Hello MountainZone, this is the Alpine Ascents International Ama Dablam 2000 Expedition, we're standing up here looking at, uh, 2002, sorry (laughter) (editor's note: we forgive you, Jim). We are standing up here looking at Ama Dablam. We have our first clear day, ever. We can see from the military-fortified Visitor's Center. We can see Everest, we can see Lhotse and Ama Dablam clearly without a cloud in the sky...only a slight breath of wind.

So, our expedition members are standing here, I'm going to pass this thing to Scott.

(Scott): Well, I'm going to pass on and leave the glory and the limelight to Randy, who is standing right here.

(Randy): Hello, this is...this is Randy Luskey here, just arrived in Namche Bazaar last night, it's a pretty amazing place. And we're getting our first look at the mountain, I think everybody's pretty excited. So, I'll pass on to Houck now.

(Houck): Hi, this is Houck Reed. I just wanted to say hello to everybody at home. We're up here looking at the mountain...absolutely spectacular day, you can see all of the mountains, absolutely spectacular. It's going to be a great trip. We've got a great team, we're having great weather and just really excited here. We're going to be hanging out here for a little bit, for another day or two, then moving on up towards Base Camp, and then up the mountain. Talk to everybody later.

(Don): Hi, this is Don. We're standing here between the razor wire, with just incredible views of the mountains. And I just want to say hi to everybody--Mom, Dad, Tammy, Matt, Katie, everybody at the office, and I promised I'd specifically mention Gerard, so Gerard, there you go. Talk to everybody soon.

(Chris): Hi this is Chris Nichols, I just wanted to say hello to everybody back home. We're enjoying some fabulous views of Ama Dablam, getting excited for the climb. We've got a great military escort, and we're with armed guards at all times, so everything's safe. Ok, we'll talk to you soon.

(Dave): Hey this is Dave Morton, accompanying Jim Williams on the Ama Dablam 2002 AAI expedition. Looks like we have a great group, and there's going to be a lot of laughing I'm sure as we progress up the mountain. So I just wanted to say hi to everyone out there as well, and--we gonna talk to them soon, Jim? Alright, we'll call you guys later tonight or tomorrow. So we're looking forward to spending another night here in Namche tonight. Bye-bye.

(Jim): And finally, we have our liaison officer, and I don't think he's ever talked on one of these phones before so we're going to give him a chance here.

Hello, hello? Hello, hello? (Unintelligible) Very nice to have, nice view of Ama Dablam and Nuptse, Lhotse, very nice clear weather. Ok?

(Jim): Ok, that finishes this cybercast, and we'll speak to you at another time. Take care, and everybody at home, enjoy.

— Jim Williams, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent