Good afternoon from Camp 2 on Mount Everest — 21,300 feet above sea level.
It’s a bright, sunny day here. The solar radiation is intense — it’s over 95°F inside my tent. I spent most of the afternoon organizing gear for tomorrow’s early departure to Camp 3.
We’ll leave at 5:30 AM, all suited up in our one-piece summit suits — an integrated down jacket and pants system designed to handle the brutal -30°F temperatures we’ll face during our final push to the summit on Tuesday. Although we won’t need that kind of insulation tomorrow, we’ll be wearing the full suit as we climb the Lhotse Face en route to Camps 3 and 4.
After 8:00 AM, the face heats up dramatically — temperatures can hit 90°F from the sun’s reflection off the ice. So we hope to reach Camp 3 by 11:00 AM to beat the worst of the heat.
Everything nonessential stays behind at Camp 2: extra jackets, PrimaLoft layers, luxuries like headphones, spare underwear, buffs, and electronics. From here on out, we’ll also be carrying a 20-liter oxygen tank (weighing about 5 lbs), along with a mask and regulator — it’s time for supplemental oxygen.
The guides and porters will carry sleeping bags, food, and extra base layers to Camp 3 — about 15 lbs of gear per person — which lightens our packs significantly and makes the ascent more manageable.
The weather window still looks favorable through the 21st. Today we saw over 200 climbers and guides making their way from Camp 3 to Camp 4. Our only real concern is crowding, but by delaying our summit push by a day, we’ve done all we can to mitigate that risk.
It’s 1:30 PM and sweltering inside my tent – the sun is beating down on the Western CWM, pushing the temperature close to 90°F.
I wanted to take a moment to share a clear picture of what’s ahead over the next few days. I’ll be offline, so this is the most complete update I can offer for now.
We’re all resting today before beginning a four-day back-to-back push to the summit and return.
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SUNDAY – Climb to Camp 3 (23,000 ft)
We’ll leave around 5:30 AM, climbing across a gently sloping snowfield before hitting the Lhotse Face – a 900-foot wall steeper than a staircase. Our goal is to reach it by 8:30 AM, before the sun turns the slope into a solar oven (temps can hit 90°F by mid-morning).
We’ll be in full summit suits and breathing bottled oxygen, which helps reduce stress and keeps my oxygen saturation (SpO2) at a safer level.
We’ll spend the night at Camp 3, eating freeze-dried meals and trying to rest for the big day ahead.
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MONDAY – Climb to Camp 4 (South Col, 26,000 ft)
We’ll be up by 4:30 AM and begin the second half of the Lhotse Face. It’s a long, steep climb over snow, ice, and rock, and should take about six hours. We aim to reach Camp 4 by lunchtime.
From there, it’s all about recovery. I’ll drink four liters of electrolytes, stay bundled in my sleeping bag, and try to conserve energy.
At 10:00 PM, we begin our SUMMIT PUSH. The climb will be long and brutally cold (-30°F), and it’s tough to eat or drink once we’re moving.
If all goes well, we’ll reach the summit sometime between 8:00 and 10:00 AM on TUESDAY, take photos, raise the Hopecam flag, and then descend back to Camp 4 (hopefully by 3:00 PM). I’ll send a text once I’m safely back at Camp 4.
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WEDNESDAY – Descent to Camp 2
We’ll sleep a few hours at Camp 4, then begin our descent to Camp 2 at 6:00 AM, arriving by mid-morning.
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THURSDAY – Back to Base Camp
Final descent to Everest Base Camp. We expect to arrive around noon.
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FRIDAY or SATURDAY – Helicopter to Kathmandu
Depending on weather and availability, we’ll fly back to Kathmandu by helicopter.
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Thanks for following along on this journey. I’ll be in touch as soon as I’m able after the summit.
Since I won’t have access to post, I took the opportunity to honor two Hopecam children—Masie and Milan—while at Camp 2.
Hopecam Child Milan told me - “Mr. Len, we are so grateful that you made this possible for so many kids. May God bless you always. Hopecam is amazing! My mom and I didn't have internet at home, but Hopecam made my days easier during my cancer treatment. I was happy to be busy at the hospital and have online classes. Thank you so much.” - Milan
Milan, your strength is my inspiration as I push toward the summit.
Hopecam Child Masie is only 3 years old and her mom told me - “Hopecam puts a smile on Masie's face, even when she is not feeling well. I’m proud that Masie is a fighter! She was diagnosed and had major surgery at the age of 2, and now she is 3 and steadily pushing herself to get through this. Masie’s favorite thing to do is play outside, and she wants to be a firefighter when she grows up. Masie uses her Hopecam tablet to play learning games and watch shows.” - Masie’s Mom
“I am very thankful to be a part of Hopecam!” - Masie
Masie, you’ve faced so much at such a young age. I’m carrying your positivity and resilience with me as I climb closer to the summit.