Little Victories

​As a team Pete and I are always looking to get the best information possible to be able to make informed, educated decisions. Now I’m sure there are many folk who would laugh at the idea of Pete and I making any educated decisions but, in our environment, the mountains it’s where we come into our own.

Today, we have silently, well shared with you- enjoyed a couple of little victories.

Firstly, and less educated we capitalised on the great weather and enjoyed a shower….. not together you understand but each had our 25l bucket of boiled water with the cleanest of glassier run off water in what we call a “shower”. It’s a skilled task which takes co-ordination, balance and dexterity and of course multi tasking to not only wash yourself top to toe but to also stand in said bucket and throughly clean all of the clothes you have warn since the last experiance. It’s a true victory in the sense of the word when the weather dries all of the clothes within and hour.
Now as we are “hardcore mountaineers” quote from our Ukrainian friend we have a very secret weapon in the hygiene stakes, something that’s value does not reflect its impact. 79p from Asda- Exfoliating gloves! Yes popping those bad boys on scrubbing all over leaves you feeling SPA fresh from top to toes. Now I bet no other teams on camp will be exfoliating like the Brits’!

The 2nd win today was no less important but was most certainly educated, like a grand master chess player we seduced and manipulated attendees at our coffee (tactical) and fudge (Romney’s) party to disclose their plans for camp 3, and like a beautiful high altitude song bird oh did they sing.
Now to the win, Petes been camp administrator since the the start of the trek, recording accounts, payments of porters and updating the itinerary. This task is done religiously and is correct down to the minute of events and output’ of all those involved in the Exped.

Pete and I sat down with our team with a blank piece of paper and explained dates, times and activities expected. This was in fact our first team meeting on-site with our HAPs and cook staff. In big writing we wrote a summit date, in big writing we wrote a exit date to K2.
Today, whilst shmoozing with al least 4 other teams OUR date is the date ALL others are wishing to be lead by!

This calculated, systematic approach to our attempts has never been an accident and never been guess work, so much so, whilst eating our lunch pies at (Nexus Components, Leigh and Martin) we drew up our strategy on a piece of dry wall, allowing for weather, health, safety and other variables over 2 months ago and it’s proved right- this is a super win for us today and both Pete and I are walking that bit taller and our shoulders, our exfoliated shoulders are  slightly broader today. Little victories……

Pete and I spent a few hours today working with our HAPs in streamlining their belay systems and fitting their crampons that bit better. Pete also set about mending Bashir’s camp mattress to help with their sleep.
Each day we try to help and give a little bit of knowledge to improve their environment and experience, this obviously works both ways as they too have so much knowledge of this region and the mountain both Pete and absorb all they have to give.