The day has finally come. In the morning we leave for the airport to fly to Tumlingtar to begin our trek to the mountain. I will no longer have easy communication but will call Brad regularly with updates which he will post on this blog. we had a team dinner this evening.....the restaurant was so nice that I could actually have real ice cream.
Today I received my training on the TopOut oxygen system. this is really a sweet system. Ted Atkins has a new model in the field this year that has the control for the gas flow in the front. in the past your regulator control is on your back on the top of the tank. As I climber you would either need to rely on another climber to adjust your flow or take your pack off. This is a really slick system. Ted made me a custom knob in pink which will match my pink goggles.
Today I had the honor of meeting Chris Bonnington's Sirdar in the courtyard of Asian Trekking. I will post the photo when I return as iris too hard to get it off my iPhone. I knew I was in the presence of a special man when Billi Berling bowed in his presence.
Will and I spent the bulk of the day looking for a coffee press and finally found the perfect one. We had pizza at Fire and Ice. walked to the local grocery store and bought good toilet paper and extra lighters. We stumbled on a lighter with a three inch flame....this is sure to work well.
We purchased our oxygen today. It is pricey....but better than what we paid on Everest. I basically pay $390 per bottle from TopOut and get $200 back if we return the bottle. Yep, I have decided to use it.....I would one day like to climb without it but will test the waters on a lower 8000m peak. Makalunis too high and has two much difficult climbing on summit day. Having oxygen will increase my odds of success and keep me warmer.
Our gear left for BC today. We will now hike with small day packs and one small duffle carried by a porter. We will stay in tea houses. Given the remote nature of this mountain, people tell me it will seems as though I have stepped back in time 30 years. I will be carrying a very comprehensive medical kit based on the help and support of Doctor Dave, Carl Weil, Ted Handwork and Myndear hubby. I have so much more confidence now that I took my Wliderness Advance Life Support course.
It is my plan to journal daily and share all entries upon my return.
Hugs to all!
