EVEREST LIVE

May 18, 2001

From: Jeff Evans
Base Camp

OK . . . Let's try this thing again.

The last time I guided Erik through the icefall, we both voiced happiness that that trip would be our last foray through the spooky jumbled maze. The mountain and the weather decided this wouldn't be the case. So tomorrow we will try it again.

Tomorrow at 5:00 AM Nepal time, Erik and I (maybe others) will venture up, and the two of us will stay at Camp 1 for the night, while the rest of the team will head up over the next two days directly up to Camp 2. Then its game on . . .

We have had two full relaxing days down here at Base Camp, sleeping soundly and eating big. Feels good to get some calories in my skinny frame. We have all lost so much weight . . . it's comedic to look at the frail frames that we are hoping will carry us to the top of the world. Everest weight loss program.

The weather has been so fickle not a soul has stood on top yet this year which is quite unusual at this point in the late season. Hopefully she will cooperate and let us sneak up for a few brief moments. We put ourselves in position . . . then, roll the dice.

I want to thank all of you for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. As we move up this great hill, it's empowering to recall all of your e-mails and voices.

Lots of love to my family, friends and my sweetest thing . . .

Now lets do this thing.

Jeff