Mt. Everest 2005: Alpine Ascents Everest 2005 Jose Luis reporting from Everest Basecamp

Update: Everest Base camp
    
Namaste everybody,
This is Jose Luis reporting from Everest Basecamp. The wind has subsided a bit so it feels warmer here. The whole team is back together since Vernon arrived this morning playing his little guitar. Everyone welcomed him with a warm hug.
Most of us enjoyed a wonderful hot shower this morning and we all agreed that our two shower tents must be the best at base camp. It was easy to note that every detail was carefully planned in advance to make us feel comfortable, warm and above all clean, which is not easy to get up here.
Danielle finally finished knitting her wool hut. We were impressed, it looks beautiful.
After having lunch, we prepared our gear in order to review rappelling and ladder crossing. For the later purpose we counted with two aluminum ladders lashed together and a couple of fixed lines on either side of them. All the team members did a good job although the distance between the ladder and the flat ice field was only a few inches. We did not want to risk at all amigos. This distance will be progressively increased as our skills and balance get better in the next couple of days. Vern and David were outstanding instructors today.
At dinner time we sung the classic Happy Birthday to Dianette in a friendly atmosphere. Congratulations!!!
This is it for now. Please stay tuned.
Our very best to you all,
Jose Luis.

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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