Day 24 Ramdung attempt 2

Success! Antoine on Ramdung
Photo (c) Tom Padgham 1998
Kami Sherpa decides that he's had enough of us smelly westerners, and with breakfast appear large bowls of hot washing water. This is the first proper wash and shave since Kathmandu, twenty days ago and is very welcome.

After lunch, we hear that the others have made it up Ramdung from their high camp. Celebrate by playing cards and reading books as always. I read Herzog's Annapurna, which is a highly concerning experience. Herzog made the first ascent of an 8000m mountain and paid for it with both hands, virually all of his toes and a generous portion of his sanity. How he managed to stay alive is a mystery.

The eight o'clock news on Radio Nepal brings more worrying tidings. A helicopter that took off from Lukla airstrip yesterday (the one we'll be using) failed to arrive at Kathmandu and hasn't been seen since. A reward of £1000 is offered for its whereabouts.

 

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