tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45553521871014128692024-03-13T20:20:50.202-07:00Jon Reiter on EverestAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-45729355848437753092015-04-27T17:50:00.001-07:002015-05-01T20:42:21.698-07:00Jon is heading home<div><img src="webkit-fake-url://d2c81a00-9add-4002-b9ec-d389f4ceb9f3/imagejpeg"></div><div><br></div><div>Additional helicopters arrived at Everest Base Camp today. Several members of the team including Jon, Moises and Nathan loaded the <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">last of the injured victims and then later, the casualties, to be carried off the mountain.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">After that, the three guys got on the last helicopter of the day and headed down from base camp to Lukla and then on to Kathmandu.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Surprisingly, I was able to book Jon on a flight at the Kathmandu airport to leave 24 hours from now.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Erin Burnett did an interview with Jon on</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> CNN:</span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25lR-eC-Xdg" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25lR-eC-Xdg</font></a></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">-- Susan Reiter</font></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-43791328101854563412015-04-27T00:42:00.001-07:002015-04-27T00:47:45.821-07:00Monday update<div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">A few news programs have asked for an update on the situation at Everest Base Camp. This morning (Monday), Jon might be on Good Morning America and the Today show. Tonight (Monday night), he might be on CNN on Erin Burnett and Anderson Cooper.</font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW2Oz-gjvmPrEC2_BHH4lZc3COdJ_X-kTnGGXmR7tPskKczpispKlifQO4tG-fhO58W-VMsg74EFQzwVSwxEwzMi2ogPgxOlRNQEngl_GTu1PHqImr7uppD_rdmFm44_Ea3gcQiuhFo8/s640/blogger-image-1909254836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW2Oz-gjvmPrEC2_BHH4lZc3COdJ_X-kTnGGXmR7tPskKczpispKlifQO4tG-fhO58W-VMsg74EFQzwVSwxEwzMi2ogPgxOlRNQEngl_GTu1PHqImr7uppD_rdmFm44_Ea3gcQiuhFo8/s640/blogger-image-1909254836.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jon Reiter, left and Moises Nava,right </div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Our local paper, the Press Democrat, received this message from Jon:</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"A little hectic getting injured out today. We have helis today so we're moving everyone we can down below the icefall. Two more Avalanches last nite. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">No more casualties over night."</span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When Jon called me tonight, we had a bad connection and couldn't hear each other very well. He had a great connection when he called his good friend Jerry. Here's what he found out:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> just received a call from Jon, as communications were briefly available. Although sleep has been minimal he is FINE as those uninjured continue to aid those in need. Their goal is to get all injured off the mountain via helicopters. It is now </span><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">9:00 a.m.</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">in Nepal and he's optimistic that they'll reach their goal, however there's a possible storm coming, so nothing is for sure.</span></div><div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1430095489221_5310" dir="ltr"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> At this point, Jon has no idea when he'll get off the mountain, let alone down to Katmandu and eventually home. We all know he has a strong 'constitution', but I'm sure he would appreciate a few prayers for his safe return."</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1430095489221_5310" dir="ltr"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">....................JP</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-74431903710977746112015-04-26T16:37:00.001-07:002015-04-26T16:40:57.697-07:00CNN International interview<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzvmfs1HpqaAYdgEnLERDCytKVDwVLmGvRx9puhrLDhhZCScJd0lu-sHI7Mx4J06wcAzhQVVMK_7PP_vyhoevnIcQfVuCfRekzU1HYXYiX7Ytry92_sq0S3408N_GdrD-x6E6ZwKs9MM/s640/blogger-image--103209796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzvmfs1HpqaAYdgEnLERDCytKVDwVLmGvRx9puhrLDhhZCScJd0lu-sHI7Mx4J06wcAzhQVVMK_7PP_vyhoevnIcQfVuCfRekzU1HYXYiX7Ytry92_sq0S3408N_GdrD-x6E6ZwKs9MM/s640/blogger-image--103209796.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Click on the link that has a helicopter in the video and it's <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">3:31</a> seconds.... It's Jon on CNN International .....he says, "We're feeling pretty lucky today"....</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/26/asia/nepal-earthquake/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/26/asia/nepal-earthquake/index.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Here are a few photos that Jon sent from Everest base camp.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEmsVAG21d4_VIhdNblPFU1f6L0EPlLsnGtrKgJaNPV2yJdcikMQsD1S_wJ9T3x8q-i69hrS5JNhovuwD10ZxQVlSedWUDfg93SQ_Kgs9QqtiCk3tlzGd5zl79FSk0-B1zH8ojNbVsGI/s640/blogger-image-1174296991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEmsVAG21d4_VIhdNblPFU1f6L0EPlLsnGtrKgJaNPV2yJdcikMQsD1S_wJ9T3x8q-i69hrS5JNhovuwD10ZxQVlSedWUDfg93SQ_Kgs9QqtiCk3tlzGd5zl79FSk0-B1zH8ojNbVsGI/s640/blogger-image-1174296991.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEmsVAG21d4_VIhdNblPFU1f6L0EPlLsnGtrKgJaNPV2yJdcikMQsD1S_wJ9T3x8q-i69hrS5JNhovuwD10ZxQVlSedWUDfg93SQ_Kgs9QqtiCk3tlzGd5zl79FSk0-B1zH8ojNbVsGI/s640/blogger-image-1174296991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEdG6k8oQuS97lJ9G_f5JAikZB0kBcaWmmHP9WGKrFxr0n3Ew3foURO5V_b76mAKeGAxEGaw6YIh0n4h7HTzGONoKDA1YdpIL6fiPhni8d8amF-avSFFkzAv1Ff7z0IHKIljB81hbUAI/s640/blogger-image-945033462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEdG6k8oQuS97lJ9G_f5JAikZB0kBcaWmmHP9WGKrFxr0n3Ew3foURO5V_b76mAKeGAxEGaw6YIh0n4h7HTzGONoKDA1YdpIL6fiPhni8d8amF-avSFFkzAv1Ff7z0IHKIljB81hbUAI/s640/blogger-image-945033462.jpg"></a></div></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-30455914876963601852015-04-25T18:40:00.001-07:002015-04-26T00:26:53.110-07:00Update from Everest Base Camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is the next morning in Nepal now. Jon said there are 18 people dead at Everest Base Camp. Helicopters are arrived to get the injured people out.<br />
<br />
Jon was just interviewed on CNN International. It's the video titled, "We're feeling pretty lucky today."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/asia/nepal-earthquake-everest/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/asia/nepal-earthquake-everest/index.html</a><br />
<br />
