is generally accepted as the only cure.
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May 1st, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Ran
Sounds like you had a tough time ay C2. As Rob will tell you last year I got very ill at C1 first time up but a month later managed to summit.
I hesitate to profer advice to such an expereinced explorer as you but for what its worth I suggest plenty of chicken down the valley, conserving your energy on the mountain (not too many trips up)and take all the help you can get.
The summit ridge is a gloroius place and worth all the pain…and the summit…lives in my heart and always will.
Good luck.
Mike Davey
May 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Just keep going…......if anyone can, you can !!
May 1st, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Hi Ran
Typing from an office in Marie Curie – Get some one to make you Chicken broth boil plenty of vegetables with a chicken breast all together in a pan of seasoned hot water drain and drink the broth-. Then a tablespoon of virgin olive oil and raspberry vinegar for your chest!!
We are right behind you here in Wales!!
May 1st, 2008 at 6:37 pm
conserve your strength you have survived worse take care
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I think you must be one of the most amazing people who have ever lived and have a good rest good luck ran
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
After the chicken broth you really need a glass of the Mulberry
Gin – you will be running up to camp 3!
Take great care and don’t push your luck…see you on the summit
May 6th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Just finished your autobiog and am willing you on to the top.
Get fit and take care
Steve