1st Dispatch for Everest 2008

< Newer Sun, 02/24/2008 - 14:39 — skress
Hi everyone. I’m back and off for my next expedition. On March 15 I will begin my journey to Mount Everest. I will be climbing the Northeast ridge with Angus once again. Angus and I have climbed Mount Logan, Denali, Island Peak and Ama Dablam (I did not summit due to illness) together. I am glad he will be with me on Everest as he is a strong climber and a good partner. I will also be climbing with Alan Arnette and Allan Barrett. We will be on an expedition led by Ryan Waters and Dave Elmore of Mountain professionals. I welcome you along to follow this once in a life time journey. On March 15 I will fly to Kathmandu with my wife Susan. She will be joining me on a trek to Everest South Base Camp before I head to Tibet for my attempt on Everest. Susan has never been to Nepal before and we felt this was an opportunity not to be missed. It was a difficult decision as we are leaving our two children (Amy 8 and Colin 4) and two businesses behind. Susan’s parents will move into our house for three weeks to look after Amy and Colin and I have great people in place to run the business. Over the next few weeks leading up to our departure I will fill in the details of our trek and my climb. Please feel free to ask questions or send your thoughts. I found this to be a great motivator while I was on Ama Dablam last November. Never stop dreaming, Scott.

Messages

Good Luck on E!

Mary Clare Reinhardt — Thu, 02/28/2008 - 14:37

Hey Scott

I commend you and your wife for taking this trek to EBC together. You will have great stories and photos to share with your children. Wishing you a safe journey and great success on E...and have a good time!

Never stop dreaming and dream big!
m.c. reinhardt

Cheers and good luck from QECVI

pennyl — Sat, 03/08/2008 - 23:44

Scott:

My name is Liane Penny and I'm a teacher at QECVI in Kingston, Ontario. Every year I teach an extensive "Everest" unit with my grade 9 English students using Gordon Korman's series of Everest books. My students followed Paul last year, and both Paul & Fiona the year before on their website. We'd be thrilled if we could follow YOUR climb this year, especially since you are a fellow Canadian (and Ontarian, to boot!). I loosely followed your Ama Dablam climb and was truly sorry for you when you got ill and had to turn around. Here's wishing you good health, an easy acclimatization, and a trouble-free ascent - we'll be cheering you on all the way to the summit!

Your new friends at QECVI

Hello QECVI

skress — Sun, 03/09/2008 - 18:36

Hi Liane, glad to hear you and your students will be following along. Please feel free to email me any questions or comments you or your class have. I think Everest can be used for so many learning purposes. Geography, history, weather patterns, teamwork and leadership can all be taught using lessons from Everest. I also believe that it can be a motivator for goal setting and personal development. Dreams can become reality with focus and hard work. I hope my children learn this lesson and work to achieve their dreams.
I am taking Dukorol this time and have a new UV water purifier so I hope not to get sick again. I have been training hard and feel well prepared for the climb. I also have a pretty solid team so I think I have done all I can to set myself up for success. From this point on it will be up to health, weather and good fortune.
All the best, Scott.

up up and away!

pippy — Thu, 03/13/2008 - 23:23

well...bernie and I are sitting here reading all about your latest adventure with the one and only SB2- we are thrilled for the two of you. Bernie says- pole, pole - nguva kama simba - as his crew chanted each night in camps on Kili- we are with you all the way and look forward to the daily updates. good luck, good weather and we will say some extra special prayers for you each night- have a safe journey.

paula and bernie