So here we are… It’s been 37 days since we arrived at the base camp!!  All of these days of forced inactivity, waiting for at least two days of good weather, are starting to wear us down and sometimes the tension seeps through, even if in a very controlled way. Today we passed the time by taking a hike to a col  east of Mt. Everest (RabiuLa).  The panorama from here was magnificent: the view spans from far off Kanchendzoga and Jannu passing to the awesome Makalu and ending with the immense eastern wall of Mt. Everest.  When we returned from our trip, Russel Brice, the Big Boss of Mt. Everest, came to bring us the updated weather forecasts.  With the melancholy words “Bad news”, he informed us that there was no hope that the wind would calm down until the 3^rd of June.  On the 4^th and 5^th the weather should be better and this will be the last chance for us and for the few expeditions that are still here.  To our great amazement, he backed up the validity of his forecast by pulling out a Tibetan calendar (something similar to our Messager Valdotain) that confirms good weather for these days.  And just think that we’re paying 250 dollars to access the weather forecast via internet directly from a futuristic European center!!  At any rate, all we can do is wait, because here at the advanced base camp, getting through the day means trying not to get cold, forcing ourselves to eat so as to maintain our energy and keeping up our motivation to jump onto this beak.  What’s more we never have a fourth for a good game of Belote!!!  Fortunately Bruno helps to keep the group’s morale high with his top shape and inexhaustible positivity.

Hello to Elisa, Jean and Nicole and to all who are following me.

Stefano