Puja Day on Mount Everest

April 12, 2021

It has been busy over the weekend at Everest Base Camp.  Expedition Leader Jonathan Schrock reports that Team 1 did some excellent training on the Lower Khumbu Glacier to fine tune their crampon and fixed rope skills,  before heading back down to Lobuche Base Camp for their acclimatization climb of Lobuche Peak.  This morning at Everest Base Camp also marked the Sherpa team’s traditional Puja Ceremony for good luck on the mountain.

Moving up to Everest Base Camp today was Team 2, after spending several days of acclimatization hiking in the Lobuche BC area.   Along the way they exchanged greetings on the trail with Team 1 heading downhill.   Team 2 is now settling in for a few days of rest and training at Everest Base Camp, and then in a few days they will also be headed back down to climb Lobuche Peak.  It takes time to get well acclimatized, and every day our climbers spend on the trail, at Lobuche Peak, and training on the glacier is “money in the bank”.  We feel strongly that there is no reason for anyone to be heading up the Icefall to Camps 1 & 2 until they are well prepared and acclimatized!

Team 2 at dinner time (Ang Jangbu Sherpa)

With their puja accomplished and our Sherpa team ready, tomorrow will mark the beginning of moving gear above EBC.  Ang Jangbu says that we have 28 Sherpas prepared to make their first carry to Camp 1 in the morning.  The team is excited and ready to get to work building Camp 1!

Beautiful weather and a lot going on at Everest Base Camp!

Greg Vernovage