At 9:30 this morning we were all out and kitted up for training for the ice fall. To begin with Jose taught/reminded us all about rappelling while the other guides set up two courses right at the bottom of the ice fall for us. About half way through this 7 of Hopwood’s Base Camp trekkers (from the UAE) found our camp and came and said hi to my dad and myself! Two of these were Jim and George, people that my dad and sister had climbed Kili with and I’d heard lots about. It was wonderful of them to come and find us, especially with how far it is to walk from the start of Base Camp to our camp… Hopwood himself is apparently sick from the altitude so stayed at Gorak Shep, and the rest of the team (Ron included, Rick if you’re reading!!) turned back at the start of Base Camp because of exhaustion or illness, or so I was informed. It was disappointing not to see Hopwood, as it was because of him that I’m here right now, but we were really touched by the others visiting.

We then went on to the courses and had a really awesome morning using our ascenders to ice climb up pretty steep faces (one almost vertical, without ice axes – it’s all in the legs), cross ladders over water (added incentive not to fall off), climb down other steep ice faces and rappel over near vertical ice walls. Believe it or not, I found the hardest part climbing down the steep ice faces – you’re meant to arm wrap around the rope and really lean forwards so that your crampons can grip, but you had to really stamp your feet to get a grip. Safe to say that my first attempt did not go well. I slipped and have quite badly bruised my elbows. The second time round was loads easier though, which was very relieving, and we all had a really great time.

This afternoon was spent on a social visit to Jagged Globe go and say hi to Adele Pennington. I think she’s probably the first person I could really call a mentor for me; as the first female mountaineer I’d met, not only did she take us on a brilliant winter course in Scotland, she also sat down with me and was really very frank about all the practical aspects that, being a female in the mountains, you really ought to know. It was so wonderful seeing her again, and we’ll hopefully climb together again in Scotland, but this time as friends instead of guide and client. Three of us went down for the afternoon, and sampled Jagged Globe’s (Adele’s team, a British guide house) scones and tea. It was very good. And we even brought back a bag of properly British Yorkshire tea for the team.

We’re all really looking forward to more training tomorrow, it’s meant to get more difficult, so hopefully I’ll be able to show you some even better photos! Ttfn.