Picture 3 of potential 6 - Camp 2 on Everest. We have many tents stored here from last year and so are lucky enough to have a tent each! Just arrived back from one night at Camp 1, and 3 nights at Camp 2 at around 6,400-6,500m. Despite the intention to slow down we actually reached Camp 1 in 5 hours 10 minutes so about an hour faster than previously. The route had deteriorated significantly in parts. We operated in two sets of three and when the route diverged my three took the old route. (It was 3 am, hard to know which would be better). We climbed the 5 ladders tied together then up a slab of ice to a flat ladder section. This was much more difficult than normal as there were regular blasts of wind threatening to unbalance you off the ladder so took a lot of concentration when to lean in or not! We then found the crevasses had opened up much more with one or two patches without rope that had previously been there to tie into. Imagine standing on a slab of ice and snow a couple of metres wide and 10 metres long and hearing part of the slab falling into the 100 metre abyss in the dark as well as the usual creaks and groans. Needless to say we didn’t hang around and jumped the crevasses to get to a safer position where we could at least tie in before moving on from the much expanded crevasse zone. It felt reminiscent of the scene in the first part of Lord of the Rings where the pathways start to collapse. It was a relief to reach Camp 1 and be able to relax in my sleeping bag and make a hot drink, I ate too but later as altitude really takes my appetite away. After a night at Camp 1 we went up to Camp 2. It is just a few hundred metre height gain and is easier terrain but it took a few hours and whilst I stayed with the team i felt like I couldn't go faster from a breathing point of view. It is hard to know whether I will acclimatise past this or whether it is having a bit lower lung capacity coming into play, much as I tried to compensate from an exercise point of view beforehand to be very fit. I have to accept any limitations I have and try and figure out a way around them which I am already using past experience for. At Camp 2 I had a couple of sleepless nights partly due to stormy weather but ate enough. Whilst up there we held a minute's silence for those lost on Everest and across Nepal in the earthquake last year. At Camp 2 when calm you constantly hear either a distant wind going around the summit of Everest or water deep within the glacier. Looking to rest down here in base camp a couple of days. All in all I am happy with where I am and the progress but some tough parts ahead which I will cover before I leave again.