On the Main Team, Uisdean and Chris left the intermediate camp at 0530 hrs and set out on the ridge to continue fixing rope where Dave T and Val left off yesterday. The temperatures were extremely cold down to about -30C with wind chill. After fixing about 300 metres of rope to the saddle before Peak 3, the pair had to return to the tent to rewarm their toes. As the weather deteriorated, they then beat a hasty retreat down the fixed ropes to Camp 1 and then down to Base Camp, where they will have a well earned rest period. Andy, Ade and Val carried loads from Camp 1 to the intermediate camp and Ian V and Dick headed from Base Camp directly to the intermediate camp to take up the route from tomorrow morning.

At about 4 pm, the High Altitude Development Team joined us having left their previous camp below the North East Col. The descent to Makalu Base Camp took the best part of 6 hours over difficult and unstable boulder moraine. The lack of a decent path is perhaps testament to the fact that few people pass this way. As the HADT descended towards the Main team location they were greeted by the smell of warm valley air and the first sight of green grass for nearly 2 weeks. The promised photos for the last few days will hopefully be on the web site tomorrow when the HADT regain their normal routine!