I talked to a CNN.com reporter, and here's a link to the article:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/asia/nepal-earthquake-7-5-magnitude/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/asia/nepal-earthquake-7-5-magnitude/index.html</a><br />
<br />
Please continue to send your positive thoughts to Nepal.<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
Susan</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-51344956365099865602015-04-25T00:19:00.000-07:002015-04-25T01:26:45.506-07:00Earthquake and Avalanches at Everest Base Camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
12:05am<br />
<br />
Jon just called from his satellite phone to let us know that he and everyone on his team are OK. There was a major earthquake in Nepal:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/asia/nepal-earthquake-7-5-magnitude/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/asia/nepal-earthquake-7-5-magnitude/index.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/strong-earthquake-felt-nepals-capital-30576522">http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/strong-earthquake-felt-nepals-capital-30576522</a><br />
<br />
He said that the ground shook for a very long time and that avalanches were happening one right after another on the mountain. We just talked for a minute and he got off the phone because he and his climbing partner Moises are helping with the rescue effort. Jon and Moises don't have medical training but they are acting as medics because so many people are injured. He said that most of base camp was damaged. All the IMG (International Mountain Guides) group tents are being used as temporary medical facilities for the injured.<br />
<br />
Please send your positive thoughts to everyone in Nepal.<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
Susan</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-22276035519732497952015-04-18T09:41:00.000-07:002015-04-18T21:03:05.945-07:00A day of reflection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: left;">Lots of snow this year. It looks cold but the snow actually insulates the tents nicely. </span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: left;">You just don't feel like digging out until the sun hits the camp.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><br>April 18, 2015 </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">(One year after 16 lives were taken by an avalanche on Everest)</span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><br></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A year ago today was a pretty heavy day in all of our lives. Today most of us sit quietly contemplating, paying our respects, counting our blessings and being thankful that we're still here living our dreams. It wasn't our time last year and hopefully it won't be this year either.</span><br>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">We're off to a late start this season. The snows have been heavy and the route through the icefall is new and challenging. Our first team of strong Sherpa haven't been able to get through the thigh deep snows and long ladders in the icefall yet but they hope get up to C1 (camp 1) within the next few days.</span><br>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Susan has been on me about updating this blog, but things are a little different this year. I'm finding myself deep in thought and lacking for words to express what I'm thinking and feeling. I've actually written several entries over the last few weeks but deleted each because they didn't seem describe the experience. They were lacking. And I know my crew back home won't put up with lacking, meaning gibberish ;)</span><br>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I feel a little detached this year. My head is completely in Nepal. I'm not as worried this time about making the summit (although it's high on my list :) but more focused on soaking in the scene, the experience, the people, and just the life and time that we're having by being here. Just crawling out of my tent, standing up on a pile of snow and looking around. Its hard to take it all in. Everest base camp, the icefall, the mountain itself, snow, silence, staggering beauty on an enormous scale! Just standing here looking around you quickly realize how charmed your life is if you're here at all.</span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I feel quieter this year. Happy, grateful, fulfilled, but a bit quieter.</span><br>
<br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A little about the team: The group of guys we have this year really makes up a spectacular team. Everyone seems to be on the same page. Everyone is strong (except me, I've got a little cold thing going on), everyone is upbeat and feeling positive. We all miss our families and friends but we seem to be equally focused on the task at hand. Each guy seems to be supportive of the others, real team players. It's an unusually lucky draw of guys and a good sign. Our Sherpa are positive as always. They're such strong people, both physically and mentally. We really couldn't do this without them.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I don't know what this year will bring but I do know that I'm with a great group of guys, we're having one of the best expeditions of our lives and things are looking great overall. It's all in the attitude, right? Well this team seems to have that part down! We're three weeks in, the honeymoon is over and everyone is still happy, positive and eager to move uphill. It's good, we're happy and were on our way!</span><br>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I'll try to write more often. I really do miss all of you and it means so much that you all want to share in my life and this experience.</span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I may be quiet now but once the action starts up high I'm sure it'll be a wild and wooly ride with lots of pictures and stories to follow. Keep the positive thoughts and prayers headed our way and we'll keep putting them to good use.</span><br>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><br></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">We're sending gratitude to each of you for sharing this experience with us! Your participation in my life is what really gives it meaning!</span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Jon</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: left;">Nathan and I on the ridge approaching Everest Base Camp</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjmLzkiyEZb0ypwLQdNEpHQAAY3DYIhaO8zJSYFYWp6vUU0zpR971Cd6-3p7-rIQXNzt6K7MrWbna2WAhWW8Kd7iutUUbPzcK9bag64_fNkv6r36hEgcYg1P7_ATrxJRSM5ukn-4DPzo/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjmLzkiyEZb0ypwLQdNEpHQAAY3DYIhaO8zJSYFYWp6vUU0zpR971Cd6-3p7-rIQXNzt6K7MrWbna2WAhWW8Kd7iutUUbPzcK9bag64_fNkv6r36hEgcYg1P7_ATrxJRSM5ukn-4DPzo/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" height="320" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: left;">Letting off steam after making camp.<br>Mosey (in the upper left), of course, takes the opportunity to pile on the pain once his buddy goes down.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME-y9slnHCpd6LfX910ZzL6fC_RvRGtGF7roPCkcqZ462EFL7OL_Yf1PQYsdk4MZAcQgFs42R07sAtqUQjdQGAq5YwaHf9sJHosadN8sp3kXU_XQOGyZh8xpEofsNzDiRQS0LQn8nToo/s1600/IMG_5667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME-y9slnHCpd6LfX910ZzL6fC_RvRGtGF7roPCkcqZ462EFL7OL_Yf1PQYsdk4MZAcQgFs42R07sAtqUQjdQGAq5YwaHf9sJHosadN8sp3kXU_XQOGyZh8xpEofsNzDiRQS0LQn8nToo/s1600/IMG_5667.JPG" height="240" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: left;">Sharing the local interstate with the yak train trying to get to Everest Base Camp</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-64857441736536419122015-04-15T17:38:00.001-07:002015-04-15T17:58:20.785-07:00Jon made it to Everest Base Camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jon has not had wifi in about 5 days so he hasn't been able to send photos. He calls Agustin and me every evening from his satellite phone to let us know that everything is OK.</div>
