Drop Back begins

Today, the “drop back” begins for the Everest team.  The drop back is part of the acclimatization rotations where the team members descend down the Khumbu Valley to enjoy the “thick” air of the lower elevations to give their bodies a chance to rest and recover after the high-altitude rotations up the mountain.  This gets them fully ready for the summit push which will be coming up next.  Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, has today’s dispatch from base camp where he is overseeing operations:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Everest climbing team.  Today our team started the first day of the “drop back” where we go back down valley to rest and recover in preparation for our summit rotation.  Some members were able to fly to Namche, where they are staying at the Panorama Lodge.  And other members of our team have hiked down valley to Pheriche on their way to the village of Debuche for a few nights.  All’s well here in base camp.  Our Sherpa team is heading up tonight to Camp 2 to start working on carrying loads to the South Col.  We are just waiting for the winds to drop down up high on the mountain so we can get back to work for rope fixing towards the summit.  All’s well here on Everest, we’ll check in soon!

(photo:  good sized avalanche nearby Everest base camp this morning, posed no danger)