{"id":3058,"date":"2016-05-10T04:10:17","date_gmt":"2016-05-10T11:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/?p=3058"},"modified":"2016-05-10T04:10:17","modified_gmt":"2016-05-10T11:10:17","slug":"drop-like-stone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/2016\/05\/drop-like-stone\/","title":{"rendered":"Drop Like a Stone"},"content":{"rendered":"

We predicted that descending the Lhotse face would be much easier than climbing it had been.\u00a0 <\/span>This proved to be true: my ascent took just under 11 hours, and the total descent was just over 4 hours.\u00a0 <\/span>I am convinced that if traffic had not been so horrendous on the route, we would have made camp 2 in closer to three hours.<\/p>\n

But, there is no room for haste in the mountains\u2026 especially on the Lhotse face.\u00a0 <\/span>In preparation for this expedition I have read virtually everything on Everest I could place my hands on.\u00a0 <\/span>I know the legacy of this portion of the route.\u00a0 <\/span>Far finer mountaineers than I have perished here.\u00a0 <\/span>We have encountered their remains at the bottom.\u00a0 <\/span>A moment of focus was called for before we left Camp 3.\u00a0 <\/span>This is the real thing.\u00a0 <\/span>One mistake, and you are gone\u2026. Take one step at a time.\u00a0 <\/span>The safety lines are here for a reason.\u00a0 <\/span>They are solid.\u00a0 <\/span>Use them and you will be fine.\u00a0 <\/span>Use two safety \u2018biners. \u00a0 <\/span>Remember your ABC\u2019s: Always Be Clipping.\u00a0 <\/span>Remember: Gravity never sleeps.<\/em><\/p>\n

And so we made our way down with tremendous focus and unflinching care. \u00a0 <\/span>And it was uneventful, easy, slow travel.\u00a0 <\/span>If the scenery had not been so spectacular, I would say it was a boring morning.\u00a0 <\/span>But, spectacular it was.\u00a0 <\/span>And busy!\u00a0 <\/span>So many people on the mountain!\u00a0 <\/span>Every one of them sharing the same line\u2026 only a small portion of the route just above the \u2018schrund has two parallel lines.\u00a0 <\/span>Everywhere else, we are required to clip past the up-traffic (or slow down-traffic) just as though they were snow anchors, with one safety line at a time.\u00a0 <\/span>Painstaking, unapologetically careful work.\u00a0 S<\/span>lowly, we made our way down.<\/p>\n

\"The
The close chaos of Camp 3 as we get ready to roll.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The catwalk is narrow up here. HimEx green tents below and to the left. \u00a0(GoPro Screenshot)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"HImEx
HImEx prepares to move out at the same time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\""Upper"
“Upper” IMG Camp 3, a couple of tents sitting just above the other few. Snow blocks chopped from the face make a bulwark against the slope.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Our
Our view up from Camp 3. Everest on the left, and the Geneva Spur on the right, with the Yellow Band snaking along beneath. \u00a0Our next objective, the South Col, lives just beyond the Spur.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sun
Sun peaking out from behind the South Col.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"View
View down the Face towards the Cwm. High cloud cover this morning is a blessing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Closer
Closer view of our objective: Camp 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Justin:
Justin: Lord over all he surveys.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Justin
Justin Merle and Emily Johnston. Could we possibly be in better hands?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Pasang
Pasang Kami and I are psyched to get moving!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Pasang
Pasang Kami hits the Face first. (GoPro Screenshot)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Looking
Looking down the route as we drop below Camp 3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"We
We are not alone up here….<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"We
We are always clipped to the safety line twice, so that at anchors there is never a moment when we are unclipped. \u00a0(GoPro Screenshot)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Maybe
Maybe this will make it clearer…. moving beyond an anchor in the ice, I clip the new line with one carabiner, then the next. \u00a0Thus, never unclipped from the mountain. \u00a0(GoPro Screenshot)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n