Day #39

Location: Basecamp
Altitude: 5364m
Local Time: 8:10pm / May 5, 2007
Weather: Cool (40's) sun/sleet/snow

Today started out perfect with great sunshine, light winds and the promise of getting your personal chores done ... as long as you did not hesitate! As is the case, the afternoon weather changes abruptly and we did receive our first onslaught of hail about 2pm. We can usually see these weather patterns coming up the valley so are never caught off guard ... just never totally prepared as laundered clothes are usually drying on rocks around our tents, and the planned shower has to be re-scheduled!

Our plans now are set in place as far as summit bids and our team will be split into two different factions so as to better take advantage of resources. Bo and Ward will be heading up the hill in the first wave along with climbers from our other groups. Mike (NZ), Anna, Mike (GB) and myself will follow about 5 days afterwards. Rob will be going with both teams (all being well)! Actual summit dates are still variable but hopes are that the first team may depart as early as the next 4-5 days! Again, we know the team compositions, but not the dates ... yet!

I want to highlight my wife Carol's posting from yesterday as some of you may not read all the postings, but I think hers is very appropriate as she says it all ... for both of us:

Subject: Wellwishers
Message: Pat, I am touched by the number and variety of wellwishers on your blog. I know that I was skeptical about the blog at first (and yes, you were right, and I don't say that often!) but it has allowed me and many others to go with you on this
incredible journey. I want to thank all
your supporters and wellwishers for their support, encouragement, kind words, and prayers. I feel we have made many new friends and renewed old friendships as we are all drawn together by your amazing goal. I do like the quote by Ed Viesturs-he is a wise man and that is probably why he survived all his climbs and made it to retirement! I wish all of you a successful trip and always remember,
it is the journey, not the destination.
Love you Pat, Carol

Our guest blogger today will be Mike Davey. Hope you enjoy!

Hi My name is Mike Davey and I am one of the climbers on this years team.

I am a 41 year old self employed management consultant from Burgess Hill in the south of England. I share my life with two beautiful girls - Jane my wonderful partner of nearly 20 years - and our 3.5 year old daughter Annie. Like most parents Annie is our heartbeat, the love of our lives and she fills our hearts with joy everyday.

This is my second attempt to climb Everest. My first attempt in 2005 ended when our friend and team member Rob Milne collapsed and died on summit day. This was a devastating experience that took months to come to terms with.

Climbing big mountains is physically and emotionally demanding, expensive and dangerous. Particularly after my 2005 experience I am very frequently asked 'Why do you climb?' Let me try and explain.

First my climbing, particulary my 2005 Everest experience has greatly strengthened my relationship with my two girls. The support given to me by Jane since Everest 2005 has reminded me just how lucky I am to have such an exceptional soulmate. Two months away from Annie in 2005 was pure torture. The memory of this separation gives an added intensity to my love for my daughter and makes me appreciate every minute with her.

Secondly, like all travel, with climbing you go in search of places and find people. Climbers are driven, high achievers. These people are always doing amazing things. They remind you what an opportunity life is.

In my 7 years of expeditioning I have met so many amazing people and made many life long friends. Rob, Simon, Cynan, Andries, Rich and Bo are all wonderful friends that I have made in the mountains. We have a unique shared experience and our infrequent reunions are a wonderful experience.

Finally...and say this very quietly - maybe in the next few weeks I may get my 5 minutes on the summit of Mount Everest and come home to my two girls safely. Now that would be an achievement to put in my top pocket next to my heart and be quietly proud of for the rest of my life. Now that would be a wonderful end to an amazing journey.

The investment is huge but the returns are fantastic. We are living our dream.

Your Messages:

Carol:
Hi sweetheart. What can I say after your wonderful posting that I copied above ... other than your the best there is and I'm so fortunate to be with you!

