Tuesday, 22 April 2014 Many people have asked how to offer support to the Sherpas killed or injured in the 18 May 2014 disaster. We strongly encourage you to consider The Juniper Fund. The Juniper Fund (TheJuniperFund.org) is a US-based 501(c)3 charity exclusively dedicated to supporting the Sherpa community. It was established by Everest veterans, Dave Morton and Melissa Arnot (both of whom have been in EBC with us). Their goal is to provide an annual annuity to the families of the dead Sherpas and compensation for the injured. 100% of the funds will go to the Sherpas. Any amount of support you can offer would be greatly appreciated and will make a difference in this sad situation. Posted by: Scott Williams To provide support for dead and injured Sherpa: TheJuniperFund.org Blogs by other members of the expedition Shane - http://HeartHealthyEverestClimb2014.blogspot.com Steve - http://Wetumpka2Everest.blogspot.com Jeff - http://www.highpeakadventures.com/high_peak_adventures/web_log/web_log.html

Monday, 21 April 2014 Today was bright and sunny. This means three things: we are going to be comfortably warm, our solar panels will charge the batteries (yay!), and the ice beneath us will slowly melt. Where we are, the Khumbu Glacier moves about 3-6 inches per year. We occasionally hear pops and snaps as the ice shifts. Although the surface is covered in rock, deep ice lies just beneath the surface. As the sun warms the rock layer, rivulets of water emerge in odd places. For example, two days ago, Jim's tent had a small stream runnihg in the front door. Needless to say, he got moved to higher ground. A small puddle developed in the middle of our dining tent, but it goes away each evening as the temperatures drop. Such are the oddities of camping on a living glacier. Barbara headed off with Nima Tashi today to climb Lobuche East. If all goes to plan, they should get up at 2:00 a.m. tomorrow morning and ascend the 20,000+ peak. We hope to see them back in EBC on Wednesday. Jeff, Martin, Shane, and Steve headed off to Pumori for a warm-up hike. They were excited to get out of camp and get some exercise. Jim wandered off to some other expedition camps this afternoon to see what was going on. Some groups have decided to pull out and leave, while others (including us) are waiting to see what is happening. I stayed in camp, programming radios and getting solar power run to the members' tents. Each person should have solar lighting, power and USB outlets. It is sure to ease the daily crunch for recharging devices. Lots of love to our family and friends. Posted by: Scott Williams Blogs by other members of the expedition Shane - http://HeartHealthyEverestClimb2014.blogspot.com Steve - http://Wetumpka2Everest.blogspot.com Jeff - http://www.highpeakadventures.com/high_peak_adventures/web_log/web_log.html

Barabara setting off for her climb of Loubuche East with Nima Tashi


Day hike to Pumori Camp 1... dragging Steve kicking a screaming the entire way!!!!

Sunday, 20 April 2014 Scott played the role of the Easter Bunny this morning, delivering chocolates to everyone's place in the dining tent. Later today, we are having ham with sauerkraut for dinner. Those things were part of the 600 pounds of supplies we shipped over from the U.S. Things have been pretty quite across the camp today. There have been a few gatherings, but no decisions. At this point, we are in a wait-and-see mode about next steps. Many Sherpa left EBC yesterday and today to return to their home villages to participate in funerals for the departed. OUr thoughts go with them. They are expected to return to EBC in several days. Our team took the day to prepare their climbing harnesses and jumar rigs. A jumar is a device which clamps onto a fixed roope, but can be moved up or down when the climber pulls a release lever. The Jumar is large enough to permit a mittened hand to fit through its handle. A short piece of rope attaches the Jumar to the climber's harness and a second short rope connects to a back-up carabiner. This harness-Jumar-carabiner rig is the primary safety gear used in the ascent of Everest. Afterwards, Nima Tashi rigged up a fixed line on the hill above camp for a bit of practice by the group. Everyone passed with flying colors. Tomorrow, Barbara will depart with Nima Tashi for her own summit quest. She plans to climb Lobuche East, a 20,000+ peak about 5 hours south of EBC. They will walk down there tomorrow and climb on Tuesday. We wish her well and look forward to hearing her victory stories on Wednesday, when they return to camp. Thank you all for the heartfelt thoughts and prayers over the past several days. Although we are all fine, this has been a sad time for the extended EBC community and the Khumbu region. Lots of love to our family and friends. Posted by: Scott Williams Blogs by other members of the expedition Shane - http://HeartHealthyEverestClimb2014.blogspot.com Steve - http://Wetumpka2Everest.blogspot.com Jeff - http://www.highpeakadventures.com/high_peak_adventures/web_log/web_log.html

Pringles, condoments and rigging


Martin checking the length of his setup

Saturday, 19 April 2014 While sun greeted us most mornings of our trip, this morning's sky was pewter gray. It seemed to appropriately reflect the pall over all the groups in Everest Base Camp. We are all still coming to grips with the yesterday's tragedy. Although there is no way of knowing here in EBC, outside media reported more than 15 dead. The medical hut cared for 9 injured patients (3 critical, 6 stable). This morning, at least two of them were evacuated out of the helipad immediately above our camp. Throughout yesterday, helicopters flew the bodies of the dead back to EBC, suspended by a line beneath the airship. The bodies were gently lowered to a separate helipad below our camp. We watched with profound sadness as eleven men were brought down. Many of the Sherpas have left EBC to return to their home villages for several days. There will be a camp-wide meeting in the next few days of sirdars and expedition leaders to discuss next steps. Contrary to some media reports, there has been no decision to "end the 2014 season". In fact, there have been no decisions a all. As we learn more, I shall let you know. For now, the grim job of recovery continues. There are 4-6 men still in the Khumbu Icefall. A special, high-altitude helicopter ferried searchers back up onto the Icefall this morning. The pilot's technical skills are amazing. We wish the searchers well in their challenging task. Lauren departed our camp after breakfast. She will walk to Pangboche and then to Namche Bazaar. From there, she hopes to catch a helicopter ride back to Kathmandu. We are sad to see her go. She fought through a persistent respiratory infection during the early part of the trek. Her presence was a real boost to her dad, Steve, and a positive force on the rest of us. We wish her safe travels and fair winds as she moves onto a new job in Detroit. Please keep the injured and killed Sherpas in your thoughts and prayers. We are. Lots of love to our family and friends. Posted by: Scott Williams Blogs by other members of the expedition Shane - http://HeartHealthyEverestClimb2014.blogspot.com Steve - http://Wetumpka2Everest.blogspot.com Jeff - http://www.highpeakadventures.com/high_peak_adventures/web_log/web_log.html

Helicopter aids with the search and rescue efforts


Lauren is on her way down

Friday, 18 April 2014 About 6:30 a.m., a large booming woke us up. It was a huge avalanche that broke loose above the Khumbu Icefall. The timing was especially bad because this is the time when many people are moving through the area up to Camp I. Although none of our clients were scheduled to be in the area, we did have four of our Sherpas carrying loads up to Camp I. Blessedly, they are all fine. Early reports suggest as many as 15 people are unaccounted for at this time (11:00 a.m.). There is now a big rescue effort underway with more than 100 people working the area. Two helicopters are in support. While everyone in our party is fine, our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are injured or missing. Lots of love to our family and friends. Posted by: Scott Williams Blogs by other members of the expedition Shane - http://HeartHealthyEverestClimb2014.blogspot.com Steve - http://Wetumpka2Everest.blogspot.com Jeff - http://www.highpeakadventures.com/high_peak_adventures/web_log/web_log.html

View from our camp up the icefall