We left Camp 2 at 6:20 AM, heading toward Camp 3 under hazy skies—a relief, since the route up the Lhotse Face can get very hot in direct sun. The trek from Camp 2 to the base of the face climbs about 1,500 vertical feet, reaching an elevation of 22,172 feet. It’s a steady grind up a gradual snow slope, with just a few crevasse leaps along the way, but overall, it was manageable.
During the three-hour climb, I could feel my energy draining—a clear sign my blood oxygen (SpO2) was dropping. At Base Camp, my SpO2 was 86. It dipped to 79 at Camp 1, then to 74 at Camp 2. I had set a personal cutoff of 70 to turn back. When Ryan checked at the base of the Lhotse Face, my reading had fallen into the 60s.
With that, we made the call to skip the final 700-foot push and return to Camp 2. The risk of triggering another case of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) wasn’t worth it on a training rotation. We chose the "better safe than sorry" path.
Still, it was a solid day and a strong finish to our high-altitude training. Tomorrow, we’ll pack up early and head back to Everest Base Camp.
While at Camp 2 we honored Hopecam kid Dmitri, and my climb heading towards Camp 3 we honored Hopecam kid Hunter.
Hopecam kid Dmitri’s favorite way to use Hopecam is to connect with my school. Hopecam has made Dmitri feel less isolated and alone. Most of his time is spent in the hospital, so you can feel disconnected from your life. He told me ”Len, when things get hard, I like to think of my family and friends. They always give me strength. I also pray a lot. I like to talk to God and tell Him how I’m feeling. I also like to think of what I will be able to do once the hard thing I’m doing is over. Thank you for climbing for me!”
Hopecam kid Hunter’s favorite thing to do with his Hopecam is learn Sign Language. Hopecam has helped Hunter transition from public school to a more relaxed learning environment, which is good for his mental and physical well-being. He told me “Len, my favorite thing to do is play basketball, and I want to be an NBA legend. My favorite thing to do with my Hopecam is learn Sign Language. I want you to know that what you are doing is impressive, and thank you so much for honoring me.”