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His group arrived at Everest Base Camp yesterday. The wifi was working there for a few hours when they first arrived but now it's down again. Moises was able to get these photos out that show scenes on the way to Base Camp.</div>
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-- Susan</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFh87SKJme9qpWdpzxxHedM-8K8R3RBKKElBwD0q7fgaSRqgCZFZ_9gwKqfWPJACIv1FD7GHV0vfDEGbfNLXG2D-c8deEcD4h2h_O-D3jMNJX7w56SoM0DMnp2D7WluMJ562nDKOfUxY/s1600/image1-799704.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFh87SKJme9qpWdpzxxHedM-8K8R3RBKKElBwD0q7fgaSRqgCZFZ_9gwKqfWPJACIv1FD7GHV0vfDEGbfNLXG2D-c8deEcD4h2h_O-D3jMNJX7w56SoM0DMnp2D7WluMJ562nDKOfUxY/s320/image1-799704.jpeg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6138129749021148962" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mingma, Jon Reiter and IMG guide Max with an amazing background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlqNCt9JNfnXNpKEjC_b79ZCv2ZcoPr6rsjIoQjqPhd-WJV-fcY9CWQ-23PEDossmDmB-5JCUekLqdd4H3LB1bSYi8q7b_T-EWlhditMCEGc4Lc0c44-gQW_d-UhUCi1QpGeJEW6QKzI/s1600/image2-702057.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlqNCt9JNfnXNpKEjC_b79ZCv2ZcoPr6rsjIoQjqPhd-WJV-fcY9CWQ-23PEDossmDmB-5JCUekLqdd4H3LB1bSYi8q7b_T-EWlhditMCEGc4Lc0c44-gQW_d-UhUCi1QpGeJEW6QKzI/s320/image2-702057.jpeg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6138129758311531826" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon is on the left with his hands in the air</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWgWNSoBw_L_4V4g3wrNkiD-4r0aemXTx2I2PcS71aJ1vYNm0DxJhojf9-R1jiDsrheE56gH-pnmBf5c6Uzp9snu3apKFVFzsVNOX-BT6ulPiyPBgpi5esDFyWlHJgwMmv0H7gSvXqiU/s1600/image4-706176.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWgWNSoBw_L_4V4g3wrNkiD-4r0aemXTx2I2PcS71aJ1vYNm0DxJhojf9-R1jiDsrheE56gH-pnmBf5c6Uzp9snu3apKFVFzsVNOX-BT6ulPiyPBgpi5esDFyWlHJgwMmv0H7gSvXqiU/s320/image4-706176.jpeg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6138129777572242354" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the group arriving at Lobuche basecamp on the way to Everest Base Camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yaks carrying supplies to Everest Base Camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AhwiXGtMceZivruSjghCnNxe5E8zImL9T9b2Zr145JkUY54oMZkr8q7ZX_vgyPYCycZKfYeSAsLcomQ05DQXdZoiCxkJZDMvbfPdhWo1W-e0pOjcXrhw4rfSkFWJ3mJhnzd_qH-_A00/s1600/image6-710478.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AhwiXGtMceZivruSjghCnNxe5E8zImL9T9b2Zr145JkUY54oMZkr8q7ZX_vgyPYCycZKfYeSAsLcomQ05DQXdZoiCxkJZDMvbfPdhWo1W-e0pOjcXrhw4rfSkFWJ3mJhnzd_qH-_A00/s320/image6-710478.jpeg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6138129791493740402" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniele (<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Moises' girlfriend)</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> and Jon Reiter</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-89911141395355877052015-04-08T01:20:00.002-07:002015-04-08T23:03:56.332-07:00Update from the trek to base camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jon is at 12,687 feet by the Tengboche monastery. The trek is going very well. Today, the weather turned cold and a little snowy and the group is heading to Pheriche (14,340 feet).<br />
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-- Susan Reiter<br />
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Video from Jon of the view from his room in Tengboche<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(This video plays on a laptop/computer but doesn't play on my iPhone)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfnihN7EVgZJBb-FSEpVJK9vOysnAh_G0IuwyFp7wXJrU6NQ_e-UmV_HHCN83yQTNvwhx-8fDj4XQHogxhyphenhyphenRbM9Supfftw-3yj44Fe7Ytf0g6WHkj5DNoj2Q2EKD1GqZdbYUbs3y_V5Y/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfnihN7EVgZJBb-FSEpVJK9vOysnAh_G0IuwyFp7wXJrU6NQ_e-UmV_HHCN83yQTNvwhx-8fDj4XQHogxhyphenhyphenRbM9Supfftw-3yj44Fe7Ytf0g6WHkj5DNoj2Q2EKD1GqZdbYUbs3y_V5Y/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jon Reiter and Moises Nava</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">At the Hotel Everest View on April 4, 2015</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">First View of Everest and Lhotse</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-81335689709620281512015-03-29T20:37:00.001-07:002015-04-03T20:55:04.178-07:00Life's great and unpredictable journey continues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon and Susan Reiter in Dubai in front of Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest building)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Many of you have asked me "why" I'm headed back to Everest. As each of you ask this question with such wonder, I think to myself that I can't quite find the words to tell you why, or what really pulls me back to the mountains. But as I sit here in Dubai (headed for Nepal) alone with my <span style="color: black;">thoughts </span><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><span style="color: black;">at 4:30 AM</span></a><span style="color: black;">, it seems that</span> it'd be nice to at least try to describe what I'm thinking and feeling about going back.<br><br>After the tragedy that claimed 16 lives on the mountain last year, a fellow climber wrote the following on my blog - "For those who seek adventure, meaning, solace or solitude in the mountains, there can be no other way but to embrace all possible outcomes. Few who choose this way of life would exchange it for another. Lucky we are to be surrounded by those who share our passion, but doomed we are to share such tragedies."