As we approached lower Camp 3 we
had to rappel a steep wall. I remember
climbing it on the way up. This would
be the last time I would pass this spot.
We took another break at lower Camp 3
because I was thirsty again. My dehydration
was catching up to me and I was
having trouble quenching my thirst.
I had enough water remaining to get
to Camp 2. I was not worried.
Below Camp 3 the steep climbing
continued down the Lhotse Face. It was
so beautiful. Most of the teams going to
the summit had already passed us above
Camp 3. We only had to manage the
very fast Sherpa without clients who
would pass us like we were turtles.
I thought we were moving quickly,
but maybe I was mistaken.
We caught up to Avo, one of my
teammates, and Adam, one of the
IMG guides. They were taking a break.
I hadn’t spoken to them since the
summit and now we were comparing
notes. Avo and I had shared a tent at
both Camps 2 and 3. I was so happy
that he had summited and was also
coming down to Camp 2. We left lower
Camp 3 and continued down to the
Bergschrund.
The last part of the Lhotse Face was full
of steep walls that required rappelling.
As I descended, I couldn’t help but think
about how physical it would have been
to climb up. It was all a distant memory
even though it had only been two days.
We rappelled down to the final section
of the Lhotse face. As I approached the
end of the rope, I was now on the flats
back to Camp 2. It would take about
1 ½ hours. I still didn’t have a watch and
had no idea what time it was. The sun
was getting lower in the West, but we
still had daylight. Since sunset was
around 6:30 p.m. I guessed it was
probably around 4 p.m.
We stopped again and I had more water
and some shelled pistachios. I unzipped
my down suit. I was getting hot and I had
been sweating for a while. Thank goodness
I was going to our camp. Otherwise,
wet clothes when it got dark would be
very dangerous. There would be no way
to change and I would freeze very quickly.
We moved quickly on the flats as we
could see the camp come into view.
Little by little the camp got closer
and closer until we were nearly there.
Just outside of camp we removed our
crampons. I was now feeling tired.
I guess that’s not a surprise, as I had
been up for nearly 36 hours with barely
a nap. I was still breathing the remaining
oxygen in my tank. We were on the
outside of the camp. Some expeditions
had already packed up and left. Camp 2
was looking smaller. We snaked our way
to our campsite and I dropped my pack
at the dining tent and peeked my head
inside. It was dinner time for Team 1.
They had mostly returned the day
before as I was getting ready for the
summit. The cheers and hugs were so
appreciated and uplifting after such a
long ordeal.
I went in and Tashi, our cook, gave me
a hug and told me to sit down. I still
had my harness and down suit on. He
gave me a hot towel, a breakfast and
dinner ritual. I could smell the food
around the table. He brought me soup
as I made some tea. I was so thirsty. I
had two bowls of mystery soup. It didn’t
matter what it was. It was delicious.
He then brought a plate with a chicken
leg, Mac n’ cheese and fried rice.
Oh my God! I was so happy. I had been
dreaming of a hot meal for almost
two days. I left camp 4 for this meal and
it was everything I hoped for.
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