Local time: 18:30 7 Nov 2007
Location: Tangnag
Altitude: 4700m
Weather: Cloudy morning -5C, then beautiful sunny day 5C then cloudy afternoon with -5C

Hi everyone...
Dave Armstrong here with our trek update.

Gokyo Ri Climb
Our plan last night was to begin the day at 3.30am and practice using our head torches for our climb up Island Peak. The climb begins at Gokyo village and is a steep climb up to Gokyo Ri (5333m). After our sherpa and Paul Adler woke at 3.30am to check the weather conditions, a decision was made to crawl back into our warm cosy sleeping bags for a few more hours We then slept in until between 9am while they kept an eye on the conditions until the clouds finally lifted at about 10:30am. This decision paid off because we had a direct view of Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse and Makalu which are all 8000m + peaks from the summit of Gokyo Ri. With the mountains in the distance and the bright blue lakes below this would be the most picturesque and beatiful views I have ever seen.
The 600m trek up Gokyo Ri took us 1 hr 45 and the trek back down took 30 minutes.

Gokyo to Tangnag
After lunch we then continued our trek to our night location which involved passing over the Ngozunpa Glacier which was a view that could be mistaken for a distant planet. With rocks, sand, frozen lakes and glacier walls this view was something new and amazing for most of us.

Thanks again for the emails,
Dave Armstrong

Your Messages
Matt (pinna) d'Emden and Ben Squires.
Thanks for the emails lads it is certainly not a walk in the park but I am loving the challenge. Get ready for the trip with Earth Sea Sky next year.
Take Care. Chat soon Dave.

Rob Cartledge.
Good to hear from you Rob I hope you read about the nude swim that Paul B and I did yesterday. It would be right down your alley. Check out the company website www.earthseasky.com.au and keep up the emails in between. Hope life is treating you well. Dave A

Don Armstrong
Hey Dad thanks for the email you and Sue would love trekking through the area. I will suggest some areas when I return.
Love Dave

Erin Bruhn
Hey babe, I thought I should send you a direct email and tell you how much I miss and love you. Will call you soon.
Love Dave.

Hi Kathy, Douglas, Connor & Daniel
Great to hear from you, and that the rains have come to Brisvagas. Having a fab time here. The country is so beautiful. Climbed 600m today to reach 5360m, breathing is soooo difficult up here, every breath is hard work. But we had well over half an hour on top and were surrounded by higher snow capped mountains. Also had a great view of Mt Everest. I'll be back soon enough and you guys will be in the UK before you know it. Photos and video for you then. Talks soon..... Paul B

Hi Charlie
Well your timing is perfect, I guess you've seen that we did exactly that yesterday. Another nudie swim. Wooohooo! Its another moment to remember. No penguins to witness this one, and yes we had an audience of sherpers and trekkers. Their applause topped off the morning.

Thanks for you vote for the yack horns, yes I carried them today.

I'm sort of looking forward to getting back to London, one day.
See you soon.
Paul B

Hi Katy
Thanks for your wishes, and you vote on the yack horns. Yes it was my turn today. But never again, I'm to nice a guy.

Yes I have many photos and much video to bring back, so yeah, all the shoreditch locals will be in for a viewing oneday soon enough. Also a tiny bit sad missing the next Citadels gig, but many more to come no doubt.

Hope the new job is going well and is turning out as you had hoped.

Cheers for now....
Paul B

Hey Curragh work mates,
Good to hear the plant has no issues without me there. See, it just goes to show i was redundant months ago and coulda been on holidays well before now! :) Paul/Roy/Steve, how will you be celebrating christmas on site this year eh? Hehe. Having a blast here and have already got a few more ideas now for trips in the future....:)
Darren