Nicholas Rice: Broad Peak Dispatch

2007 Broad Peak Expedition

Dispatch Twenty-Eight: July 7th, 2007

Day Twenty-Eight: Retreat to Base Camp; High Winds Continue

Today, I lay awake in my tent all morning (3:30-7:00) and listened for a lull in the storm outside that would hopefully allow me to gather my things, and retreat from Camp II to Base Camp. This opportunity never came, so I finally left the relative comfort of my tent and packed up my things. In doing so, I soaked my polypro gloves and they froze. I again took refuge in the tent and attempted to re-warm my frozen hands. I switch to my heavier gloves, and continued packing. I started down an hour later at 8:00am and was very pleased to find that only 300 meters below, the wind was much calmer and the temperature much more pleasant. I continued down the old fixed ropes and arrived in Camp I at 9:00am. I chatted a bit with Ali, unpacked my pack and repacked it with only the things that I needed to bring back down to base camp, and got on my way. The snow conditions below Camp I were horrible. The slopes were covered with sun-cupped, rotten snow and the lower section of the fixed ropes was completely different than only three days prior. After crossing the last few glacial rivers, I arrived in Base Camp in time for lunch. I ate, unpacked my backpack, chatted with the Mexicans, and took a nap. After a long relaxing dinner, I went to bed.