Ascent Part II

7-29-2005, Stok Kangri Base Camp

 

This morning we set out early to get a good base camp spot. Tundep (T) -- who just asked me my name yet again, hell I love you T but shit, I'm the only person here, it's not that hard -- set a nasty pace.  We ended up ascending maybe 2-3k feet in about 90 minutes.  Hiking at that pace is tough at altitidue, especially in the Himalayas, which, as has been said, begin where other mountains end.  I just sort of look at the ground and take it step by step.  Obviously this is not conducive to scenery viewing, but considering how big the damned mountains are the veiw doesn't change that much on a minute-to-minute basis.

 

So around 10:10 AM we pulled into base camp.  While the term "base camp" has a faintly romantic/exotic/rugged ring to it, inreality it is a dirty field of used TP where you set up your tent.  One of the major drawbacks of Himalayan mountaineering is that the climate and food conspire to ensure that every trekker leaves a colonic calling card to be mummified for future generations.  Gross.