Mt. Everest 2005: Alpine Ascents Everest 2005 reporting from Everest Base camp

Looking Up from the icefall

Update: Everest Base Camp
    
Hello everyone out there!

We're here at Everest BC! The last couple of days have been a bit hectic with the trekkers saying goodbye and the climbing team setting up camp. Yesterday afternoon we arrived in BC just in time to have a big farewell with the trekkers who have been a great addition to our journey here. There were some emotional goodbyes for those with family members on the trek. Kent, Cathleen, Esther and Dianette all had family or friends departing. It was a joy for the climbing team to spend the trek in with such a wonderful bunch. All of the climbing team felt good coming into BC with only slight tummy troubles and a bit of a neck kink for Tony which Mustafa helped workout! I could certainly feel everyone's excitement as we pulled into our camp and the first clear views of the icefall appeared.

Today we awoke to unusually windy conditions. The wind sounded like a freight train all night up high and overnight there were many ice avalanches on the sorrounding peaks. It was a mountain symphony enjoyed from our safe position in BC and a great welcome. Our Sherpa staff did an incredible job getting the camp ready and our new dining tent is spectacular.

We've planned for our BC puja or blessing to be on Friday. Lakpa Rita and the monks who will perform the blessing came up with Friday as the best day after looking at the Tibetan calendar. Until Friday we will continue the task of getting BC situated as well as getting some practice on ladder crossings and fixed lines in the seracs around BC. The gang is also spending time roaming camp figuring out which team is where and who has the best movies to borrow!

Sorry we missed yesterday- we will be in touch tomorrow.

All the best,
Dave and the team

Dispatches

Vern Tejas, Willi Prittie, Dave Morton, Jose Luis Peralvo, and Lakpa Rita Sherpa will lead the Alpine Ascent team on Everest this Spring. They will attempt the standard South East ridge route.

GUIDE STAFF (BIOS)
Lakpa Rita Sherpa Senior Guide & Sirdar	Vern Tejas Senior Guide	Willi Prittie Senior Guide
Dave Morton Senior Guide	Jose Luis Peralvo Senior Guide	Ellie Henke Base Camp Manager
CLIMBERS
Nigel Clark	Esther Colwill	Ron Farb
Kevin Grant	Cathy Groninger	Kent Groninger
Mostafa Mahmoud	Jeanne Stawiecki	Dianette Strange-Wells
Tony Van Marken	David Liano	Danielle Fisher

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