<br><br>Although I feel that this is so well said, there may be some of you who don't understand or can't relate to what it means to me and other climbers. I love my family first and foremost, without a doubt, and I also love the mountains. The adventure and the idea of setting goals in life and trying to reach them is something that's ingrained in my core; it's simply part of who I am. I'd like to finish the goal that I've started, the goal to climb the highest mountain on each continent - and I'm so close (I think :)</span><br>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>When we were in the midst of last year's events it was hard to see the big picture. It was hard to remember that people die in the mountains but that it's more rare than not. It was hard for me to remember that I'm not choosing between my life at home and dying in the mountains. I like to think it's similar to surviving a plane crash or a major pile up on the freeway. We might be hesitant to get back on a plane, or back on the highway, but the chances are...<br><br>When my brother was killed and I was sitting at his funeral thinking about what I'd regret not doing in this life, I must have known that a major goal like this would come with some obstacles and setbacks. Actually, I believe that almost anything worth doing in life is gonna have obstacles. If it's something that's worth our limited time it's going to have a high price.</span><br>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>I guess it comes down to this: I set out to climb the seven summits and I have six of them done. Last year on Everest slapped me down pretty hard and I didn't think I'd get back up, but I did. I think Everest is right in front of me and I can finish this worthy goal if it's still important enough to me. I want to spend a long and happy life with my wife and my boys but I also want my boys to know that life is going to throw us all some curve-balls that we need to deal with.. without giving up if the price isn't too high.</span><br>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>I guess I've realized that the chances are good that I can have both: a wonderful life with my crew at home and the seven summits. This life really is full of wonder and mystery and we really don't know what's around the next corner. But what I do know is that I want to keep going. I want to keep looking and exploring and living great adventures! If there's more setbacks along the way I'll do my best to deal with them as they come. If there's a price to pay, I'll do my best to remember that it's part of the life I've chosen. What I don't want to do is to find myself on my death bed saying to myself that I wish I had... </span><br>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>It really isn't a dress rehearsal my friends! I hope that each of you go find your Everest, find whatever it is that's important to you and do what you can to make it part of your life! Do whatever it is that you'd regret not doing if your time was up. </span><br>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>Thank you all for being part of my life; part of my journey!<br><br>Jon </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You can track his current location with the following link:</span></div><div><font color="#000000" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0BJZu4Tbpfiau9bb5592V6C3NsLuSIcgr" target="_blank" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jon's SPOT location</a></font></div></div><div><br></div><div>If you'd like to get more information about the expedition, here's the link to IMG's blog:</div><div><a href="http://www.mountainguides.com/everest-south15.shtml">http://www.mountainguides.com/everest-south15.shtml</a></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Jon is in the third team.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-16520165352167834162014-04-25T08:57:00.000-07:002014-04-25T09:09:21.051-07:00A final thought or two as we prepare to come home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjboIkgOTrSrHScqgiMEJtN8RM_Gb91WYct4VhQdxQ60t5i7D9y7Qx1UYw0HDk4EgqhrpshTL8SgrqIClhByJ5c4fFhPDd2FnI2Q69Feub20jpZN-7rLoo72Kz1r-kD6zyWBjLecpbqs/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjboIkgOTrSrHScqgiMEJtN8RM_Gb91WYct4VhQdxQ60t5i7D9y7Qx1UYw0HDk4EgqhrpshTL8SgrqIClhByJ5c4fFhPDd2FnI2Q69Feub20jpZN-7rLoo72Kz1r-kD6zyWBjLecpbqs/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Lukla airport after flying down from Everest Base Camp.<br />
Left: Jon Reiter of Kenwood, California<br />
Right: Marcus Bridle of Melbourne, Australia</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">Marcus and I are headed home. This trip may not have seen us on top of Everest but it has provided more life experience than I had ever expected or bargained for. What a trip!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">After getting back to Kathmandu and seeing all the press, I can't help but to step back from it and think "I just wanted to come climb a mountain". But as we all now know, Marcus' and my climb has instead become a pawn in a much bigger story.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">The loss of 16 Sherpa's lives, watching their bodies be brought down one by one and the near miss for Marcus and myself, has together somehow changed mountaineering's position on my list of life's priorities.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">I've enjoyed a great decade of climbing the world's highest peaks and I've certainly enjoyed sharing these times with all of you back home. However, I think it's time for this chapter of my life to come to an end. It's nice that I have this option, the choice to decide to end this chapter and move on to the next life experience; to spend the next 6 years participating in my boy's life on a day to day basis before he leaves for college; for 16 men on Everest they'll never get that choice.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">We've all heard about these life illuminating events and we've all surely experienced something that has set us back on our heels and made us re-evaluate what means what; this expedition has done just that for me. I feel so lucky to be headed home; to get to be there for my boy as he grows; another shot at living a full life (I may have used up all of my "get out of jail free" cards at this point :-) and a chance to appreciate all my friends and family once again..</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">I'd also like to say thank you to all of you who have taken the time to send thoughtful and appreciated notes offering support for the disappointment that Marcus and I must feel. We have read each and every one of them and they've meant more to us than you know. It's true that missing the summit of Everest is a great disappointment but what we have witnessed and been a part of has impacted us much more than the summit ever could.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">Life is a great and unpredictable journey. We each make of it whatever we choose. I think that if we want to focus on the worst, on the negative, surely that's exactly what we'll find and what life will deliver. If we decide to do the best we can, to try to see the best in others and to remember that we only have so many days on this planet to practice this... We'll each do ok.