CHENNAI: With the clergy facing horrible child sex abuse charges in several countries, Catholic bishops of India have drafted guidelines for the clergymen across the world. From spelling out a general behavioural code for bishops and other priests to defrocking as the ultimate punishment for such crime, the guidelines focus on “wholesome safety of children in and outside our institutions”.
The draft is a result of four days of deliberations by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India (CCBI), the two apex bodies, that ended in Bangalore on Wednesday. It will be sent to the Vatican for the Pope’s approval before being finalised by the end of June.
Several cases of alleged child sexual abuse against Indian Catholic priests abroad had come to light in the recent past, forcing CBCI to act. With similar cases being reported from across the world, Pope Benedict XVI had written letters to the clergy in several countries
The Ice Fall is one of the most dangerous climbing sections on Everest, if one is climbing from the South side (Nepal). It is essentially a frozen river moving a few cms everyday. It is made of hundereds and hundreds of ice blocks of various sizes standing on top of each other and very loosely held. As the glacier moves, these blocks can tumble and crush the climbers like a grape without warning and this is the reason why we climb in the shade when unexpected movements are less likely.
About Icefall – A section of the Icefall
The shape of the ice fall also makes it hard to move around as there is not a straight climbing path. The path is created using ladders and ropes on the less risky sections by Sherpas called the Ice Fall doctors. These are Sherpas hired by the
Nepal government to fix the Ice Fall as part of the permit fee paid by the Everest climbers. Also, the ice fall changes throughout the season and the Ice Fall doctors constantly try and make sure there is a safe route up the ice fall. All these factors make the ice fall climb to Camp 1 an interesting experience.
I was woken up with a big avalanche on the Nuptse face. It was so big, that the snow particles came all the way to our tents. Good thing we were not going up the ice fall today. Did some ladder training today for the ice fall.
Day 20 – Big avalanche
The path to camp 1 is through the ice fall, which is essentially a frozen river that keeps changing. The route is connected through many ladders and we wanted to get a hang of it before we walk through the ice fall. We also packed up food and other essentials for the next few days for our second rotation. Early day tomorrow. Wake up call at 2am and we move at 3am. Blog updates after the second rotation is complete as we have no internet connection higher than base camp.
Day 19 was cleaning day. First thing to do was to wash clothes to maximize sun time. It was such a pain washing clothes at altitude. We had a big pan, a tap connected to water collected in a barrel and the most amazing thing of all a dryer. It was a double roller through which you put your clothes and roll it so it squeezes all the water out. Following that was a nice hot shower.
Day 19 – The Yeti after cleaning himself
The shower head is connected to the barrel as well as a propane gas cylinder which heats up the water. The shave was the hardest of all. After about five days of not shaving, the shave gets very hard, so I was smart enough to bring an electric trimmer/shaver. Unfortunately, the charger for the shaver broke along the journey to base camp. Now, I was left with my back-ups use and throw razors which are even harder to use. So, I spent a patient 1hr using scissors to trim my beard hair and then shave. Wasn’t an easy task. Didn’t get a chance to take pictures of the shower place or laundry place. Probably,after the first rotation.
Day 21 – Apr 20 – Climb to Camp 1 and sleep (6065m)
Day 22 – Apr 21 – Acclimitization hike and sleep at C1
Day 23 – Apr 22 – Climb to Camp 2 and sleep
Day 24 – Apr 23 – Acclimitization hike and sleep at C2
Day 25 – Apr 24 – Climb towards Camp 3 and descend to C1 and sleep
Day 26 – Apr 25 – Descend back to Everest BC
Day 27 – Apr 26 – Rest day at Everest BC
Day 28 – Apr 27 – Rest day at Everest BC
Day 29 – Apr 28 – Rest day at Everest BC
Day 13 – Apr 12 – Rest day at base camp
Day 14 – Apr 13 – Trek down to Lobuche base camp
Day 15 – Apr 14 – Hike up to Lobuche high camp
Day 16 – Apr 15 – Summit Lobuche and back to Lobuche base camp
Day 17 – Apr 16 – Rest day at Lobuche base camp
Day 18 – Apr 17 – Trek back to Everest BC
Day 19 – Apr 18 – Rest day at Everest BC
Day 20 – Apr 19 – Rest day at Everest BC
