Complex sentence: Bonington had intended to always stay one camp down from the lead so as to be able to keep an overview without getting tangled in tactical decisions but in spite of this he decided he himself would go in front to camp 5 with Richards in support.
Split into simpler sentences: Bonington had intended to always stay one camp down from the lead so as to be able to keep an overview without getting tangled in tactical decisions. Despite this he decided decided he himself would go in front to camp 5 with Richards in support.