Hey guys,
Thanks for the words of encouragement.
Cheers Ron for adding the pictures, and Mike thanks for the declaration, big smiles at Base Camp !
The wind here is not so bad as Base Camp is sheltered on 3 sides. The weather is crazy here, blistering bright sun in the morning and then generally about 3pm the cloud sets in and we get the odd bit of snow fall.
Protecting all the kit is an issue. it goes from about -15C overnight to +35/40C within about an hour in the morning. condesation forms on anything exposed. So all the kit must go into is case overnight... a bit of a pian in the ass.
I'm using Anton beauer Hytron 140 batteries with the camera, and Steadicam power cubes on the rig - because both of these are Lithium ion the cold is not really an issue. The new power cubes are great.
We are using head cams (model POV1) on the climber we are following, in their inital climbs we got some amazing/scary pictures as he went over the ladders in the icefall. he starts the climb for real tomorrow weather permiting.
Ron, I'm not a climber but like to think I'm pretty fit. The reporter and I got this gig because we followed the same guy last year as he climbed the North face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps. It was there I first used my rig at any kind of height near the top of Mt. Blanc. - cable car all the way, lol.
I'm not going any higher than Base Camp, but I do think you have to be a special type of crazy to go up the hill... I might not be it, but still think anyone who can get to the top has to have our respect.
Rob