I love you and miss you terribly :>)

Pat :>)

AORN Friends:

Bonnie ... no desire for President, but do greatly miss being involved at AORN's national level! One major reason that I did not seek re-election for the BOD was my commitment to completion of the 7 Summits ... which I knew would interfere with BOD activity!
I appreciate the moon report and knowing you am sure that you are more tuned in to nature than most and probably appreciate those full moons much more than most. Additionally, what a backdrop for a full moon ... the mountains that fringe Denver!
Thanks for th ongoing support and my pleasure to share the adventure!

Canadian Friends:

Kelvy ... great to hear from you! How is the new job? Are you enjoying the routine! All is great here as we await our chance to go for the top ... hopefully in the next 10 days! The trek to basecamp is great, but Carol and I may return to do the Annapurna trek as it was on that trek that I proposed to her in 1988!
Look forward to seeing you at Danny's wedding! Say hi to your sister for me!

Sue ... yes, Carol is my support system! Without her there would be no 7 Summits! She has supported me from the beginning and I owe everything to her!
We will be home for 10 days prior to brother Danny's wedding on 7/7/07 so hopefully will be able to meet up with old friends!

Wanita ... great to hear from alumni! When my wife Carol and I traveled around the world in 1988 we dropped in on Almonte residents who were still receiving the Almonte Gazette! Great way to see those living abroad! Do you get home often? I make it home twice yearly and always enjoy seeing friends and classmates!
Glad that you are able to follow the journey! I have an ADHS tocque to wear at the top of the world!

Columbia Friends:

Kristen ... congrats on your win against Dorman. Is Lexington next?

Palmetto Health Friends:

Sandra ... thanks for being such an ardent supporter! Any word on sponsorship of the Summit Scholarship from Palmetto Health? I had my phone interview with the Charleston Post & Courier yesterday and all went well. The reporter, Diane, said yesterday was her deadline so there may be an article in this weekend's paper. She said she would again include the Summit Scholarship information! Look forward to the quote for myself and Sean!

Rob ... you are too great! To answer the challenge for nurses to contribute to the Summit Scholarship is one thing ... but to answer the challenge for the Canadians too ... WOW!
It has been a wonderful opportunity for me to bring all of you along on this journey and am hopeful that through my stories, guest blogs, and pictures I will have been able to not only educate about this region and climbing Mt. Everest, but also to enlighten folks to the impending nursing shortage ... and how to make a difference! I hope to do motivational talks on my return and reinforce the need for action specific to our healthcare system!
Thanks again so much for your heartfelt contributions ... and maybe you might want to challenge your colleagues to contribute as you have!

USC Friends:

Dean Hewlett ... as always, great to hear from you! Many thanks to you, Liesl, and all of my colleagues at the University of South Carolina, College of Nursing as without your unfailing support I would not be here! It has been a privilege to advocate for nursing and to lay in place the groundwork for the Summit Scholarship. My biggest pride will be to see this scholarship come to fruition and to meet those student nurses that will have their dreams of becoming a nurse made into a reality!
Enjoy your summer holidays and look forward to seeing you on my return!

Alan ... you make me homesick by talking about Sonic ... can't wait to eat there on my return! Thanks for sharing the story about the moonrise and the moment that you all experienced! Life is so short that we miss way too many of those moments ... and then we are gone! When Carol and I were traveling around the world for a year in 1988 we met a fellow traveler on a beach in Koh Pee Pee Thailand and the full moon that night over the ocean prompted us to try and remember other memorable full moons that we had experienced in our travels. At that time we were able to list the places we had been quite easily when we had experienced a memorable full moon. It seems so simple, but few can recall those places/times. A memorable full moon over Sonic, with good friends, sharing a good meal, and a common concern about finals ... why not?
Thanks again for your support ...and pass the mustard!

Jennifer ... I appreciate you contacting Dateline, the Today Show and 20/20. That was alot of work on your part! I have been working with Karen Petit in the USC Media Relations Department and she too has made national contacts for me and the Summit Schoalrship! The more we can get the word out ... the better! Please keep in contact and let me know if you get any responses!
Thanks again and see you in the fall.

All The Others:

Yvette ... Anna and Rob have read your posting! Thanks for extending good luck to all!

