 |  The communications tower at Gorak Shep, 5,100mts amsl. Kallar Patar is in the background, and Everest Base Camp is a few kms to the right of the photo. |
Hi everyone. It's Sue's brother David here.
Like most of you, I have been eagerly awaiting an update from the team on their hike up to Everest Base Camp, and then on to Island Peak.
According to my knowledge, they were due at Everest Base Camp or Kallar Patar (above Everest Base Camp) either yesterday or today. The weather forecast has looked to be sunny days, although very cold nights. (-22deg)
Normally, there is a strong mobile signal available at Base Camp due to a communications antenna being present at the last village of Gorak Shep. This antenna normally acts as a means to provide communications in the event of emergency from those trekking to or climbing Everest (or neighbouring mountains). On past trips, it's been a welcome surprise to suddenly get a 5 bar reception on your mobile after several days of nothing..!
I had anticipated an update from the team around this time. The fact that we have not heard anything since Thursday suggests that the communications tower may be down..! Given this is the only real means of communication, you certainly become very isolated at Everest when it is not available..!!
Assuming this is the reason, and the fact that there are not really any other towers in the area, a worse case scenario is that we may not hear from them for several days yet (or absolute worse, not until they are back in Namche, almost another week away.!!).
Anyway, my advice is to keep checking the blog every couple of days. I just know that Sue and the guys will be keen to make up for the lost days of no communications.
Going to be good hearing from them.
David G
Like most of you, I have been eagerly awaiting an update from the team on their hike up to Everest Base Camp, and then on to Island Peak.
According to my knowledge, they were due at Everest Base Camp or Kallar Patar (above Everest Base Camp) either yesterday or today. The weather forecast has looked to be sunny days, although very cold nights. (-22deg)
Normally, there is a strong mobile signal available at Base Camp due to a communications antenna being present at the last village of Gorak Shep. This antenna normally acts as a means to provide communications in the event of emergency from those trekking to or climbing Everest (or neighbouring mountains). On past trips, it's been a welcome surprise to suddenly get a 5 bar reception on your mobile after several days of nothing..!
I had anticipated an update from the team around this time. The fact that we have not heard anything since Thursday suggests that the communications tower may be down..! Given this is the only real means of communication, you certainly become very isolated at Everest when it is not available..!!
Assuming this is the reason, and the fact that there are not really any other towers in the area, a worse case scenario is that we may not hear from them for several days yet (or absolute worse, not until they are back in Namche, almost another week away.!!).
Anyway, my advice is to keep checking the blog every couple of days. I just know that Sue and the guys will be keen to make up for the lost days of no communications.
Going to be good hearing from them.
David G
