Today was the perfect day to do absolutely nothing — and that’s exactly what I did. After crashing at 9:30 PM, I slept straight through to 8:00 AM. Climbing from Base Camp at 17,300 feet to the base of the Lhotse Face at 22,200 feet over four days — then descending that entire elevation in just one — took a serious toll. I staggered into camp yesterday, running on fumes after getting just three hours of sleep the night before at Camp 2.
That kind of physical stress is part of the acclimatization process, triggering increased red blood cell production. But it also comes with consequences. One of them is the infamous “Khumbu Cough” — a dry, hacking irritation triggered simply by breathing or speaking in the frigid, thin air. Several of us returned to Base Camp with it — myself included.
Thanks to internet access (and a little help from ChatGPT), I learned that prednisone can help. I’d brought a supply for knee pain, recommended by my cycling friend Brian Daum, and started a pack yesterday. The turnaround was immediate. This morning I felt 100% better — breathing easier, no cough, and best of all, pain-free knees.
The day began sunny and warm, and I took the opportunity to film a walkthrough of our Base Camp setup — including my tent. By afternoon, the snow returned, and with it, the inevitable cleanup.
Rest days like this are a rare gift up here. And today, I took full advantage.