Bill & Michele ... yes, Mke looks very similar to Bill, quite amazing! It was fortunate to run into Paul on the Khumbu again .... and am glad that this time we got the photo! Without Paul developing this site we would not be able to communicate in this manner!
My fellow climbers have enjoyed the opportunity to host a blog and I am sure that their families and loved ones enjoy the opportunity to hear from them. Each brings something different to the team ... and that is why we are so strong!
Thanks so much for donating to the Summit Scholarship ... it is an investment in your healthcare future!
I do enjoy hearing from you daily :>)
In a text message earlier today Carol said that Danny Rajoppi has now joined the blog! Look forward to renewing that friendship too!

April ... great to hear from you, but don't know about the comparison to those superheroes! Yes, almost done with the 7 Summits! It's been seven years in the making and my "mid life crisis" is almost over! Hope you are well and look forward to seeing you again to share some stories!

Steve ... great to hear from you! Others have wondered aloud if I am actually climbing, or sitting in my tent at basecamp composing these messages! It does take a lot of work to reply to each and every posting, but this is what I vowed to do as I wanted to engage everyone and keep them tuned in! Just imagine how many people now know about the looming nursing shortgage and what I am trying to do with the Summit Scholarship ... not to mention the trials and tribulations of climbing Mt. Everest! As noted above, teams have been decided and rough approximations of departure dates tossed around! Concrete plans will come very soon!

Ann & Graham ... it really is a small world when you start bumping in to people that you know in the Khumbu! It's always nice to see a smiling face, and hear a word or two of encouragement ... especially when you are climbing up! I hope to have lots of those on my next trip through the Khumbu! Glad you got to check out the moon!

Kurt ... as always, great to hear from you! In the next few days I may try to trek to some towns in the lower valley where there will be ample opportunity to bulk up! Have lost some weight ... but to be expected! Am dreaming of apple pie!
Appreciate the prayers and warm thoughts!

Jen ... it has been my pleasure to keep the dialogue going with all that post a message. I truly enjoy being able to keep families connected and it excites the other climbers to no end when I pass them my pda at supper and tell them that they have a message! Here at basecamp email/sat phone calls are available so families can stay connected through those mediums! Yes, we are at the final stretch now so need to be patient! Thanks for your words of support!
Love the quote ... very appropriate as we need to conserve our energy!

MC ... it's always great running into a friend, even in the Khumbu!
Now is our time to rest, bulk up a little, enjoy some thicker air, and wait for the call to action!
Love the quote ... my wife's sentiments exactly and thanks for clarification on the Ed Viesturs quote ... one that she has repeated to me also!

Ken ...some batteries need more recharging than others, but that is what we are doing! We are all anxious for the call and will spend the next 7-10 days replenishing our energies!
Thanks for your support, and for the full moon report!

David (aka Demento) ... shared your response with Anna and she is excited to contact you after the trip and make arrangements to visit! Glad that you have kept up with the Corpus Christi chatter and hope to pull off a great reunion!
Next summit ... no high mountains, just continued attempts to improve myself to be a better teacher, husband, and friend to all!

Gavin ... it's an exciting time for all of us as we have put in the time and committment to be where we are at!
Glad you can follow along!

Mark ... thanks for the words of support from Pennsylvania! I used to marvel at the beauty of your state as I drove from Canada to Florida for Spring Breaks ... many, many years ago! It has been my pleasure to try and detail as best can the adventure and enjoy doing it through text, guest blogs, and pictures! Glad to know that I make you feel you are in the Khumbu Icefall with me ... but don't linger, as it is dangerous!
I owe a debt of gratitude to Paul for his assistance with this site. Without his efforts I would not be able to communicate! And no worries on the smiles on summit day ... they will be from ear to ear!
Look forward to running into your friend Terry as it is a small world here!
Thanks so much for your support and prayers ... all are greatly appreciated!

Joan ... thanks for the full moon report as here it was breathtaking ... literally! Mike has read your posting and explained the situation. Sorry you missed the call, glad Wendy got a break, and am sure there will be more calls for you to receive! We appreciate the blessings!