Mt. Everest 2005: Alpine Ascents Everest 2005 Namaste from Everest Base Camp   

'The Women of Everest 2005': Ellie, Danielle, Jeanne, Cathleen, Dianette, Esther

Update: Namaste from Everest Base Camp    

What a day, what a puja. The day here is winding down and what a time it’s been for everyone. Today was our puja day or blessing day. We woke up to clear skies and relatively windless conditions. After another tasty breakfast the team began the traditional wash up before the puja ceremony. There were wash cloths, razors, and even some make up for the women.
 

Around 9 a.m. we began the service with two of our monks who are working this expedition presiding over the prayers and blessings. Phurba Kancha and Tenzing Tsheri chanted the traditional Tibetan prayers of protection and success with the other Sherpa following along. Our alter was covered in traditional Tibetan Thanka paintings, pictures of Rinpoches, ice axes, crampons, and pictures of loved ones back home. What a colorful and picturesque alter. During the puja sacred rice is offered, chang is consumed, and finally the prayer flags are erected with a large pole from the middle of the alter. Seven strings of prayer flags were then put up making a sort of wheel with the alter at the center.

The Tibetan Buddhist puja is an enjoyable, casual, and yet very meaningful affair. The reverence for life is displayed and celebrated with laughter and humor throughout these ceremonies. I know all of our team was impressed with how organic the whole experience seemed. After the ceremony dancing, eating and drinking gave everyone a chance to hang out more with our Sherpa staff and that bonding was a highlight for all.

The team here is a riot. Each person is not only feeling great at this point but in excellent spirits. A sense of humor helps such long expeditions and this team is filled with them. It’s pretty much a delight with this group so far- day in and day out.

Tomorrow we’ll head up the icefall for a 4 hour round trip excursion. Up through the ice and across some ladders to get a feel for our trip up to Camp I in a few days. Some hearts are already racing in anticipation.

All the best,
Dave

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

Built to handle a myriad of different climbing pursuits, the Ultralight Universal is our best selling crampon. This crampon lives for trekking, glacier travel, or steep couloirs and snowfields. Totally adjustable Zytel straps make this crampon durable and easy to use. Fits everything from moon boots to flip-flops, our lightest crampon available. Weight: 590g Points: 10. See more here.

   Ascenders

   Atlas snowshoes

   Atomic

   Black Diamond

   Botas

   Brunton

   Carabiners

   CaVa Climbing Shoes

   Chaco

   Clearance

   Clif Bar

   Cloudveil

   CMI

   Crampons

   Edelweiss ropes
   Eureka Tents

   Exofficio

   Featured

   FoxRiver

   Garmin

   Granite Gear

   Harnesses
   Headlamps

   Hestra
   Helmets

   HighGear

   HornyToad
   Ice Axes

   Julbo

   Kavu Eyewear

   Katadyn

   Kelty

   Kong

   Lekisport

   Life is Good

   Lowa

   Lowe Alpine

   Lowepro

   Millet

   Motorola

   Mountain Hardwear

   Mountainsmith

   MSR

   Nalgene

   New England Ropes

   Nikwax

   Omega

   Patagonia

   Pelican

   Petzl

   PowerBar

   Princeton Tec

   Prescription Glacier

   Glasses

   Primus

   Rope Bags

   Salomon

   Scarpa

   Seattle Sports

   Serius
   Sleeping Bags

   Stubai

   Suunto

   Tents

   Teva

   Thermarest

   Trango

   Tool Logic

   Trekking Poles
   Yaktrax
   and more here