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2008 K2 and Broad Peak Expedition

Dispatch Twenty-six: June 24th, 2008

Day Twenty-six: Recovery At Base Camp

Today, after not being able to stomach food all day yesterday, I awoke quite hungry but weak from both dehydration and hunger. Hugues, Karim, and Qudrat had departed for Camp I at 5:00am. I was forced to stay behind thanks to my unstable stomach and weak condition. Mike Farris and the American K2 Expedition arrived today at base camp. I chatted with him over my breakfast as he darted in and out keeping an eye on the porters’ progress. After finishing all I could eat for breakfast (not very much), I went back to my tent and rested for awhile, drinking around two liters every hour in hopes of rehydrating myself quickly and being able to carry my 20kg load to Camp I tomorrow. I came to find out that ATP had decided to replace our cook assistant without notifying us because another expedition had requested him. I found this quite odd, as one would think that they would assign only the best kitchen staff to a K2 expedition, as opposed to a GII expedition for example, considering the immense physical challenges that this mountain presents climbers. We received our new kitchen boy and I went back to my tent to rest some more. I managed to get down some rice and an omelet for lunch and hoped I could keep it down for the rest of the day. I am quite torn as to what I should do tomorrow; some tell me I should recover fully before I attempt to carry to camp I and others say I shouldn’t waste the weather window that I have, and should push ahead to Camp I, regardless of whether I am 100% or not. I will have to wait and see how I feel in the morning.