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">Thank you all for participating in this adventure with Marcus and me. With each passing year and adventure, it seems to become clearer and clearer to me how simple life really is. As someone once said, we just need to watch our words around others and our thoughts when we're alone... Life is simply a reflection of the thoughts we choose to think..</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">Today I choose to think about all the wonderful friends as family that share my life. I'm a lucky guy...</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">Enjoy your journey! JR</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">Below is a link to the NY Times article that so many people have responded to. The best part is at the end.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/world/asia/climbers-leave-everest-amid-regrets-and-tensions-among-sherpas.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/<wbr></wbr>04/25/world/asia/climbers-<wbr></wbr>leave-everest-amid-regrets-<wbr></wbr>and-tensions-among-sherpas.<wbr></wbr>html</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-18310655188654315882014-04-23T10:38:00.003-07:002014-04-23T13:45:35.945-07:00Coming home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I spoke with Jon this morning and he is coming home!<br />
<br />
Jon's Sherpa guide Dawa is featured in a front page story on CNN titled:<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>"Hero guide spent day tending to dead friends"</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000ee;"><b><u><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/world/asia/nepal-everest-avalanche/index.html?hpt=hp_t3">http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/world/asia/nepal-everest-avalanche/index.html?hpt=hp_t3</a></u></b></span><br />
<br />
It has been an extremely sad time since the avalanche disaster in which 16 people were killed. The Sherpas voted and have decided to close the mountain this year.<br />
<br />
Jon is taking a helicopter from Everest Base Camp to Lukla at 8am tomorrow (7:15pm tonight PST). From there, he'll take a plane to Kathmandu and then make his way home.<br />
<br />
Susan</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-807655012837138682014-04-21T01:42:00.000-07:002014-04-27T11:32:31.017-07:00Time to sit patiently and see what life brings us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKkJrpQAk0taQgH19X020bfc7qYCxcxkEErTTtQJeGKlYfy1Z7toN-H5m1gL2ljay1MA41mF1hcTixQQvKvSP8ZogWfHtxsyKDgZhMa_TTu7VQ0IfPZVrG6E4BQODOHo31J88w89ahr0/s1600/blogger-image-727210873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKkJrpQAk0taQgH19X020bfc7qYCxcxkEErTTtQJeGKlYfy1Z7toN-H5m1gL2ljay1MA41mF1hcTixQQvKvSP8ZogWfHtxsyKDgZhMa_TTu7VQ0IfPZVrG6E4BQODOHo31J88w89ahr0/s640/blogger-image-727210873.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Left to right:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">1) Marcus Bridle of Melbourne, Australia who also climbed Vinson in Antarctica with me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">2) Mingma Sherpa who is the climbing guide for Marcus</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">3) Me (Jon Reiter of Kenwood, California)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Just a note to summarize the last few days. Our Sherpa friends have decided to use this tragedy to further their cause with the Nepal government. All of the climbing Sherpa (as opposed to the Sherpa that help us establish and maintain base camp) have left the mountain and have stated that they will not return until their requests are met by the Nepalese government. What they're asking for is certainly deserved and we support their cause 100%. They simply want the families of the deceased to be taken care of as well as assurances that they themselves and their families will be taken care of should they be hurt or killed while climbing Everest. There are other requests on their list (15 in all) but this is the general idea.</div>
<br />
As I mentioned we feel that most of what they're asking for is valid and overdue. From what we understand 10% of Nepal's GDP is based on Everest revenue. It may be true that we climbers have substantially increased the quality of life here in the Khumbu Valley with all the money that's spent here climbing this mountain and trekking about but we hope that the government remembers that the climbing Sherpa are the ones putting their lives on the line, right along side us, on a daily basis. We cannot climb this mountain without them by our sides just as they were not able to climb it without our logistics and resources; we make a perfect and inseparable team. From the very beginning (1953) until today, Everest is climbed not by individuals but by partnerships.
<br />
<br />
There have been some horribly misinformed comments made lately about the relationship between the Sherpa people and western climbers. As I mentioned, both parties consider the other as equal partners in this quest. We take care of each other 24 hours a day. When the avalanche hit, it was actually western climbers (many of which were actually from our party) who spent the day, on the scene, treating the wounded and extracting the dead. We did not run from the scene. As a matter of fact, our western guides from camp one and from the Football field rushed towards the debris into the danger and were some of the first on the scene. We have several MD's as clients on our climbing team and some these docs spent their entire day volunteering their time down at BC medical treating the wounded and pronouncing the unfortunate dead. I write all of this to clear the air of the misinformed nonsense about our relationship with our Sherpa partners. We and the Sherpa people are a team of equals and there were many tears spilled and stomachs turned as we brought our friends down one by one.
<br />
<br />
We don't know how long it'll take this government to respond to the Sherpas' requests and we have limited time to move up this mountain. Several teams have already thrown in the towel and are headed downhill out of BC now. As for Marcus and me, we've decided to give it our all. We came here to climb E and we'll wait here patiently until our expedition leader tells us we can go up or we must go down. I think we're ready to climb this one. I think the weather is looking better by the day. The mountain conditions are certainly acceptable and we have the absolute best team (IMG) behind us.
<br />
<br />
Avalanches happen in the mountains. As we lay in our tents we hear them crash down around us several times everyday. Unfortunately, this is part of the risk; part of the adventure that we all signed up for. If the government and the Sherpa come to an agreement soon, Marcus and I will continue trudging uphill until we can go no further. If they decide to not give us that opportunity this year, we'll go home early, hug and kiss our loved ones and know that we've been lucky to have had the opportunity to spend time in these mountains and share many wonderful times in the Khumbu Valley with our mountain loving Sherpa brothers..
