Everest Videos From our Friends at Sportsideo.com

We invite you to check out recent videos from Sportideo.com's exclusive coverage of our 2012 Everest Expedition including a satellite interview with Garrett!

http://sportsideo.com/videos/view/232

Interview with Garrett:

http://sportsideo.com/videos/view/278

Preparation for 1st rotation

Today we practiced more fixed line training in the lower Khumbu Icefall involving rappelling, ascending vertical ice, ladder crossings, etc.  We sorted through our snack food in preparation for 5 days of climbing above base camp.  We had some light snow in the afternoon, then clearing before sunset.  Tomorrow we plan to go for a short hike in the Khumbu Icefall and then return to camp for another night here in base.

More Photos from the Khumbu Icefall

Successful day of training in the Khumbu Icefall

Today we went into the Khumbu Icefall and practiced various climbing techniques including fixed line travel, ladder crossing, rappelling, and climbing vertical ice! We had beautiful weather for our training today, and we plan on another productive day of training tomorrow. Tonight we had a wonderful meal prepared by our chef's Gopal & Jenny, the food here at base camp is absolutely outstanding! We've attached a few photos of our recent meals. Everyone is doing great here at Everest base camp!

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

Today we had our Puja ceremony!  Together with our Sherpa team we asked the mountain for safe passage for us during our climbing.  At the end of the Puja ceremony we erected a mast with several strings of prayer flags that encompass our camp.  Pictured above are photos of our team during the ceremony, the tradition of wiping sampa flour on members faces, and dancing afterward to the traditional Sherpa songs of Mt. Everest.  Now our Sherpa team will begin carrying loads to our high camps, and soon the western climbing team will begin our climbing!

Training day in base camp

Today we rigged our harnesses for the fixed lines, checked our climbing gear, and then practiced ladder crossing in camp for a few hours.  We are all in good spirits, we had a wonderful dinner of sushi prepared by our chef, Jennifer Sherry & Gopal, tomorrow we look forward to our puja ceremony!  We are sending our best to family and friends.   All is well here in Everest base camp.

Team settles into Everest Base Camp

Yesterday we arrived at Everest Base Camp!  Walking into camp we had our first good view of the summit (middle photo).  We had our first team meeting at base camp in our Mountain Hardwear Space Station tent (top photo).  We enjoyed a nice dinner then awoke to clear skies today, and organized our gear in camp.  We can look up into the Khumbu Icefall from camp (bottom photo) and view the route we will climb to Camp 1 after a few days here acclimatizing and reviewing climbing techniques.  Everyone is  doing well and we are very excited to be here!