Those of you who are following our progress, putting pins in maps on the kitchen wall etc, may be surprised to see our current location.

The walk on Thursday was tough, we were all worn out by the time we arrived in the afternoon. Graham Mclean was particularly tired and was starting to show signs of altitude sickness. We all did our usual measurement of oxygen in the blood, we have become a bit competitive about this over the week. If Bishop's Castle medical practice find your percentage oxygen level in your blood is below 90% they would send you straight to hospital. At altitude this figure decreases, all the rest of the boys were at 75-95% but Graham and I were at 51 and 53%! I felt OK at the time but during the night I got the headache, nausea and light headedness associated with the onset of altitude sickness. There is only one treatment, descend, so Graham and I have been walking down hill ever since and are now 3000 ft below last nights base. Sam has come with us, he does not have altitude sickness but coming from Florida finds the -20C temperature a little difficult. The rest of us just talk about the old days of ice forming on the inside of bedroom windows, tin baths in front of the fire etc

Ian, John 2 sticks, New Graham and Cleggie have continued up the mountain as planned, we will meet up again at a lower level in a few days time where they will make us sick with the wonderful vistas of Everest.

It is a little disappointing for Graham, Sam and I not to get to our target of Base Camp but the scenery where we are is still wonderful so it is not the end of the world. There is no simple test to see who might suffer from altitude sickness other than going up a hill. I have never been above about 8,000 feet before, now I know my limit is about 15,000ft. I won't plan to go any higher, Kilimanjaro is out.

Poor internet connection so pictures will have to wait

Thanks for all your comments, the ironic sign saying "Don't Climb" on Tenzings statue is a classic. I will source wool hats and the batteries are small and will get lost if I take them out of the camera. No yettis seen in fact very few animals.