While sitting in a t-shirt and flipflops this morning, enjoying a proper English breakfast (bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast, along with lots of french press coffee), I thought perhaps it was time for a dispatch with pictures. Important to do a bit of work even on a much deserved rest day!

It has been a whirlwind week since my last post, and finding time on a computer has been near the bottom of my list of prioirities. Apologies for that!

7 days into our trek to Everest BC we are at our final night in
beds and indoors. Tomorrow we head to the first of our tent camps,
Lobuche BaseCamp at about 16,200 feet. We will spend a couple of
nights there before moving up to our true basecamp close to
PumoRi. The good news today was that our last heli of equipment,
along with the boss - Russell Brice - arrived in Syangboche and
will join us in camp in the next 3 days or so. Due to maintenance
issues and other contracts, all of the commercial helicopters have
been unavailable for the last week, so we have been a bit

Three days into our trek to Basecamp and we are feeling great. Our
group has had good weather and views thus far, and we are all
using these days of hiking and evenings in rustic lodges to get to
know one another. There have been many card games to play, stories
to tell and hear, and yak steaks to enjoy.

One real highlight was spending last night with Phurba Tashi's
family at his lodge in Khumjung. Phurba is our sirdar, or head
sherpa, and has summited Everest 14 times. Hi is a legend here in
Nepal and the Khumbu Valley. He also has a fantastic wife and 4