This town – is nothing but a ghost town
May 20th, 2008 at 10:49 am |
This year when Sir Ranulph Fiennes arrived at Everest Base Camp he wasn’t even sure if he would ever be allowed up the mountain – but he came anyway. Now after six weeks of acclimatising; climbing up and down through the ever cracking and shifting Icefall; six weeks of living at an altitude of 5,380m, of being out of breath even when you roll over in bed; six weeks of waiting, wondering – coughing. It’s proved to be a gamble that has paid off.
This morning, before sunrise, Sir Ranulph Fiennes strapped on his crampons at the bottom of the Icefall for the last time and prepared to battle his way to the top of the world’s highest mountain.
Yesterday the team’s departure was delayed by bad weather. The team sat around apprehensively waiting for news that they could finally leave Base Camp to chase their dream. At around 4.30pm word came – a 3am departure the very next day.
Like so many times before the day began with the team waking before dawn. Sir Ranulph said: “Obviously I’m apprehensive because it is a long way up there where the jets fly, a lot can go wrong – but I’m in very good hands – the best.”
The team, including Kenton Cool, expedition leader, and Dr Rob Casserley, threw juniper onto the fire, an offering to the Goddess Chomolungma, shook hands and wished each other the best of luck before heading off in single file, ducking under the prayer flags that hang low over the glacial rubble path.
Acclimatisation has not been easy for Sir Ranulph, who has recently had an operation for prostrate cancer, at one point Kenton seriously considered calling the expedition off. Kenton said: “After the first Camp 2 trip when Ran took eleven and a half hours to come down I was very, very concerned that the whole expedition was in vain. We had Ran on oxygen and it was looking really bad.”
Sir Ranulph admits that episode has made him nervous: “Since the coughing and the lung problems got to me on one of the acclimatisation trips to Camp 2 – that has made me very nervous that the same will come back again.
“My main hope of getting to the summit, rather than succumbing to some heart or lung problem, is that the oxygen will enable me to survive the particular problems of my body and get over that.” Sir Ranulph hopes that the combination of going slow and using oxygen will help him to overcome these problems.
And it certainly seemed to work on his recent trip to Camp 3. Kenton said: “He has bounced back like Ran always seems to. From doom and gloom it is looking relatively rosy for a successful summit.”
Base Camp is now more like a ghost town as climbers have headed, in their droves, up the Icefall – all with the intention of reaching the summit.
If successful Sir Ranulph will be the oldest Briton to reach the summit.
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May 20th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Good Luck to you all on this amazing quest. Come back down safely.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Bon Voyage ! Good Luck – go for it !!!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Congratulations so far, It is not far now to the top.
Margaret
May 20th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
The best of luck to Sir Ranulph and all the Marie Curie Team.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Fantastic, your adventure sends a shiver down my spine and reminds of my time over there three weeks ago….....just amazing, good luck and by the time you read this, I hope all is going and has gone well for you all
May 20th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I know u can do it.Good luck Ran and to ALL the team!
May 20th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Good luck Ran!
May 20th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Best of luck Ran, Kenton and Rob from everyone at Porters Progress UK! We’re all gunning for you. PS Look out for Heather Peacocke in Lukla, on your way out.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Way to go Ran, good luck to you and all the team. Return safetly.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Best of Luck to you and the team Tan,
From everyone here at Bradshaw Taylor
May 20th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Wishing you all well!
May 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
we are thinking of you back home.crank up the O’s. now lets knock that bugger off and get back safely. all the best!
May 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Good luck Ran and the rest of the team from Fiennes Explorer Scout unit in Sandwell West Mids
May 20th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Thinking of you all. Come back safe, Ran
Abbs
May 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
we are all cheering for you, Ran and team, and wishing you all the best
May 20th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Its started at last hope you all achieve and come back safely
May 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Best of British to you and the team.Good luck Sir.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Ranulph take great care God be with you ,I pray you conquer this all the best to you and the team kathy.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:31 am
Best of luck Sir Ran,You are an inspiration to us all.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:28 am
Dear All on the expedition
As someone who leads a fairly mundane life your exploits hold me in complete awe. You are wonderful examples of what positive things humans can achieve in extremely difficult circumstances. I hope that you are succsessful with your climb and you arrive back safely.
Many Congratulations on what you have done so far
Best wishes
Paulette
May 21st, 2008 at 12:31 pm
keep fighting it Ran it is the only way to win good luck you are a true hero.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Good luck to all the team, Ran you’re an inspiration, onwards and upwards!
May 21st, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Good Luck!!
Keep up the good work
xx
May 21st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Good luck to the bunch!! I am Tanner’s Mom and have been following you daily. Tanner is such a lucky man to be climbing with you Sir Randulph Fiennes and know with this he will be in good hands!! Your achievements are amazing and so impressive although my friends say, he must be bipolar because nobody in their right mind would do such things!! Stay safe and take care of my Tanman along with everyone else! Jennifer
May 21st, 2008 at 10:42 pm
This is Tanner’s Mom and am so impressed with his climbing companion!! Best of luck to the bunch!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
A true searcher at the pinnacle of excellence. Always pushing yourself so to inspire others. A personal thank you from me.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
watching your progress daily, wishing you lots of luck, you are one of a kind,a true hero.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
You are an inspiration to many, many people. Good luck to you and your team.