The hardest part so far is the waiting game between rotations. Most of us have adequately recovered from the first rotation and are itching to get on with the second.
The first team got delayed a day when a set of vertical ladders in the Icefall were damaged. The Icefall doctors had to reroute the fixed line forcing Team 1 to return to EBC.
So, it looks like I’ll get two more days of rest and start my second rotation on May 2nd.
A common plague amongst all of us is some form of the Khumbu cough. Upon high exertion at altitude it’s easy for the the sensitive lining of the lungs to become agitated. I keep a buff over my mouth at all times, but occasionally remove it temporarily for extra oxygen. My Sherpa is always quick to remind me to get it back on.
One of the doctors here told me that for every year over age 40 I lose 1% of my VO2 max, causing me to exert myself that much more to do what I was used to in my early climbing days.
The takeaway obviously is to slow down. I plan to do that even more so on the second rotation even though I will be more acclimatized.
Mt. Everest 