5

 

3^rd November 2009

Just back from Nepal, summited Mera Peak, 6547 metres, awesome. Then things changed. Monyu valley and Amphulutsu pass cancelled?? No idea why other than” lack of porters” – forced march back to Khote - eleven hours; it took three days going in the other direction.

 

Up early for another proposed ten hour day as we raced towards Lukla with the intention of going the long way round to Island Peak. Five hours in we stop for brief lunch - all tiring - no rest day since summit.

 

Half an hour after lunch disaster strikes. Sean, while taking a moment, brushes against a porter as he turns. Twenty metres down a 60% slope; he strikes his head at least 3 times. By the time I reach him he is unconscious and suffering from hypoxia induced convulsions (really thought I had lost him). Opened airways, cleared blood from mouth