Hello, MountainZone, this is Alpine Ascents International Ama Dablam 2002 Expedition, December 2nd, Jim Williams reporting.

Yesterday, the whole group went to at least as far as the base of the Yellow Tower, with three members, Dave Morton, Randy Luskey and Scott Hoesler making it to the top of the Yellow Tower to deposit their gear. We turned around about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, 3:30 actually, just the time we started leaving gear, and still made it back by about 6, 6:30, and it was well after dark.

It was a long day. We were out for almost a full eight hours. Today, some members are more tired than others. We divided the group into two pieces. We have Dave with Randy and Chris, heading up to Camp II, with one sherpa. And then tomorrow myself, and whoever's left that feels like going up will go up to Camp II while the first group moves to Camp III, and we'll just play it one camp at a time.

We're going to be giving you cybercasts, another one tomorrow morning before we leave, and then they'll become a little erratic depending upon where we are where we can give you a cybercast. So let me give this phone over to some of these guys to give you a farewell as they head off to Camp II. Here you go.

(Randy): Hello, this is Randy. I want to say hello to the family and friends back at home. We're heading up to Camp II. Yesterday was tough on everybody. I'm definitely tired, but it was actually fun for at least half of it. We were having a good time climbing. On the way down it was getting a little exhausting. People are feeling kind of a little ill, but for the most part I think people's attitudes are good, which is the key thing. And so, wish us luck, and off we go.

(Dave): Hello MountainZone, this is Dave Morton. Just a quick message before Randy, Chris, and Nila and I head out. If everything goes well we should be at Camp II this afternoon, Camp III the following afternoon, and then, hopefully, if everything goes as we hope we'll be on the summit on the 4th. So we'll be relaying a message via radio to Jim, and Jim should be reporting on our success, if all goes well. So hello to family and friends, and we'll talk to you soon. Here's Jim again.

(Jim): Chris, you want to say something, now that you're here? Hang on MountainZone, we've got Chris on the line.

(Chris): Hi, it's Chris. I'm out of breath (laughs), hiking up from my tent up here to the cybercast. We're on our way to Camp II after a taxing day yesterday. Looking forward to getting this thing underway. Hopefully all is going well. I'm really going to have to work to help Randy I know, but we'll get it done (editor's note: appears to be male joshing). So I will talk to you soon. Bye.

(Jim): Ok, MountainZone, this is Jim Williams again, and best to all of you, as you start a new week, start into the Christmas holiday. We're enjoying our time out here. We had spectacular weather, very little wind, temperatures are nice. I'm sitting here barefooted, out in the sun at Camp I, and got a pretty cozy little camp perched on the side of the ridge here at just a little over 18,100 feet. And Camp II is only, just under 19,000 feet, and then from there, there's about another 2,000 feet or so of climbing to Camp III, and then another 1,500 feet or so of climbing to the summit.

Our plan is, today the 2nd, we will have people, three members climb to Camp II with a sherpa, and then the next day, three of us, or four of us, depending on how everybody feels, and one or two sherpas will climb to Camp II, while the first group goes to Camp III. And then the first group is going to go the following day, which is the 4th, to the summit and back to Camp II, leaving their gear, their sleeping bags and stuff, at Camp III. The second group will go from Camp II to Camp III, not carrying sleeping bags or anything like that, and... (end of transmission).

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