Blume

Puja before climbing (Click for bigger image)

Todd Burleson looks back at Base Camp before heading into the Khumbu Ice Fall

As Todd Burleson prepared for his planned late departure, we took Puja from the sacred fire and rice offerings for safe passages and spiritual wisdom. Todd's three Sherpa climbing partners (Ang Passang, Mingma, and Pemba), then performed their own individual rituals, and headed for crampon point. We hope to have a radio update from them all at Camp II early this afternoon.

The scene that nature has painted this morning is unique to my five weeks at Everest Base Camp. We sit in a dead calm and fog shrouded valley, the Ice Fall is invisible to the east, but the summit of Pumori to the west is brightly lit in red-orange by the rising sun and is spectacular, as are the peaks many kilometers to the south. A mystical atmosphere that invites introspection and meditation (not to mention photography).

-- Frederick Blume, Team Scientist