Mark's journey to Cho Oyu has ended; he arrived safely at home this morning!!!!

I have some bad news... Mark sent me a text this morning and this is what it said, "Too many avalanches, weather issues. Too dangerous for my taste. I am heading back home and I will be in Nyalam tonight. Many of the other expedition teams have decided to go as well. The avalanches have knocked out all the safety lines running from Camp 1 all the way up to the summit, the weather forecast says it will continue to snow into October, therefore, new lines can not be set for the climbers." They had a choice to stay and wait into October or head home, which is what Mark and his team have choose to do.

Be Safe on your travels home Marky!!!

I spoke to Mark this morning, it seems as though the weather has reared its ugly head for them once again. Mark said, "the snow is due to be constant for the next 7 days, if it is, they will not move from Advance Base camp until the snow has had a chance to pack down." He says that, "he can hear avalanches occurring repeatedly higher up on the mountain." A few days ago, a team of Sherpa's got caught in a avalanches while trying to set safety lines. 7 men were hurt, 2 of those seriously, needless to say, everyone is aware of the danger. With this delay, I'm hoping Mark will be able to make the summit before 10/10.

Mark has also gotten some sort of stomach bug, so the inclimate weather is affording him the chance to heal before moving higher up.

Bundle up and sleep well, I hope you feel better tomorrow!

I spoke to Mark this morning and not much to report.

He's enjoyed a few days of recovering. Mark has not been able to do much at Advance Base Camp, as they are told not to. When he wakes they intend on making the push up to Camp 1 for a night and then move on to Camp 2 for 2 nights. This will be an adjustment for them all after having so much down time, so sleep well climbers!

I spoke to Mark this morning just before he went to sleep. They trekked up to Camp 2 today, so Mark has reached 22,500 feet so far!! After making it there, they all hiked back to Camp 1, packed up and made there way back to Advance Base Camp to recover for the next few days. Mark is really looking forward to the rest and letting his lungs rest.

Sleep well my love...

I spoke to Mark this morning after his very long day making the trek back up to Camp 1. He said, "the weather was calmer this time, but the climb still took all he had to complete." They are staying at Camp 1 for the night, then when they wake they will trek half way up to Camp 2 and then they will turn around and go back to Advance Base Camp to let their bodies acclimate once again.

The temperatures up at Camp 1 will fall well below zero over night so bundle up climbers and sleep well, you'll need your strength for tomorrow!

I finally just spoke to Mark.  He said, "today was the most challenging day physically he has ever had" for him to say that, they must have had a hard day!

The climbers had to do the push up to Camp 1 and stay for a little while and go back down to Advance Base Camp. In order to get to Camp 1, they had to climb up a scree wall that was at a 50 to 60 degree pitch (one similar is pictured above only theirs today was much steeper), then they had to go across a glacier field, during all this, the weather was pounding on them with strong winds and blowing snow and with each step they get less and less oxygen. Mark said, "less than half of the climbers hit their goal today, the ones who didn't will try again the day after tomorrow." All the climbers will have to do the same climb they did today at least 4 more times before they attempt to summit. Oh, of course Mark was one of the few who DID make it!

Tomorrow Mark is looking forward to a much deserved day of rest in order to let his body acclimate to the 21,000 ft he was just at.

Sleep well my Love...

I spoke to Mark this morning! 

The climbers got a day of rest and had the traditional "Puja Ceremony" for the sherpas and climbers. A

Puja is a ceremony officiated by a Lama and two or more monks in front of an altar built of stone. Those performing a puja ask the Gods for good fortune for the sherpas and the climbers as they attempt to summit the mountain. In front of the altar, offerings are made to the Gods: sampa cake, yak milk butter, fried dough, fruits, chocolate, and drinks. Juniper burns continuously in a niche in the altar. All the critical climbing equipment is blessed — harnesses, crampons, ice-axes, and helmets, as well as the expedition flag. Prayer flags are strewn for 100 feet in several directions. During the ceremony, the sherpas chant along with the Lama and monks, and everyone throws rice. The ceremony closes with the participants sharing food, and finally with the climbers and sherpas smearing gray sampa flour on each others’ faces — a symbol of their hope that they may live to see each other when they are old and gray. Mark said, "they were all a mess by the time the ceremony was finished!"

Tomorrow when the climbers wake, they plan to trek up to Camp 1, stay for 1/2 hour and come back down to Advanced Base Camp in order to acclimate to the altitude that were at being at Camp 1.

Rest well climbers, you'll need the strength...

I spoke to Mark this morning and did he have an exciting day! Today was the day they started skills training on glaciers. They had to get in full gear (like in the photo above) and practice climbing up and repelling down massive glaciers. Mark says, "just putting on your boots leaves you exhausted so the day was more than a workout for them all."

Mark is constantly impressed with the quality of food given to them in such remote locations. After they got to the first Base Camp, he's not had to struggle for a moment with what was being served. He told me, "last night, after the tough day at the glaciers they enjoyed Yak meat tacos!" I'm thinking ewwww, but he said "they were great!"

Rest up climbers, you have another day of skills training ahead of you! 

I spoke to my Marky a few times this morning!!

All the climbers acclimated down at Interim Camp so they made the long push up to Advance Base Camp, by doing so, they gained not only altitude, but also the frigid temperatures. Advance Base Camp sits at 18,700 feet and the day time high temperature is suppose to be about 6 F! BRRRRRR!  Mark said, "the terrain is unforgiving, very rocky and unstable under foot and that it snowed most of the trek; although it looked amazing cascading the mountain side, the snow and the rough terrain made for a very long day."

