Lowe

Saari

Alex Lowe
So, the team broke 20K today. No gasping, no PE, CE, or other embarrassments! Hans loves his boots; Mark makes everyone envious with his flawless turns; Conrad shreds on a higher level; Kris records it all with artistic grace, and the film crew did a magnificent job orchestrating the entire descent from peak 6099.

Artistic Kris

All in all a fine day, in superb snow, with phenomenal mountain scenery. But beyond a doubt, the highlight of the day — the group is whole again! Our fearless leader Andrew is back; he is healthy, happy and chomping at the bit to join the fray. Andrew gets the highest marks in my book for exercising unprecedented self-restraint, having returned from his convalescence in Nyalam, in three long and enervating but efficacious days. It appears to have paid off, he's his old ebullient and hilarious self. Happy Day!

Conrad and I erected a pull-up bar on an overhanging boulder adjacent to Base Camp and, to the infinite amusement of our German neighbors, did an invigorating pyramid of hypoxic pull-ups at 17,000+ feet. Oddly enough, the expedition officially begins tomorrow, with a wonderful Buddhist ceremony called puja, but for me the unofficial proceedings thus far have been divine. Cheerio.

Hans Saari
Question of the day: "What is long and hard on a snowboarder?"

Had the most interesting culinary experience. For dessert tonight, we had what looked to be chocolate cake. There was a distinct flavor and after four or five bites I determined that the frosting was in fact cheese — much like the cheese that I didn't eat for lunch yesterday. I've noticed that things we don't eat resurface a day or two later: the spaghetti that wasn't finished is the topping on the pizza the next night; left over cabbage is the secret spice in the soup; rice becomes breakfast porridge.

Skiing today was sublime. Much more to come.

— Alex Lowe and Hans Saari, MountainZone.com Correspondents

EXPEDITION DISPATCHES