Chinese Base Camp again
- 8 Sep 06, 09:36 AM
Hello again.
It is now 09.45 on Friday 8th November. I had to write this because I have completely lost track of the days. I am in the power tent with Mike Stroud, the Van Tulleken twins and Maryam Khosravi, experimenting on Jon Morgan. We are carrying out a two hour protocol looking at the metabolic response to meals, and the gastric emptying study. This has involved taking 15 minute breath and blood samples, and monitoring Jon's breathing through breath by breath gas analysis, and heart rate through a heart rate monitor. Jon had to eat an isotope labelled meal at the start of the experiment. It tasted and looked nicer than it sounds. Whilst it would be nice to say that the point of the experiment was to keep the twins out of trouble, in fact it is to determine whether the cause of weight loss at altitude is related to either an increase in metabolic rate or a change in gastrointestinal function that might cause loss of appetite.
The weather is lovely again this morning, so I may get my washing done as planned, and then go up the hill with Jon Morgan to do some rope practice in my 8000m boots and crampons. I am a size 6 in shoes, but in high altitude boots, I am a size 9. These boots are vital to ensure that the team do not get frostbite. The boots are large and heavy, as they have three layers to them: an inner boot, an outer boot, and a built in gaiter. Most people wear two pairs of socks inside, and aluminium foot powder can be used to stop feet sweating, as this can lead to worrying skin damage.
A group of Chinese medics and scientists are visiting at the moment. They are also planning to climb Cho Oyu, and are doing genomic and proteomic studies. Mike Grocott, the expedition leader, is showing them the steady state experiments that are currently taking place on exercise bikes in the laboratory tent. Earlier this week, when we were coming over a high pass on the journey into Xegar, we met a Japanese cyclist who is cycling around the world. He intends to complete the trip in 4 years. The following day he was intending to visit Everest Base Camp from the North side, and indeed, we saw him climbing up to Everest Base Camp the following day when some of the team visited Everest Base Camp and the Rhombuk monastery. This was an extra opportunity to gain height for a few hours, but sleep low, which all assists in the acclimatisation process.
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Err - don't you mean september?
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Kay, you mentioned you were worried about the altitude affecting your blogging - it's obviously helping you to age far more quickly as well! Off to Leyburn this w/e - be thinking of you, you're doing a brilliant job. Lotsa luv, Mary et al.
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Has anyone on the team had problems with blisters yet? How do you deal with them without having to expose your bare skin?
Your dedication to research is fascinating and I commend you for it.
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Thank you for your excellent accounts.
When I cycled to BC Mount Everest in 2001 the trouble was not the breathing during cycling up the hill but getting enough oxygen when going to sleep (apneu). Has this happened to any teammembers yet?
Best regards
Pieter Parmentier
(I am an uncle of Nikki Kolfschoten, one of your teammembers).
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I myself am absolutely amazed to hear of a cyclist going up there and at that age as well; my son would laugh of course being very fit and a volunteer lifeguard on our beaches but I myself find it hard to imagine such a thing in the Himalayas of all places.
It seems you are holding out quite well all things considered.
My daughter did not actually believe what you are all doing until I showed her this blog you have.
Keep up the good work please you will all be in my prayers I assure you.
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