In Some Lost Place by Sandy Allan

Author:Sandy Allan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vertebrate Publishing
Published: 2015-06-04T16:00:00+00:00

– Chapter 6 –

Splitting Up

The sun was setting and the light fading as Rick and I arrived at camp. Stoves were burning in two of the tents, while the tent I shared with Cathy was eerily quiet. Nuru was back and now sticking his head out of the door of his tent, obviously pleased to have his partner Zarok back. Cathy was half asleep inside our tent; she seemed okay but tired and disappointed. I was grateful to see she had a full pot of hot water for me.

I took my time coiling the ropes, which had been left in a jumble, and stashed them on a big stone by the tent. I slowly took off my crampons, wrapping the straps tidily around them and lacing them to the same rock. Then I went and spoke to both the other teams through the tent walls. Rick, Rangdu and Zarok did not show their faces; exhaustion ruled and it was clear that this was not a time for discussion. I imagined each of them in their sleeping bags, busy melting snow and rehydrating. I wished everyone a good night and went back to my own tent.

Cathy told me that she and Nuru had got back to camp around 9 a.m. and had been brewing all day. She told me they were all going down. I had very little to eat – there was little food left now, just drinks. Changing into my dry socks, I snuggled into my sleeping bag and wished Cathy good night. I said the Lord’s Prayer in my mind and thought of Hannah and Cara back home. The expedition is over, I thought to myself. They are all for descending the Schell route tomorrow. I wondered if they realised how dangerous it was. I didn’t know what I would do, but I felt our summit attempt had burned us up. Sleep came easily.

I woke next morning feeling refreshed. It was 13 July and it felt like we’d been on this mountain forever. After such a hard day yesterday I was pleasantly surprised to feel so good. Cathy was rustling around in her sleeping bag beside me and the stove was on and melting snow in the little pot. Rangdu’s voice interrupted my thoughts and our tent got a rattling as he shook the overnight build-up of frost. I sensed that he was really making sure we were both awake.

‘Sandy, it’s time to go down. We are leaving soon!’

Sitting up in bed, I felt surprisingly buoyant and relaxed, even positive – the kind of positivity I often wake up with back home in my comfortable bed at sea level. It’s the kind of wide-awake alertness that can be incredibly annoying to others who take longer to come around in the morning.

Was it too late? The others were obviously still resolute in their decision to go down and the Sherpas were keen to make a start as soon as possible. The cumulative effect of so much time at altitude

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