It all begins with the zipper noise. Before the sun's rays can be felt, someone in a tent nearby will rustle around groping for the door zipper of their tent and then, as predictable as the warmth that comes from the sun's first rays, that unmelodious zipper noise wakes you up, like a short loud buzz from a mosquito.
Days begin and end here with the zipper noise.
Today is another day of waiting for winds to calm and for our eight climbing Sherpas to carry more oxygen up to Camp V for the search attempt. The team members will all make carries up to the North Col, as more oxygen and supplies are still needed up high. They will then return to Advance Base Camp to sleep, and the decision will be made tonight whether they will continue up higher tomorrow and begin the search sequence. Although we're in waiting mode, life here continues to turn up interesting news. Brazilian climbers Paulo and Helena Coelho came by this morning to show our historian, Jochen Hemmleb , a drawing of a relic they found last year during their attempt on the North Face of Everest.