Today the team carried loads up to Camp One having finalised the requirements for the subsequent camps. Before we set off this morning we were greeted by "Sven" the Norwegian team leader who had successfully summitted Makalu several days ago - they had been on the more frequently used French Route further up the valley. We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate him. Meanwhile back on the SE Ridge ( ! ) Val, Stu, Ady and Andy remained up at Camp One ready to begin work tomorrow. Uisdean, Dave T, Sam and Chris moved up to the intermediate camp today and will attack the remainder of the route to Camp Two tomorrow. Again the weather has not been kind and this has considerably slowed the movement on the mountain; both the sherpas and Uisdean's team took twice as long to reach the intermediate camp as usual, as a result of snow on the fixed ropes. It is anticipated that this weather pattern will break in the next couple of days allowing better progress.

On a lighter note "Mak" the dog has rejoined the team at Base Camp and is enjoying a couple of rest days before his push to higher camps. Like all things Nepalese, he seems impervious to the cold and conditions, and is happily running around chasing crows and eating pepperamis (thank you SPAR - love Mak).