And we're back...we have had no minutes on our sat phone and have been trying for over a week to get this fixed. This morning I was able to buy a few minutes from Tim Mosdale (thanks Tim) and can send this dispatch, but unless I am able to get more minutes this may be it.

There has been so much that has happened in the last 10 days that I don't know where to begin. I will write a short synopsis below.

We left Namche on Nov 9 after catching a nasty GI bug. This kept Angus and I visiting the bathroom or the nearest bush on a frequent basis for 5 days with intermittent flare ups every few days. We hiked in this condition for 6 grueling hours to Pangboche. Here we met up with Stu, Chris, Mama, and Calzone. I had worked with Stu to put this trip together and he was just leaving after a successful summit of Ama Dablam. Chris would be our guide and would be with us for the remainder of the trip. Mama would be our climbing Sherpa for Island Peak and Calzone would be our ever strong and ready porter.

We hiked for three hours up to Ama Dablam base camp and the next day practiced our rope skills on huge bolder in camp. Ama Dablam base camp is a beautiful place under the shadow of Ama Dablam. It is a huge grassy meadow wit a stream running through it.

The next day we hiked to Dingboche and the next to Island Peak(still with the GI issues). We camped for 2 days at 5200m and then went for the 6198m summit. This was a very tough day but after 7 hours we made the summit. The head wall and the summit ridge were beautiful and from the top we had an amazing view for miles around. Th trip down was three hours and was no easier, just faster.

We then packed up and took 2 days to hike back to Ama Dablam base camp. We have now had two rest days and we will start for the summit on Tuesday. We will spend 2-3 nights at camp 1, one night at camp 2 and skip camp 3 on the way to the summit. I will bring the sat phone with me and will attempt to make voice postings from the mountain (provided that we can get more minutes).

Today I burned a few minutes and checked emailed. Thank you to Susan, Walter, Chris, Bunge's, Paul & Janicke, Jane & John, Mom and others. The next time you hear from me we will be back from our summit bid. Wish us luck.
Scott.