Oxygen

Although there are a select few who have the VO2 max and may also be genetically inclined to climb into the death zone without

oxygen, I’m not one of them. In fact, it is so dangerous to do so that even the Sherpa involved with my expedition are under strict guidelines not to go without it.

Today, we received our oxygen masks and thoroughly tested and trained on how to use them properly.  It will still be a few weeks, however, before we actually use them.

First, we will complete our second rotation up to Camp 3, sleep there without oxygen, then return to EBC for more rest. On our third and final summit rotation, we will sleep on oxygen at Camp 3, then stay on it continuously to the summit, and then all the way back down to Camp 2.  I won’t actually need it below Camp 3, but it helps the Sherpa to bring the tanks down.