Today was yet another day of technical training at SAFRA Yishun. The only times I ever venture to the northern part of our island are always for rock / ice-climbing or technical sessions. We practiced jumaring up fixed ropes on the 18m slab walls, before abseiling down another more vertical face. And we take turns to do this several times… Although it sounds really exciting, those people who have seen us must have thought we’ve gone slightly mad. We were actually doing all the ropework wearing our high-cut trekking boots, carrying our backpacks and wearing gloves. What happened to the snow?!? Well, let’s just say that we have stuff that’s really too valuable in our packs (and boots) to be left behind while training. Even though we were trying to replicate certain conditions when climbing, it can never ever be the same. Although the weather could possibly be similar (in the day when the sun is shining bright and there’s no wind of course), the breathing would definitely be different. Somehow, hauling yourself up on a steep face of ice/snow proves to be so taxing that you need to stop and take many breaths after a mere couple of steps. If you are focused and conscious enough, you will make yourself develop a rhythm for climbing and breathing e.g. stopping to rest for 5 seconds every 5 steps. If not, you will simply do what you can to haul yourself up the slope. I remember breathing and panting so heavily on one of the fixed rope sections on the Third Sister Peak in the Siguniang mountain range in China that it really felt like having a prolonged asthma attack. On our upcoming Cho Oyu expedition, we will need to climb up a steep 50m ice wall at about 6700m enroute to Camp 2 ….. and all I can say is gulp.

And we have new gear!! ? Thanks to Campers Corner for helping the team obtain some gear sponsorship from Marmot! We received a 35-litre pack, wind jacket, wind vest, Goretex outer jacket and pants, a cap and Goretex XCR gloves. They’re simply great and it always feels so good to have new gear, especially when we don’t have to pay for them! While we were at Campers awhile ago, we were opening the packs like little children eagerly opening Christmas presents on Christmas day, anticipating what’s in store…and certainly, every item taken out simply added joy to our faces ? I think I can probably hug my new gear to sleep tonight…