The Move to Intermediate Camp

September 11, 2016

For those who are looking at the photos and reading the blog and saying to yourself, “I see trucks, motorcycles and Yaks; Why is our Team walking?  More than that, we camped at “Base Camp” and it didn’t look like we were even close to the mountain; now we are walking to an IC (Intermediate Camp).  Then we have to walk to Advanced Base Camp?

Here is an explanation to all of the moving parts:

We stay at BC (15,750’) for acclimatization.  This is an important Camp, even though we are not technically on the mountain.  BC gives us the opportunity to walk up hill and stretch our legs for a few days in a row.  The journey to BC involves a little more riding in the car, so the opportunity to hike and gain altitude is a benefit to our Team.  It also acts as a good meeting point for our advanced Sherpa Team and our Climbing and Trekking Team.  From here, Phunuru and the Sherpa repack and make loads that will be transferred from Truck to Yak.

From BC, the Team hikes up to Intermediate Camp (IC) at 17,800’.  It is not a huge jump in altitude but taking it slow at the beginning of this trip will set the Team up for success later.  The Team hikes up the road to IC and will spend one night there.  It is a rudimentary camp for this reason.

But why a camp here at 17,800’?  Here you go…

The main reason we are stopping at IC is because the road ends here!  The Team will hike up the road to IC and all of the gear will go by Truck and Motorcycle.  From IC, all of our gear needs to go by Yak, there is no road to ABC.

So, from here on out, everything is moving by Yak and people!

Greg Vernovage