Hitachi Daily Dispatches [CLICK FOR INDEX] Charles Corfield The Road to Base Camp
 Sun, April 4, 1999 — South Side Base Camp
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Good evening Mountain Zone. This is Charles Corfield reporting from Base Camp. Today is the 4th of April, 1999. Today we went from Lobuche through Gorak Shep to Base Camp where we are now making ourselves at home.

Last night, we stayed at the Italian Pyramid, which is a research station where they have now added a lodge. The accommodations are pretty darn good especially compared to the teahouses just down the trail at Lobuche, which are, in our opinion, well worth avoiding due to the smoky conditions in them with people hacking and coughing —nevermind the water supply.

From the Italian Pyramid, we went to Gorak Shep. There are a number of chortens dedicated to climbers who have fallen in past expeditions on Everest and nearby mountains. In particular, we took time to remember Bruce Herrod from the 1996 South African Expedition where I put a khata on his chorten, and we all went over to Rob Hall's chorten and Pete tied on a khata there. And we all paid our respects to fallen climbers.

Thereafter, we took the old Pumori Trail, which is a considerable improvement on the route from about two years ago, which had us cutting across the glacier fairly early, and it took quite a long time to get into Base Camp.

In the last two seasons —that is, in this season and last season —the trail now follows the old trail to Pumori Base Camp and then right at the last moment cuts down over the glacier. This knocks about an hour off the time and really makes for quite a pleasant final stretch into Base Camp.

Our Sherpa staff, under the leadership of Nima Tashi, our climbing sirdar, and Chongba, our Base Camp sirdar, has established just an incredible Base Camp here. It is just beautifully laid out. Pretty much all we're missing is the landscaping and shrubbery. We've had a great supper this evening. We were served dal bhaat and for dessert we had chocolate cake. It is quite possible to bake things up here and Chongbe has mastered the art.

As I speak, we're all now bedding down, having settled in, and tomorrow, we'll get on with setting up the Expedition at Base Camp and in particular, bringing up the big B-Terminal [satellite phone] and the other communication gear so we can get you some more pictures, video, and panoramas. That's it for now. Ciao.

—Charles Corfield, Climber

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