Wow,
The start of another month. That's right folks, it's May. What does that mean back home? Flowers blooming, grass growing, off with the winter heavies and on with the summer skimpies!
What does that mean up here? Well, for today, we had snow... then more light snow... same as yesterday, same as the day before. But we are staying busy, content with the knowledge that we will be moving up in a few days to try to sleep at Camp III. Then all the way down valley for our rest before our summit attempt. This is what we hope our May will bring us. It might not smell like spring roses, but it makes us happy nevertheless Come to think of it, nothing up here smells like roses, especially us!
Last night our place was quite the revolving door around dinnertime. The South African team came up for a bite; quite a few of their team are friends with Matt from Jo'burg. Their journalist in residence interviewed a few of us for the daytime talk shows back in Johannesburg. Nice to know our faces will be seen as the sun comes up in Africa.
Later the brown university research crew showed up for tea, they are continuing the same study my team started two years ago up here with Erik Whienmayers expedition.
Jean Michele's banner arrived via helicopter today, he says a big hello to Amy Faulkner's second grade class at Old Mill School in Mill Valley, CA.
Paul also says a big hello to kid one back in the big ol' Alabama, he has been keeping us entertained with lots of Steveie Ray Vaughn CD's at dinner and stories of life in the south.
For the rest of the crew, they all just say hi period. To family, friends, assorted pets, horses, and the like.
As for me, gotta say hello to all my mom's students as well and tell them to remember that art, and the appreciation of it, is just as important as math or science.
Lots of folks here are getting antsy to get their summit pushes started. Today in fact we had a big conversation as a team about patience, diligence, and traveling with heart, minus ego.
We all agreed that we are here to climb safely, slowly, and intentionally. Nice to feel that coming together as a team the closer we get to the summit attempt.
So that's about it from here. As usual Willi and James are engaged in a deep chess match, others are off reading books, listening to music, visiting neighbors, and generally getting ready to go up in a few days....so until later, hopefully from up on the mountain, this is Luis wishing everyone back home a pleasant afternoon.
— Luis Benitez, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent