Base Camp

Finally we arrive, minus some bags

1 July - Gasherbrum BC 5100m

We set our Base Camp up, on a strip of moraine (stones) with ice glaciers on either side. Adrian's base camp bag didn't arrive; luckily he has his high altitude gear, and so could go on the mountain. His large kitbag did turn up a couple of days later.

3 July: Our kitchen tent also was mysteriously lost for 5 days so here Ashraf, the cook, and Ibrahim, a High Altitude Porter (HAP) prepare dinner in a tarpaulin tent - Jamie

Soren types out an article on a PDA, since the laptop was partially out of action
- Jamie

10 July - our trekkers

After a few nerve-wracking days with the Karakoram Highway closed, Raewyn and Kay, whose international flights leave tomorrow, got on a Skardu to Islamabad flight. They are now in Islamabad and reported that around the hotel there was no trouble due to the Red Mosque crisis, but they will be cautious of course.

The Karakoram Highway is now apparently open - or about to open; the rest of the trekking team, Pete, Jane, Ornella, Terje and Pik, are either hoping (very much hoping!) to get a flight tomorrow - or start the very long two day drive back.

Notes

A few people have emailed about the delayed dispatches. My charging system and satellite system were separated until 9 July, so I could only do a very little work occasionally using a patched system. Only now, as were are heading up on the mountain, is it all working. I (Jamie) still don't have some of my climbing gear, and high altitude tents. One or two loads are still lost on the trekking route; ATP are hopefully working on it. We should be able to manage though.

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