<br />
<br />
Jon</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-59029046256004978662014-04-19T07:44:00.000-07:002014-04-20T23:54:23.633-07:00We're all going to need a few days to figure things out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght_WUpOcilHKp5-PPpwAe_TeFP1BaIJ-Kyz0rJ9SZDeNtKxbVMo-sqzhyntwTji-m5FOYVtPEHRuMmm-q0CU9ea0zJCM7A2CytmhN_hXW3eCIOTUVp9MHQDUqhCdRqU4gG05q1MianGk/s1600/Jon+and+Dawa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght_WUpOcilHKp5-PPpwAe_TeFP1BaIJ-Kyz0rJ9SZDeNtKxbVMo-sqzhyntwTji-m5FOYVtPEHRuMmm-q0CU9ea0zJCM7A2CytmhN_hXW3eCIOTUVp9MHQDUqhCdRqU4gG05q1MianGk/s1600/Jon+and+Dawa.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">
<blockquote type="cite">
This picture was taken today as my friend Dawa Sherpa was leaving base camp. Dawa is the man who was by my side when the avalanche struck. He's the guy who spent all day yesterday digging his friends and neighbors out of the snow and sending their limp bodies hanging on a cable from a helicopter down to base camp. After a long 16 agonizing hours he showed up at my tent, before going to his own, to make sure I was ok. He's an amazing man and I have great respect for him. He's a perfect example of the selfless Sherpa people that we entrust with our lives while on the mountain and who we quickly learn to call our friends.</blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" type="cite">
<div class="im">
The Sherpa community here in Base Camp is naturally quite shaken by this event and most of them have decided to step back from this expedition for a few days, trek home to their villages and reassess the situation with their families.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately the death toll is still climbing. We have recovered 16 lost souls as of an hour ago. We're hoping to locate two more of the missing today and get them back down here to BC, one way or another. This scene is a lot for us western climbers to take in so I can't imagine what our Sherpa partners are really feeling and thinking as we all witness the worst disaster in Everest history happening in front of our eyes.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" type="cite">
We've been getting a few questions and hearing a few comments that I'd like to try to address:<br />
<div class="im">
<br />
- This accident was just that - an accident; an act of nature where we humans happen to be in the way. It was not caused by "overcrowding". Matter of fact, there were only about 40 of us in the entire icefall and we were spread out. There was no one waiting for others in order to move up and no congestion anywhere in the icefall. It appeared to be perfect climbing conditions right up until the moment the thunder struck.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" type="cite">
- The avalanche took place just below camp 1 at about 19,000 ft and the time was approximately <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1263653962" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:45 am.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" type="cite">
<div class="im adL">
- The Sherpa that were lost were carrying loads to support the upper camps. The fixed lines and ladders through the icefall were already in place. There were very few western climbers in the area and all of us had our climbing Sherpa by our sides and they all survived.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;" type="cite">
<div class="im adL">
- The trash scene on Mt Everest is not what it used to be. Through the great efforts of many organizations and individuals this mountain has been cleaned up and looks wonderful. All too often we hear stories about the abuse of nature but we rarely hear when people have gone to great lengths to reverse the damage. Everest is one of those stories. Excessive trash did not cause this to happen. There is absolutely no garbage that I saw anywhere in the icefall. Actually we should all be proud of how good this place really looks. This was a random act of nature. </div>
</blockquote>
<div class="adL" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">
<blockquote type="cite">
<div class="im">
This is a tough time for everyone here on the mountain but accidents, and even death, are part of the deal. If climbing Everest were easy and risk free, I suspect we'd all take a hike to the top of the world. The price that has been paid over the last 24 hours is a large price indeed. I guess the climbing Sherpa as well as all of us western climbers need a few moments or days to re-evaluate what's worth what in this life.<br />
<br />
Early this morning I read a comment written about me where the author said, "I hope he finds what he's looking for up there." I appreciated that notion because it got me to thinking about what am I looking for, and I think I have found it whether I see the summit of Everest or not. I'm looking for an adventurous life. I want to see the whole world and all of its people. I want to lay in my death bed and know that I did and saw all that I wanted to in the time I spent spinning through space on this ball of mud. I want to know that I lived fully! So far in this life the things that I regret the most are the things I didn't do; the things I didn't have time for; the situations that scared me to much. I want to push myself to do and see until I can't anymore. I want to inspire my two boys to aim high, to take from this world and give to mankind more than they can imagine now. I hope I have a lot of life left to live and I hope I keep finding what I'm looking for. I'm glad my friend brought this topic up because I needed to remember today just why I'm here.<br />
<br />
I'm so flattered that so many of you are following this adventure. It's awesome that I get to follow my dreams and I remember everyday that all of this would be hollow and meaningless without all of you being part of my life. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div class="im">
Please send positive thoughts or prayers to the families of our fallen Sherpa brothers.<br />
<br />
Peace - Jon</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-75166247989643403702014-04-17T23:02:00.001-07:002014-04-20T15:29:10.442-07:00Tragedy on the mountain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As some of you have heard by now, there was a large avalanche in the icefall today. It came down off the left shoulder of Everest just as we were entering the "football" field, which is just below camp one. Marcus and I were each pushed down behind large blocks of ice by our Sherpas which shielded us from the brunt. These guys are truly amazing! They saved our lives! We are shaken but ok. Unfortunately there are some still up there who were not so lucky today. As I write this I feel emotional and don't know what to say. One thought is that we were SO lucky! But the overwhelming feelings are for the poor families of the people that didn't make it. I'm so near to this situation right now that I can't think straight. Of course we are all asking ourselves that serious question of "why are we here??" I don't want to try to answer that question in this state of mind but it is the big question floating over our whole camp today.
<br />
I'll close with these thoughts; I feel so grateful! I do know this is part of climbing these big mountains and I'm willing to accept the risk. But I do love and appreciate my family and friends more than this adventure. I have a wonderful life and I'm SO lucky today. If I didn't have all of you in my life none of this would matter. I just wanted you all to know what happened and that I'm ok. Thank you for being part of my life.
<br />
As a buddy of mine reminded me in times like this.."Stay calm, say a prayer, move forward."
<br />
Peace and Love, Jon</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-45832029184190166972014-04-17T21:51:00.000-07:002014-04-17T21:56:46.725-07:00Jon was near an avalanche but he is OK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Just in case you hear something on the news . . .</span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon called to say that he and Marcus are OK. They were in the icefall when an avalanche fell off the west shoulder of Everest onto the icefall between the Football Field and Camp 1. Now he's safe back at base camp.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">CNN says that up to 10 people are missing.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
Jon and I are counting our blessings.</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Susan</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-25721261465320405082014-04-16T02:52:00.000-07:002014-04-16T03:36:16.902-07:00Putting the scene in perspective <p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas9v5MbkdO_ULpIqpjnU5g33ukEV5QTNrs3mfYrPw_7rGSAWKGko0fCs5R14nDhlex4sWvSI-yM8QaggahTUNOzMJU9mRJTX8SV7pI4ieWt80oIlzMzsl4k9l_DUMYh5wEt_B0kxe49U/s1600/photo-776903.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgas9v5MbkdO_ULpIqpjnU5g33ukEV5QTNrs3mfYrPw_7rGSAWKGko0fCs5R14nDhlex4sWvSI-yM8QaggahTUNOzMJU9mRJTX8SV7pI4ieWt80oIlzMzsl4k9l_DUMYh5wEt_B0kxe49U/s320/photo-776903.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6002837752841720994" /></a></p>I'll try to send this picture in high res so it can be blown up. It's WONDERFUL that we have wifi here this year but its not the greatest.
<br>Even though our faces are not seen well here the best part of this picture is. You can see why they call it an "icefall". In this picture the flow line is visible from its origin on the Lohtse face all the way down the hill where it turns left and passes base camp. If you are able to blow this up you can see most of BC in the lower left corner. The highest mountain (with the dark black face) in the upper center of the photo is Everest! The intended route up will be the right hand side of that dark triangle. Where that dark south rib comes down and meets the iceflow is called the South Col. This will be our high camp at 26,000 feet.
