As we prepared to leave, the British group passed us and started the ascent to the base of the Langma La. I fell in behind Stephen Venables and started as well. We rested on a slope, with brownish shrubs all around, with the Central and North summits of Chomolonzo across the valley. I sat down with Chris and chatted amiably with Stephen. He told us the group had a lot of trouble on the Kangshung Glacier and only made it half way to Advanced Base Camp. He was really impressed with Bill Norton, who kept up with the much younger trekkers and was always climbing some side crag whenever they stopped.