The weather started off cold but soon enough it was scorching. With high snow covered mountains on each side and no breeze, the temps quickly climbed past comfortable. Of course every layer you take of means more you have to carry. Also it means more chance of getting a sunburn. Sunburn is very much an issue at these altitudes. You can literally burn in an hour if you are not staying on top of the sunblock. This is no place to work on a tan. It snowed last night and that also makes us extremely susceptible to snow blindness, which is just a sunburn of the retina. It is very painful. So sunglasses, sun block, lip balm and team nagging is the rule for the day. This is a very short day. About three hours of hiking. As the altitude gets higher we go shorter distances each day. It is also a small elevation gain overall but the terrain is pretty rugged during the second half of the climb. Lots of energy robbing ups and downs. Terri continues to amaze me. Her oxygen sat rates are very good even compared to some of our group who have summited before. She doesn’t care to get in any races and that may be helping her acclimatize. It is funny how everyone says they are not in a race but you people who are willing to take on a project like climbing Everest tend to be pretty competitive. Of course I am not. This is the last civilization before Everest – if you can call it that. We are back to our tents although the expedition cooks make arrangements for us to eat in the teahouse dining room. I continue to be amazed at the logistics involved in moving this small army higher up the mountain. We have our own herd of yaks that accompany us as well as dozens of porters and staff. I keep thinking of the Israelites in the wilderness. Hopefully this won’t be a 40 year program. It is easy to criticize them until you have spent several months in a tent. From here there is a small peak that I climb part the way up to get a sunset view of Everest. The clouds obscure it until just the last few minutes before dark when the clouds blow away. It towers over my life silently. Even when it isn’t in sight it is always there waiting. With it waits the questions: Am I physically capable? Are my technical skills up to the task? Can I sustain the emotional toll of being separated from my family and all the things I love? Finally after all, so much of this is luck, good weather, staying healthy and timing. Only time will tell.