Mt. Everest 2005: Alpine Ascents Everest 2005 Practice

Update: Everest Base Camp

Hello friends, family and loved ones,

Another action packed day here at Base camp. The weather has been fantastic so several of us went for an acclimatization hike down valley right after breakfast. Some choose to indulge in hot showers in preparation for upcoming blessing ceremony. Our team has graciously offered to participate in as study conducted by researchers from Brown University for NASA. So part of the morning we performed games (actually test) to establish a base line for the study. This will be great fun and entertainment for us as well as way to further man’s knowledge of high altitude. Whether or not it will be much fun to submit ourselves to radio quizzes at 21,000 ft., remains to be seen.

We spent a chunk of our morning in rigging class. Everyone went over their crevasse extrication equipment and made sure that it was functional. It’s important that it is easy to deploy and properly fit to each individual. So with knife, lighter and cord in hand we got real crafty and prepared for our afternoon skills practice. The preparations paid off and we had a very productive session amongst the seracs (ice towers) near camp. Not only did every one have a chance to ascend an overhanging wall of ice, cross a wildly tilting ladder and scale brittle wall frozen water but seemed to be rater comfortable while doing it. I honestly believe they were enjoying it and that means we are getting close to the day we will actually set foot on the mountain.

Today we are fortunate to celebrate Kevin’s birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Kevin. It is a pleasure to share another one with you. Seems like it was just yesterday (5 years ago) we were wishing you all the best. Once again, may this new year of your life be a happy fulfilling one.

Climb Well,
Vern Tejas

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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