So today is the day. Didn't get much sleep up here and started off really early. Left the lodge at 6am and made our way to Gorak Shep. In an attempt to stay warm the lodge fire was on as we had breakfast and I stupidly burnt my gloves on the top of the stove. This meant my hands were only partly covered at 6am 5100m up! It was excruciating! My hands had never hurt so much, I just couldn't wait for the sun to rise and warm them back up!
It was 3 hours to Gorak Shep, we had more food at 9am and at 10:30 made our final push to Base Camp!
The trek wasn't too strenuous, just long but showed some amazing views of the Khumbu Glacier. The first glimpse of Base Camp was underwhelming as we could only see a few tents because its only the start of the expedition season! As we descended from the ridge we lost sight of it and after a short ascent I could see the Nepalese prayer flags and a sign that read 'Everest Base Camp 2012' - obviously those who change the sign are a little busy this year.
Never the less, it was amazing! A moment I will always be proud of, and will never forget my picture with the flag in such an amazing environment!
Almost as soon as I arrived so did a train of yaks carrying supplies to Base Camp. There were hundreds and they all slowly walked past our camera shots.
After they left we shared a hot drink and biscuits to celebrate.
A few of us then decided to go down the glacier to the Khumbu Icefall and get a few amazing snaps!
But of all places it was the return that saw altitude sickness kicking in, although the midday sun didn't help! Walking back along the ridge, we came in contact with yet more yaks! But being on such a narrow ridge there was no mountain side to throw myself up, so instead we had no choice but to climb a meter down a 100m ridge. The yaks seamed to take for ever to pass but they did, and climbing down the ridge was a better option than getting nudged off!