Preparing for an oxygen attempt

3rd June 1924

Sandy spent the whole of the afternoon of 3 June getting the two oxygen sets ready and ensuring that the porters were able to carry the maximum number of cylinders up to Camp V. Mallory too had descended to Camp III to discover from Bruce how many porters could be mustered and to discuss his plans for the assault with Sandy. That evening they heard a rumour that Norton and Somervell had returned to the North Col.

Sandy's diary entry of that day reads: 'A most unpleasant night when everything on earth seemed to rub against my face + each time it was touched bits of burnt + dry skin came off which made me nearly scream with pain.

'Restful morning in camp. We saw one man come down to NC + a party leave NC going up but saw nothing else all day. Odell due to come down if N + S returned – did not put in an appearance. Spent the afternoon preparing Oxygen apparatus ready for an Oxygen attempt with one camp only above the NC. Late news that S + N had returned to NC.'