<br>If you check my Spot-tracker activity from today you'll see where I took this photo. A few of us climbed 1200 feet up the opposite side of the valley in order to help with our acclimatization and to get a good look at our adventure.
<br>Tomorrow we'll rest and hopefully head up through this maze in the next few days.
<br>I miss all of you and home but this place is amazing. I was standing in camp looking up at the icefall today when one of my team members quietly said "I just can't take it all in"...... Simple statement but so well said..Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-24947202076115180442014-04-14T03:08:00.000-07:002014-04-14T09:38:39.517-07:00Time to learn the balancing act<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJwnROaIOPm-2NSL4Bon4JXuRtLXGt39gT98mT05wUWXiqTMDojRRiNHGsjN2DzDK3EfvHgnwjAF2qxgbHckHJQLNE-Su6tzUJe8cC2gSqFTlLrYPbEd0j0H5DLYA4mb5kX2prxqHx90/s1600/photo-728274.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJwnROaIOPm-2NSL4Bon4JXuRtLXGt39gT98mT05wUWXiqTMDojRRiNHGsjN2DzDK3EfvHgnwjAF2qxgbHckHJQLNE-Su6tzUJe8cC2gSqFTlLrYPbEd0j0H5DLYA4mb5kX2prxqHx90/s320/photo-728274.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6002098806462461682" /></a></div>
Base camp is such an interesting place at this point in the season because everyone's thinking about the icefall. We all realize that our chance at this hurdle is rapidly approaching. Some of the season's first climbers go tomorrow.
<br />
As you see in this picture, we have a couple of ladders set up here in BC where we can practice. Some like to set their heal first, some balance on their toes first, maybe step one rung at a time, or maybe two feels more natural. What I find interesting is that so much time is spent on learning the ladders when it's such a small piece of the puzzle. Not many of us come right out and say it but I suspect this is most everyone's biggest concern while on this mountain. So many conversations over the last few days have drifted until someone mentions the ladders and then everyone listens up.
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Looking at this setup where we're two feet off the ground doesn't look too bad but what we're seeing in our minds is a 300 foot drop into blackness beneath the rungs. Even the most experienced guys up here will offer advice like "just try to focus on your boot placement and don't look down too far." It's an exciting time! I'm scared a bit and at the same time I can't wait to get back up there.
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There's some great ladder crossing pix on the IMG website if you want to get a feel for the fun :-)
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The background in this picture is the actual icefall itself, or at least the bottom part of it. I'm sure most of you realize that these pieces of ice that look like popcorn are the size of buses or even as big as houses.
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I was having lunch today with an experienced climber from Mexico who's going to try to climb this hill for the third time. When the icefall topic eventually came up he said "the trick is to keep your head down and not think about those blocks of ice hanging over you...but for God's sake keep an eye on them just in case they decide to fall on you" :-) I guess it's like everything else in life, it's just a balancing act..</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-83914865207230561292014-04-12T01:12:00.000-07:002014-04-12T19:15:08.938-07:00Whether we use old or new forms of travel we all need blessing before entering BC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In photo one we see a decorated "pilot" yak. This guy was so proud of himself I just had to take his picture as he led his team past us, back downhill for another load. He carries at least 10x the load each of us do so we've come to have great respect and gratitude for these creatures. <br />
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The next shot I found intriguing: a herd of Yak and Nak moving through the field near Pheriche as a helicopter hovers above waiting to land. Both chopper and yak now compete to provide transportation services to BC. The old versus the new, side by side..<br />
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Third photo: I think I heard mama yak explaining to baby yak to look at the mountains - the mountains where she'll spend her life helping others fulfill their dreams..<br />
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No matter how we get up this hill we all need the blessing of the local Lama before we proceed. It was an hour long ceremony where he chanted quietly as he looked us over. Eventually he blessed each of us by touching foreheads and draping our necks. Even though we couldn't understand much of what he said the blessing somehow offered a sense of peace.<br />
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As our friend Mr. Thoreau said "go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined". It's awesome to get the chance to follow his directions. What a life . . .<br />
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Jon</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-13366547494533270722014-04-11T20:35:00.001-07:002014-04-12T19:14:48.755-07:00Base Camp has arrived<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We made it to BC - our home for the next few weeks. In the pix attached you can see the interstate trucking service that we used to get our duffels up here. Much more reliable than Mack trucks but they're also a little bit opinionated. When they decide to pass us on the trail we simply step aside and hope they don't swing their head too much.
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Also is a picture of the us arriving at the official BC gateway. Left to right, Andreas, me, Marcus (who will stay with me throughout) and then Bret. Andreas and Bret will leave today for their long trek back to Lukla for a flight out to Katmandu.
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We're feeling good overall and plan to start our first trips up through the icefall in the next week or two. In the meantime we're practicing on the ladders in BC, fixing our gear, acclimatizing and resting.
