THE ROAD TO ABC

Foreword...

I will start with the departure from Czech Republic. Are you asking why should we go few days back in the story? Well because I will touch the important subject of acclimatization in the stories describing the days of our journey to the ABC (advanced Based Camp).

It might be surprising to many of you but the acclimatization process in fact started when my cousin Eric picked us up and drove us to the Vienna airport. Though modern airplanes are, necessarily, equipped with pressurized cabin yet you start to pick up the vertical meters already on board. Just one quick look at your Suunto watch and you can find out that the air pressure around you relates to some 2000 meters above the sea level. Then consider that you stay in such 'height' for about 8 hours and it equals some initial acclimatization process.

The 'feet on the ground' acclimatization started in Kathmandu which is about 2000 meters a.s.l. In two days we climbed up to Nialam which is at 3600 meters and in another two days we reached the Base Camp under Shisha Pangma - 4800 meters. A day off and then a jump to 5200m while the other day's goal is the ABC at 5400m. It means more or less seven continuous days (not much) of altitude increase from 1000m to 5400 meters to which neither us nor you are used to. Quite a shock for a human organism.

Our Road to ABC Starts

That day we took a jeep to the BC. It was a beautiful day which meant even more clear and impressive view of our goal - Shisha Pangma. On the way there we asked our Liaison Officer how many other expeditions would be in the BC and found out that we would definitely be the first. Great, I thought. A good part of the planning this expedition was aimed on having enough time to climb to the mountain, and even better if we were going to be the first expedition because then we should have even more peace. It was only then, when I realized why there were also three wooden beds, quilts, some armchairs, a TV, a VCR, a generator and many other things that didn't belong to us on the hull of the truck going to the BC. Those were the belongings of our Liaison Officer, who would stay in the BC for other upcoming expeditions. A scent of home is a must so on the way we stopped in a movie rental shop and the last step to complete luxury were achieved. Two hours later we reached the BC, where really was nobody.