We had very heavy rain last night and we desperately need a dry spell of weather to dry out our kit and charge the batteries of the computer and satellite equipment.

We woke at 6 again this morning and started up the trail at about 0830. The late start was because our porters were issued with their high altitude clothing, which includes a waterproof suit, boots, socks and glacier glasses. Our day consisted of continuous ascent through rhododendron jungle and then later into alpine meadows, which were remarkably similar to a grim day on Kinder! To our surprise, the Shirpani who ran the shop in Tashigaon ran ahead of us the whole day in order to set up shop and sell us biscuits and coke higher up the trail. We also befriended a dog who has followed us the entire day who we have named Mak.

We stopped and pitched camp at about 3500 metres above sea level and we now feel we are properly gaining height. Sleeping at this altitude will assist us in our acclimatization and tomorrow we will travel over Shipton's Pass at 4200 metres above sea level before dropping again into the Barun Valley but we will never again drop below our current altitude.

Good to see that the HADT are making progress and we are sorry to see that Sam Gleave has had to return home.