It’s been quite a while since the last update, sorry. We have had poor connectivity, were up high on the mountain, and I’ve been battling constant health problems.
Climbing update:
Mark and I spent time at camp 2, but neither of us made it up to camp 3 due to health issues. I spent 3 nights at camp 2, Mark spent 5, then we came back down. We both ended up coming all the way down to Deboche at about 12,000 feet to recover, hoping to go back up once we get healthy.
Health update:
Mark (and several others) got strep thoat at camp 2, that’s what prevented him from going to camp 3. He’s been on antibiotics for several days and is doing much better. The low altitude here has helped.
I have been dealing with several issues. First, I was still battling a cyclical GI issue that came back in force at camp 2. The docs at the Himalayan Rescue Association figure it is a parasite, so they gave me what they call the “Nuclear option” to kill everything in my gut. Since taking that a few days ago, things are starting to get better a little at a time, but I fear my gut is wrecked after 4 1/2 weeks of dealing with this. Just happy to be improving at this point.
I developed a high altitude cough at camp 2 which is getting better down here in the thick air, hoping it will heal in the next few days.
Lastly, I developed an infection in my left pointer finger at camp 2, likely an anaerobic infection due that thrives in the low oxygen environment. Really weird though, no real cause. When I got down to base camp, the doc at the HRA tried lancing it to drain the infection, but ended up having to scalpel into it “medieval style” with a tongue depressor between my teeth. Good fun. The next day, the doc in Pheriche scalpeled into it again. No antisthetic again. Glad that is behind me now and it seems to be healing up.
So… The next day or two will decide my fate for this trip. Mark is doing better so he’s probably headed back up day after tomorrow, and IF I can get strong and healthy again before then, I’ll be headed up with him. But one of my objectives on these big expeditions is to make good decisions, and if I am not strong, I’m not afraid to make the decision to not go back up. I won’t put others in the position of having to assist/rescue me. Realistically, I’ve been dealing with a parasite in my gut for over a month, and probably half of those days I’ve eaten little to nothing. But there is still hope, and we’re taking it day by day and see what the next few days bring.
One more note on the Sherpas. These people have such character that we in the west can learn from. I watched the Sherpa who came down with me shepherd a yak for several hours, because he knew it belonged way down valley. When he got it to where it belonged, the owner asked him to carry a yak saddle down to the next villiage. No problem. He didn’t get paid for any of this, it was just what needed to be done. Another example, Pemba Dorjee, our climbing sherpa, carried oxygen bottles from camp 2 to the South Col, in 8 hours (something that would take western climbers 2 days), then came down to bring me lunch in my tent when I was sick. His 8 hour day was done, and then some, but he just felt that was what needed to be done. The Sherpa are a really impressive people.
Thanks to all of you for your support, I’ll hope to update again in the next day or so.
Friends in the High Places 
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