Everest Camp 1 to Camp 2

We made it to Camp 2 safely, where we will spend two nights before descending back to Everest Base Camp on Saturday. Overnight it snowed over 12" and breaking the trail to Camp 2 was painful. We climbed in mostly white out conditions as we worked our way up 1500 ft. Thankfully there were only light winds and the sun stayed behind the clouds. When the sun is out it's scorching hot because of the suns radiation. With snow everywhere the suns rays are reflected off the snow and although it's 10 degrees if feels like 60 degrees. I experienced this in Denali and Antarctica and it's so strong you must put sunscreen under your nose and ears to not get burned.

We arrived at camp two at 1:07 am covering 3 miles and 1,525 ft uphill to an elevation of 21,324 ft by far the highest camp I've slept in. We had peanut butter and crackers and tea with honey when we arrived at the big dome tent at Camp 2. This is a major weigh station for climbers going up and down the mountain for training and on summit week. They have a full kitchen, and the tent is as nice as the tents at base camp. We passed many huge crevasses among the way up the Western CWM. (Btw a CWM is Welsh for valley). After yesterday's journey through the Khumbu glacier where we had to scale 5 massive ice walls, I was very happy that the majority of the climb was walking uphill with crampons and ski poles.

Tonight we rest and tomorrow we will climb about 1/2 way to camp three which is at 24,000 ft or 8,000 meters. It's also known as the "death zone" above that elevation the cells in your brain begin to die from lack of oxygen & you need to sleep and climb with supplemental oxygen.

I have no Internet access until I get back to Everest Base Camp on Saturday, Videos and Photos will be uploaded then.

Thank you to the Bondurant Family who sponsored our journey from Everest Base Camp 1 to Camp 2 today.

Donate today to help more children with cancer

Today I honored Hopecam Child Axel, from Edmond, WV. He is treated at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and is in PreK.

Axel sent Len a message recently - “Thank you Len for dedicating this climb for kids like me. Stay strong. I love seeing your updates and knowing you are going strong. I have 24 days left until my 100 days post transplant of my stay and then I will be able to go home. I am stronger than I have ever been right now. We got a pass and was able to visit a local park and was able to get this pictures taken. Maybe they will make you smile, knowing I am doing so much better now”.

Love,

AXEL and family