We continued down to Camp 4. I was
getting warmer, but the wind was also
increasing. It was another hour of down
climbing over snow, ice and rock to
camp. I stopped to take some photos.
It was just Pega, Dawa and me as we
neared the bottom of the Triangle Face.
As we entered camp it was quiet. The
climbers from yesterday had left for
Camp 2 and more climbers were
somewhere between Camp 4 and the
summit. I was greeted by Funuru.
He gave me a big hug and said, “I knew
you could do it!” He brought me to
tears again as I told him that it was his
experience, planning and leadership
that allowed me to get to the summit
of Everest.
He told me that I should rest and then
I should go to Camp 2 that afternoon.
I asked him what time it was and he
told me it was 9:30. Only Woody was
back beside myself. I arrived at my tent
and looked around. Torn tents, empty
oxygen canisters and propane canisters.
Wrappers of all forms of energy bars.
Cans from many years ago all littered
the camp. I dropped my pack and
pulled out my oxygen tank. I crawled
into my tent with my oxygen and
dropped onto my sleeping bag still
in my down suit.
I slept until Chris arrived and he did the
same dance I had done an hour earlier.
Funuru asked Chris if he was going to
climb down and he said he was too
tired and wanted to sleep and climb
down the following day. Funuru made
it sound like we had to decide together,
along with Justin and L.C. Chris was
really tired and said that he was not
going to go. I was a little concerned.
I didn’t want to stay at Camp 4. It would
mean continuing on oxygen and eating
bars and candy for another day. Funuru
came back and told Chris that he could
stay because Justin and L.C. were staying
and I could go if I wanted.
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