After 4 days rest and almost eating my body weight back down at Lukla, it was a pleasant relief to get back up to EBC early this morning!

Air feels thinner and crisper for sure, but sun is shining, forecast is decent for the next few days, rib is cooperating thus far and I am itching to get at the icefall after these last few days sitting around (albeit necessary for recovery). This return is a stark contrast from my uncertain and unhappy departure a few days ago. Once again, possibilities exist – at least now, I have a chance – whereas 4 days ago I really wasn’t sure. Forward progress – that’s a result.

I have heard reasonable reports of the climbing conditions from folks just back from C3 and every reason to hope for a good run back up to C2, passing my guide Jon, old Sherpa Sonam and team-mates on their way down as I move up – it will be very good to see them and hear how they got on.

This is the last rotation before the summit push – and is essential to get up the Lhotse face, remove that mystery and spend a night above 23k feet. Won’t be fun but will be very useful. It’s always good – for me personally, at least, to peel back the layers of the unknown – making it that bit easier on the summit push – forewarned is fore-armed, and all that!

We leave 2:30am tomorrow (Monday).

More updates from above to FB and Twitter via delorme GPS drom now until I return to EBC next Friday…

Meanwhile, sadly – the second death on Everest this season – Min Bahadur Sherchan, 85, trying to reclaim his record as the oldest person to summit – heart attack at basecamp.