Climbing on Mount Everest is a complicated balance of physical and psychological preparation. The extremes in temperature and altitude are matched by the emotional extremes climbers face as they push highter up the mountain. A comfortable basecamp can physically and pschologically prepare us for the difficulties we are sure to face at higher camps.
Our rest day begins as the sun strikes our tents around 7:30, pushing the thermometer up from -12˚C / 10˚F. We each freshen up with a hot towel, preparing for a group breakfast in the mess tent. By 8:00, we gather for what would seem like a normal breakfast were it not at 18,300 feet! Cornflakes, porridge with fresh fruit, eggs, Alpen, and toast with marmalade keep our stomaches full and spirits high. Coffee and a moment to warm up in the sun top off a great start to our day and we’re ready for basecamp duty attending to laundry, showers, reading, and relaxation.
By 12:30 we’re back in the mess tent for a lunch often featuring fresh baked breads with meats and yogurts. When they are able our fantastic kitchen staff, Nima, Rabin and Lakpa, treat us to pizza! In the afternoon, chores resume with a mind for staying hydrated: one of the most important aspects of high altitude mountaineering. As the sun dips behind a cloud, we are reminded of our high altitude as the thermometer plunges dramatically. Before long, the heater is turned on in the mess tent, and we spend the evening enjoying three and four course dinners. After eating, we rest, chat, and listen to music until we return to our own tents by 10:00. It might sound decadent except for the sparse food and accommodations awaiting us at the higher camps. Our rest days serve as physical and psychological recuperation, helping to prepare us for the difficulties that lie ahead.