{"id":1066,"date":"2015-05-13T19:52:44","date_gmt":"2015-05-14T02:52:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/?p=1066"},"modified":"2016-03-13T21:01:57","modified_gmt":"2016-03-14T04:01:57","slug":"hotter-than-satans-pants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/2015\/05\/hotter-than-satans-pants\/","title":{"rendered":"Hotter than Satan’s Pants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yowza, it was very windy last night!\u00a0 <\/span>I was up at least every hour, awakened by the buffeting of the tent in very strong gusts.\u00a0 <\/span>The tents are built to take it, and are erected with solid technique, so no one got blown away.\u00a0 <\/span>In fact, only the toilet tent got blown over, and this was easy to repair in the morning. \u00a0Sometimes mother E likes to remind us who is boss. \u00a0Duly noted.<\/p>\n

What a difference by sunrise: Pure blue skies and calm conditions.\u00a0 <\/span>Beautiful day at base camp!<\/p>\n

\"Everest's<\/a>
Everest’s West Shoulder watches us in EBC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We met our climbing sherpas today, which was exciting.\u00a0 <\/span>My “personal” sherpa is named Pasang Kami, and he hails from the nearby town of Phortse, as do many of IMG’s sherpas.\u00a0 <\/span>Warm, polite, and experienced.\u00a0 <\/span>He has summited Everest six times!\u00a0 <\/span>Plus, his brother is climbing with another teammate this season.\u00a0 <\/span>His kids are similar ages to mine\u2026 clearly, I am in excellent hands.<\/p>\n

\"We<\/a>
We meet our climbing Sherpas! I am happy to climb with Pasang Kami, 6 summits of Everest under his belt already.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We had time for laundry today, which was sorely needed.\u00a0 <\/span>Hand washed, and line dried (which works very well in blazing sun and super\u00a0low humidity).<\/p>\n

\""Why<\/a>
“Why is the rinse water always gray?” \u00a0(Photo: Blake Penson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Blake<\/a>
Blake makes an excellent sun valet at Laundry Rock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kim<\/a>
Kim labors to improve the tent entry while Blake supervises. Perfect. (Photo: Blake Penson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Just<\/a>
Just kidding, Blake swings the axe like a trooper. \u00a0(Photo: Blake Penson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the IMG guides, Emily, who is also a physician, held a yoga session in the morning, and I was eager to participate.\u00a0 <\/span>So much time spent sitting on our duffs here….\u00a0<\/span>Flexibility is good!\u00a0 <\/span>I am now one with saluting the sun, downward facing dog, child\u2019s pose, cobra, plank, and several other cool moves.<\/p>\n

To stretch our legs, we took a walk in the icy heart of the moraine across from camp.\u00a0 <\/span>This is the same place we trained on 4-9-15, but this time we walked up the moraine to the base of the icefall, a spot called crampon point (because that\u2019s where you put on crampons when heading up the icefall).\u00a0 <\/span>It was other-worldly and beautiful\u2026 and blazing hot!\u00a0 <\/span>Ice reflects sunlight from every direction, trying to cook us in our skins.\u00a0 <\/span>Fortunately, I keep covered up from head to toe\u2026 no room or time for sunburns!<\/p>\n