Hiked up to Pumori advance base camp today (5,700 metres). I am definitely in better shape for eating well but still at the back of the group. This might not be too important in practice but psychologically it puts pressure on me. I visited the doctor regarding my Khumbu cough and was advised to gargle with salt. The good news is that my oxygen saturation and pulse rate are normal. The doctor assures me that there is no reason why I cannot summit and that the speed merchants often fall away later on. I hope she is right.
Tomorrow we are negotiating an obstacle course in the lower icefall constructed by the sherpas.