Hey this is TA calling in from day 43. We are located at Sherpani kol base camp at an elevation of approximately 5688 m above sea level. We had a pretty big day. A pretty challenging day for most of us. We started out in the sun and then had a mix of snow and sun and snow and sun and at the moment it is doing the same up here. We’re getting hit by some snow and wind and then it will brighten up and the sun will come out and the tents will warm up. We just finished up a nice big bowl of veggie noodle soup to help the hydration. We just made a big jump in elevation and I know at the moment I am feeling it somewhat. Though my headache from lunch from lunch just now just passing so that is delightful. So my job and our job up here at the moment is to drink and breathe and drink and breathe. We’re waiting to hear back from our climbing Sherpa’s. They have delivered the call today to see what condition it is, to see what the plan was.

Our hike today, our walk today, our climb today was definitely dunga, dunga, dunga. Rock, rock, rock. We we’re on scree and talus slopes the entire day. Really mostly talus and for me I quite like walking over Talus slopes because it takes almost your full attention. So you can’t really let your mind wonder how hard it is. So I actually felt pretty good today. Pretty strong. I think all those early km and early snow passes are paying off. I wanted to say a special hello to Mrs. Courage’s grade 4 class. 15 times around the gym is awesome! You’re ramping it up just about the same time as us so that is fabulous. Thanks so much for walking along with us. Today’s step totals maybe a little light again just because I think the fitbit has trouble reading when we are sort of moving so slowly, but Marian had 6925 steps and I had 6294 and Cam had 6341. We travelled about 5 km. You can see I am under the influence of hypoxia at the moment and we gained almost 500 m so about 150 floors. So yeah, so we’re positioned now. We’re just waiting again as I said to see what plan is for tomorrow to go over Sherpani kol and whether or not we will try to do Sherpani kol and West kol on the same day, most likely given this history from what we’ve heard in the past, we will do Sherpani kol tomorrow and then cross over to Baruntse camp one and then descend West kol the next day into (inaudible) valley.

I realized yesterday being Friday was the last Friday of sneak it in week. So hopefully you’re sneaking in your physical activities. Here and there remembering it doesn’t matter whether you go 30 minutes straight or you do 3 ten minutes. It has the same benefit for you and that is the report from here. Not terribly articulate. I apologize for that. The few days may be a little bit silly as we’re operating on less than half as much oxygen as usual and I just heard a little sound outside the tent which means it is washy washy time. It will be our last washy washy for awhile. So I will sign off here. We’re all doing well drinking. There is Lahkpa saying washy washy. So it is time for us to cruise off and we will catch you from tomorrow. Thanks. Bye!

Total Steps for TA: 6294 steps, 150 floors

Total Steps for Marian: 6925 steps, 150 floors

Total Distance for TA: 5 km

Total Distance for Marian: 5 km

Great Big Walk acknowledges the support of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Quick Start Fund for Public Engagement in making these updates from the field possible.