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Missing all of you and home but feeling great... All my best to all of you who mean so much to me! Jon</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-87652266640441273402014-04-09T21:45:00.001-07:002014-04-09T21:52:30.672-07:00Everest Base Camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jon and the group of Classic climbers made it to Everest base camp. He called from his sat phone and said that it's going well but it is exceptionally cold. They'll be there a couple of days and then head back to Lobuche. The wifi at base camp is not up and running yet so he does not have access to email to send pictures to the blog.<br />
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IMG posted some pictures of base camp. If you click the top picture on the April 9th post, you can see Jon at the back of the dining tent on the left. Click "Next" and it scrolls through a lot of good pictures of base camp and the mountain.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mountainguides.com/everest-south14.shtml">http://www.mountainguides.com/everest-south14.shtml</a></div>
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Here's the link to track his location:</div>
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<a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0BJZu4Tbpfiau9bb5592V6C3NsLuSIcgr" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon's SPOT location</span></a></div>
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Susan</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-26763581783323642912014-04-08T16:24:00.001-07:002014-04-08T16:32:30.150-07:00Moving to Everest Base Camp tomorrow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You can get more information about Jon's expedition at the following link:<br />
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<a href="http://www.mountainguides.com/everest-south14.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.mountainguides.com/everest-south14.shtml</a></div>
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International Mountain Guides (IMG) has several different teams that are on different rotations. IMG offers 3 types of services:<br />
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1) Everest climb 1:1 Western guide<br />
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2) Hybrid Everest climb 1:1 Sherpa guide and 4:1 Western guide<br />
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3) Classic Everest climb 1:1 Sherpa guide</div>
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Jon is in the first "Classic" team.</div>
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Last night, he called from his sat phone to let me that all is well. They are at Lobuche base camp and are heading for Everest base camp tomorrow (tonight our time).</div>
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<span class="HOEnZb"><span style="color: #888888;">Susan</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can track his current location with the following link:</span></div>
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<a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0BJZu4Tbpfiau9bb5592V6C3NsLuSIcgr" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon's SPOT location</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-79526004400830334242014-04-06T10:18:00.001-07:002014-04-08T16:28:53.072-07:00Lobuche<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV_BF_sa216QqysaE2cZbO6V26DP2clACOPbHEACDn3vqsP3ijCvYxlJvSeoNIqqzQna7w9EJ4iO1O03X54JcuKlVcuuLIOE7cF1Gqs9pvqHYToca5rlBqPCu7a78hNfh_mcD9wKCVNQ/s1600/photo-790783.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV_BF_sa216QqysaE2cZbO6V26DP2clACOPbHEACDn3vqsP3ijCvYxlJvSeoNIqqzQna7w9EJ4iO1O03X54JcuKlVcuuLIOE7cF1Gqs9pvqHYToca5rlBqPCu7a78hNfh_mcD9wKCVNQ/s320/photo-790783.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5999230467580429922" /></a></div>
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This is Lobuche and it's just over 20,000 ft, same as our Denali (McKinley) in Alaska. It doesn't look that high because I took this picture from 14k ft yesterday. We'll climb this first as a warm up, if you will. The idea is to get the body to realize that we're headed uphill and get the kidneys to jumpstart the making of red blood cells. This in turn will enable us to move much more quickly through the icefall. We want to do anything we can to minimize the time in these dangerous areas so we do what we can to increase these oxygen carrying red cells. I thought you might be interested in the thinking behind climbing a "bonus" mountain on our way to the big one.<br />
I'll be on the back side of the moon for the next three days with no communication. I'll check in once we hit Everest BC about 4 days from now.<br />
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Jon<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can track my current location with the following link:</span></div>
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<a href="http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0BJZu4Tbpfiau9bb5592V6C3NsLuSIcgr" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jon's SPOT location</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-81859044238595058042014-04-03T07:20:00.000-07:002014-04-04T22:59:21.554-07:00Tengboche.. Or Thyangboche; Hillary's first base camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF4gJZAy2KOgUJiOqneBBKjAeHbnqtOole_5v-f5lI4iDvsszA4LMKiUn-Oerr8VxKVZ1Z0kXDqRFXo0nffNoKUv5GabCt6vCHs_bDtRUor7LRUNFZaJU7QdTebA8z82lYM_Rbk4FEc0/s1600/photo+2-799778.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF4gJZAy2KOgUJiOqneBBKjAeHbnqtOole_5v-f5lI4iDvsszA4LMKiUn-Oerr8VxKVZ1Z0kXDqRFXo0nffNoKUv5GabCt6vCHs_bDtRUor7LRUNFZaJU7QdTebA8z82lYM_Rbk4FEc0/s320/photo+2-799778.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5998079020596332338" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mG5ZuLwH4rzy4qJJHxjcFtsHD8fH00Jup4A5gLXNqjywmz4AH-aw4xW-vr9oSbT6ItQpS47qxx-KuLHFwnbNFO3oHYO8wP7W3Pic6niHiggSF2KT9aGT7GBMdzKfZfzUrRvZHvvpphA/s1600/photo+1-792288.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mG5ZuLwH4rzy4qJJHxjcFtsHD8fH00Jup4A5gLXNqjywmz4AH-aw4xW-vr9oSbT6ItQpS47qxx-KuLHFwnbNFO3oHYO8wP7W3Pic6niHiggSF2KT9aGT7GBMdzKfZfzUrRvZHvvpphA/s320/photo+1-792288.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5998078991182795762" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASLmoVoR63h1eXlQ74T6L878rxRdgfMl1TNZcHfgILA9x_yuOzsFN4qrGDvYQ81BtncM9QaFYi7qOSyZJ8XjUOWCe2zMMKytvO3vLLUYAV3T0NA1EsPah0aGaZ2yOu6ld6lfq_daUjcY/s1600/photo+3-702913.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASLmoVoR63h1eXlQ74T6L878rxRdgfMl1TNZcHfgILA9x_yuOzsFN4qrGDvYQ81BtncM9QaFYi7qOSyZJ8XjUOWCe2zMMKytvO3vLLUYAV3T0NA1EsPah0aGaZ2yOu6ld6lfq_daUjcY/s320/photo+3-702913.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5998079038068970354" /></a></div>
We moved up to Thyangboche at about 13k feet yesterday. There's a monastery here which has attracted trekkers and mountaineers for 100 years. In the pictures attached you can see that this is the exact spot where Ed Hillary and John Hunt made their original base camp in 1953. It's special to us that we are here today to stand in the middle of his camp and try to imagine what his thoughts must have been. Surely it crossed his mind that everyone who had ever tried what he was about to do had failed or was dead. He was one man who deserved his knighthood!
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I also included a picture of a monk named Tashi who runs this monastery. When Susan and I met Tashi last year, we were impressed with his sweet gentleness. He explained to us today that this is not a big prayer day so he and the others will only meditate/pray for two 3 hour sessions. He's dedicated his life to this place. Way out here in the mountains, several days walk to anywhere, and he sits and prays...year after year after year. This world is full of amazing people that we'll never know or hear about..</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-8458423825276425652014-03-31T05:10:00.001-07:002014-03-31T09:41:30.787-07:00Three great peaks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In the far distance, directly over my head is Everest. A little to the right of that (center of photo) is Lhotse, another of the 8000+ meter peaks. And on the far right is the awesome Ama Dablam. For all of you mountain buffs out there - this is quite a trio, especially to see all at once.
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The trek to Everest BC looks far but the scenery is great. Things are going good here and the weather is perfect. At this rate we should be in BC in one week.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4555352187101412869.post-32655927605200729092014-03-30T05:22:00.000-07:002014-03-30T19:04:08.926-07:00Scenes from our trek to Namche today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We made it to Namche today after a beautiful day full of great scenes. Check out some of my favorites above.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11618120982318075098noreply@blogger.com4