Mt. Everest 2005: Alpine Ascents Everest 2005: began to retrace our steps back to Base Camp

Update: May 10th, Pheriche
    
With longing senses we left behind the forest, flowers, and songbirds of Deboche and began to retrace our steps back to Base Camp today. It was a beautiful day with great morning views of all the surrounding peaks, as well as Chomolungma peeking over the Nuptse wall. With this view it was obvious that the long promised high winds had fineally arrived. A huge cloud plume was blowing violently from the summit. We spoke to Lakpa at Base Camp via radio today and he confirmed that the freight-train roar of the wind over the ridges and summits was back this afternoon, but not before all thirteen of our Sherpa who made it to the South Col with loads were safely back at Camp 2.

So, we are back up at Pheriche literally eating our way back through the Khumbu. All appetites are back and doing well, but Nigel has the permanent position of honorable mention when it comes to eating! We are hoping to dilly-dalley long enough on our way back up to avoid the wind and bad weather hammering the mountain above us right now. Our drop back rest has been wonderful for recovery, but now it is time to begin refocusing on the mountain and the challenge which we all came here for.

We have all reconfirmed our commitment to safety and to each other as a team, and soon we will each in our own way harden our commitment within ourselves to the final climb yet ahead of us; for many of us perhaps the greatest physical challenge of our lives.

May the gods grand us the wisdom, strength, and above all the patience which will be necessary in the next few weeks, to prosper and to prevail...

Willi Prittie

PS- Very warm Mexican Happy Mother's Day wishes for all you mothers in Mexico today!

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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