South Col for some

May 12. Before I am even thinking about being conscious Lama Tenjee and Psurwa Sherpa have been on the go for hours, under the weight of 5 oxygen bottles each their goal for the day is the South Col and return. They will not use the precious gas they are carrying in their Ascent to 7950 m and back. This means that from yesterday @ BC approx. 5400 m they have gained 2550 m and descended 1650 m back to camp 2 carrying a minimum of 20 kgs each. I lay in my sleeping bag feeling tired and totally inadequate just thinking about it. As the day wears on the tent becomes like an oven but the sun outside has a bite. I choose the oven, play patience, drink deeply and wonder how

Tenjee and Psurwa are getting on. Around 5:30 pm they return, successful and with positive news on the progress of route fixing to the summit. We will go to camp 3 tomorrow, spend the night there and early the next day move up to camp 4 on the south Col. Planning our arrival @ camp 4 around mid day we will rest for the afternoon and begin our ascent to the summit sometime between 8 pm and 11 pm. Tick, tock the clock counts down.