Daily Dispatches

Title: Everest Expedition 2008 Spring

20 March 2008: Chet, Dick and Terri arrived...

21 March 2008: Lots of activities...

22 March 2008: Sightseeing and visiting to friends...

23 March 2008: Blessed from Lama...

24 March 2008: Trek started from Lukla...

25 March 2008: Up hill to Namche...

26 March 2008: Rest day in Namche...

27 March 2008: Thame...

28 March 2008: Hiked back the way to Khumjung...

29 March 2008: Tengboche Monastery...

30 March 2008: Dingboche...

31 March 2008: Hiking up to Nangakarsang Peak...

1 April 2008: We arrived at the Ama Dablam view lodge...

2 April 2008: Chet takes a shot at climbing Island Peak....

3 April 2008: Chet hiked to Imjatse base camp at 5150 meters...

4 April 2008: Named Island Peak by early western climbers...

5 April 2008: Today we actually head up to the Khumbu glacier...

6 April 2008: We got settled in at the Gorak Shep about 1 PM...

7 April 2008: Many expedition groups are already here at Base Camp...

8 April 2008: Full day at Everest Base Camp...

9 April 2008: Today was basically another rest day...

10 April 2008: A baseball game was played in the afternoon...

11 April 2008: Puja Ceremony, The Puja is a very happy occasion...

12 April 2008: The Ice Fall Doctors are very experienced Sherpas...

13 April 2008: We departed base camp at about 8:45 AM...

14 April 2008: This morning Terri, Chet and I hiked to a peak near Kalapatthar...

15 April 2008: Terri, Kristin and Mike packed up to leave this morning...

16 April 2008: The Everest bakery just opened today here at base camp...

17 April 2008: Today is a rest day for all except two of our party...

18 April 2008: At camp one there were forty to fifty tents with many occupied ...

19 April 2008: Times have changed even for climbers...

20 April 2008: After Luanne left, Chet, I and our camp staff went to a nearby Puja...

21 April 2008: Today is another rest day again for Chet and me...

22 April 2008: Our plan is to have Chet stay at camp one tomorrow night...

23 April 2008: This morning we went back up the Khumbu icefall...

24 April 2008: Bright and early Chet and Kame packed up at camp one...

25 April 2008: The night before Chet had asked about staying another night at camp II...

26 April 2008: Steve and Anna got some added activity in the HRA clinic...

27 April 2008: Good news today form major Sunil and Nepalese authorities...

28 April 2008: Absolute rest day …. Casual conversation...

29 April 2008: The weather was clear most of the day with some light wind...

30 April 2008: Pemba and I were woken up around 6 AM by the sound of a jet flying...

1 May 2008: Chet and Anna stopped at Pyramid, an Italian Research Centre...

2 May 2008: Pemba, Chet and I started our hike back to base camp...

3 May 2008: Today was our first stormy day since we arrived at base camp...

4 May 2008: Today was another rest day...

5 May 2008: here was about 4 to 6 inches of new snow in the ice fall...

6 May 2008: Chet emptied out his tent, re-leveled it and organized his gear...

7 May 2008: Down at base camp there was little going on!

8 May 2008: Sherpa will carry gear up to camp three on 10th and set up two tents...

9 May 2008: Some of the last loads for the upper camps were carried...

10 May 2008: Sherpas are hoping to make their first carry up to camp four...

11 May 2008: During the night it snowed about six inches...

12 May 2008: I guess the good news is that my next trip up will be for a summit attempt.

13 May 2008: This morning I had some hot water, but no food...

14 May 2008: Weather permitting we will start our summit push on May 19th...

15 May 2008: The weather today is clear with very little wind at base camp...

16 May 2008: Today was a rest day for everyone...

17 May 2008: We are now in position for our summit push...

18 May 2008: That should put us on the summit around first light on the 22nd (5 AM)...

19 May 2008: We were up at 5 AM for our summit push...

20 May 2008: The Western Cum was like an oven...

21 May 2008: a few hours before leaving on our summit push...

22 May 2008: This is the point that you can really appreciate how caring and supportive Nepal’s climbing Sherpa’s really are, especially those from Peak Promotion. Mingmar moved in as my tent mate and

23 May 2008: Team Summit Everest!!!

24 May 2008: This morning we slept in until the sun hit our tents...

25 May 2008: Today is the last day on the mountain for me...

27 May 2008: I will catch up with everyone else later when I get back home!

28 May 2008: We are leaving base camp today!

29 May 2008: The trail had some up and down today on the way to Namche...

30 May 2008: Hotel rooms, hot showers and our choice of food from the many restaurants in town.

03 Jun 2008: Dick and Chet Leave for Home today

27 May 2008: I will catch up with everyone else later when I get back home!

This morning Pemba headed up to camp one early. He was back at base camp before lunch with the final load on the mountain. We can now all fully relax since no one will be going up through the icefall again on this trip. All around our camp you had yaks being loaded for many of the expeditions as they ended their trip. In our camp the HRA tent camp down and our staff were busy getting things ready for our departure tomorrow.

I got my shower and clean clothes and than began packing for that departure. We plan to take three days from here to Lukla and than fly to Kathmandu on the 30th.

I would like to note a few items that have been on my mind since our summit day. I want to thank Vegas Fuel again for their sponsorship of this cybercast. That really means a huge thanks to Rob Diehl and Max Naylor. Rob was going to be on this climb with me up until less than a week of my departure, but due to some personal problems he had to back out. He is the reason that I had three Sherpa’s on this trip. Without his financial support I would have had two at best. That is a significant reason for me reaching the summit. Max Naylor is the driver for the NHRA Pro Stock – Max Naylor Racing Team. Vegas Fuel is one of his sponsors and Rob does marketing for Max and Vegas Fuel. If you get a chance to go to one of the NHRA races be sure to look Max up. He is a great guy and very popular on the circuit. He is also a friend of mine.

I also want to note that I did put a prayer flag on the summit for a very good friend of mine and said a prayer for him (he will know who I am talking about when he reads this). I hope it works as well as the prayer Pemba said when we were on the South Col.

I want to thank Doctor Aliza Michaels for all your care this past year. My frostbite from Cho Oyu healed up well and I want you to know that I don’t have any frostbite from this trip. See you in June for my next appointment.

I will catch up with everyone else later when I get back home!