From this point on, for the next few weeks, the climbers will call Advance Base Camp home while they push up to Camp 1, 2 and 3, each time only staying for a day or two but always coming back to Advance Base Camp in order to acclimate properly.

Bundle up and sleep well climbers...

I spoke to Mark this morning just before he was going to sleep for the night.

They reached the "Interim Camp" in the middle of the night. Mark said, "it was a great trek that took about 5 hours, they trekked along side their Yak's that carried in total about 3 1/2 TONS of equipment for them!" Those animals are truly invaluable to the climbers.  

In reaching this new camp they gained another 1,700 ft! They plan to stay at the Interim Camp for the next two nights and do daily treks up the mountain in order to acclimate. In 2 days, if everyone has acclimated,  they will make the push up to Advanced Base Camp. Interim Camp is at about 16,700ft, they are all starting to move a lot slower to get where they need to go, rest will help out tremendously.

Till tomorrow, good night climbers, sleep well... 

I spoke to Mark this morning and he finally sounded like he was enjoying himself! The food situation for them all has changed considerably. They no longer have to choke down the meals given to them, which is, I'm sure a big reason for Mark's upbeat attitude.  

The Yak's you see pictured above its what will be loaded up for them all when they wake. There called "Yak Trains" and they carry most of the equipment needed for the climbers to survive for the next 5 weeks.

Rest well climbers, your moving onward and upward when you wake!

I just spoke to Mark before he went to sleep for the night!

They arrived last night at Chinese Base Camp, by doing so they gained another 2,000 ft! Mark seems to be slightly effected by the altitude increase. His breathing has been effected the most thus far.

When the climbers wake they will all attempt go do a day hike in an effort to acclimate faster. From this point on the days will get harder as their oxygen is decreased. Needless to say, rest is imperative for them all.

Sleep well climbers!

Not much has happened to my Marky in the last 48 hours aside from having a very upset stomach from the rice/vegetable mixture they make. Mark decide to start his last day there with some store bought noodles and by mid day he was ready to hike, thats my Marky!!!
The climbers all turned in early on their last night at the "goat camp" because of the early morning start to "Chinese Base Camp."
I've been texting with Mark during his drive up and one thing keeps making me LOL. Mark's exact words, "Just got my first view of Everest and Cho Oyu next to each other, Holy SHIT they are MASSIVE!" I guess that sums it up...
Till tomorrow, Be Safe Climbers!!

I spoke with Mark this morning! The climbers arrived at 11:30 PM at a village in Tibet, its  at about 14,000 ft. so they will remain there for the next two nights in order to acclimate before moving up to base camp. 
Their accommodations are in mud huts, the village is very poor, one way the farmers make an in come is by hanging up goat carcases so that the village people can cut meat off to purchase. Mark says that the smell in the air is of rotting flesh UGH!
They are still three to a room, only these rooms are a lot smaller and not as plush as the last place. Looking forward to the stories from this location! Until then, sleep well climbers...

I spoke with Mark briefly early this morning, he said the group hiked a bit higher in an attempt to expedite the acclimation process. By the end of the day, everyone elected to turn in early since their day will start at the early hour of 4AM! The next plan is to get on the road early in order to reach thier next over night location. My next update will be after Mark checks in again. Until then, stay safe climbers!

I just spoke to Mark a bit earlier today! They were able to keep their phones only by hiding them!

 He said it was a long tough drive to China. Right now is the rainy season in that region and Nepal is a very poor country, most of the roads are dirt roads that wind around the mountain side. After enough rain hits the dirt roads, they turn into one big mudslide, not exactly the kind of drive anyone would want to be a part of.
They ended up making it safely to Tibet around 2:30AM our time. They are in a town named Nyalam and their accommodations are at what is called a "Tea House" they have to sleep three to a small room, the toilet is a hole in the ground which is just down the hall from them! Imagine the smell UGH! They plan to stay where they are for the next two days before making their way up closer to base camp. The elevation is a bit over 12,000 ft so everyone needs a chance to acclimate.
My next update may not be for a few days since life for them all will be a bit uneventful staying in one location! Until then...

I just spoke to Mark via video skype!  Everyone in the climbing party is just waking up, packing, and getting ready for the 5 or 6 hour journey to cross the Freedom Bridge into Tibet. Since Tibet wants to be sovereign from China, the borders are guarded very heavily. Satallite phones are an item that is taken away if found, therefore, they will have someone who is allowed to have phones bring them to base camp for them. Having said that, if the phones do have to be carried by someone other than the climbers, this will be my last update until Mark arrives at base camp in 4 or 5 days...  Be Safe Marky!!

As you may know, Mark has arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal. He and the rest of the climbing party plan to stay there through tonight and then wake up early tomorrow to start the long drive to base camp. Since the elevation at base camp is pretty high, the climbers will all have to stop in towns along the way for the next four nights in order to acclimate. I'll update again in the next few days, till then, safe journey to our climbers!

Mark has just left to start his journey to Tibet. He boards a plane this evening and lands tomorrow morning in Dehli, India. His layover in India is about 6 hours, he then, boards another plane to Kathmandu, Nepal. I will make the next update after he lets me know he's arrived in Nepal. Good Luck Marky and Be Safe!