(Picture: Joanne decked out in oxygen mask and snow goggles)

Following 3 days of well-deserved rest at Nyalam, we’re back at advanced base camp, well-fed and physically recuperated! We’re now into the most exhilarating phase of our climb—the summit push! Looking at our weather forecast for the next week, stable and good weather is expected from now until the 24th, with the good weather period peaking from the 22nd to the 24th. Thus, we’ll be making full use of this period of good weather to go for the summit. We’ll be setting off for camp 1 on the 20th, we’ll reach camp 2 on the 21st, camp 3 on the 22nd and summit on the 23rd, descend back to camp 1 for the night and then arrive back at advanced base camp on the 24th, just ahead of the clouds predicted for the next day on the 25th.

This morning, to add on to our state of anticipation for the summit, we tested out our oxygen systems to ensure that everything is working efficiently. The oxygen tanks each weigh in at 7.5kg and together with the visually-restrictive oxygen mask and snow goggles, we expect the summit push to be quite a bit of a challenge. Climbing with oxygen is a new experience for all of us and although we have heard much about the benefits of climbing with oxygen, we remain circumspect, as every additional piece of equipment represents an added source of anxiety and potential breakdown.

Sorting out oxygen masks, Check out the oxygen tank in the foreground!

At this moment, no one has yet to summit Cho Oyu and other teams are eagerly looking towards the summit, watching for the first team to make the trip up and break the trail. We are trying to avoid being the first team up to break trail for the rest, to avoid unnecessary physical exertion, but looking at our weather forecast and our summit plan, we may end up being the first team after all!

Once again, wish us luck, fair weather and strong lungs as we strive to be the first women’s team from Singapore to summit an 8000er!