Dan Mazur Ama Dablam Expedition: Dispatch Three

Dispatch Three: Dear EverestNews.com readers,

Our Expedition is really starting to come together now with today's arrival of our Leader, Daniel Mazur and trekking member Anupama Keshaven.

It's so good to see Dan again and listen to the stories from his Spring 2003 Manaslu Expedition. We spent the afternoon catching up, discussing strategies and getting very excited about being on Ama Dablam again.

Anupama, from India and Germany, is a Project Manager for a large computing firm and is a very friendly, kind person. She is an excellent addition to our Team! She will be joining us to Ama Dablam Basecamp, then will continue on with our trekking group to Everest Basecamp.

However, the socializing had to end and the work begin. Our Sherpa staff started by unpacking all our tents for inspection and repair. Dan bought with him some special waterproof seam sealing glue - as it's unavailable in Nepal. Our Staff had never used such a substance before, but quickly picked up the knack under the watchful eye of Kaji Tamang, our Sirdar.

Some of our members arrived early and have already departed Kathmandu for some trekking before the expedition. Jocelyn Dufour from Canada is currently trekking in the Annapurna Region. Hansi Miettinen, Antti Oksanen and Ville Saarinen, all from Finland, are on their way to Namche Bazar and should reach there today. They all will meet the Expedition in Ama Dablam Basecamp on the 7th October.

It's been great to meet and spend some time with the Leader, Randy Shantz, and Members, Mike Eder and Rob Fulton of the Canadian Pumori Expedition. We've been giving them valuable information on the climbing route. In particular, discussing the possibility of avalanches at this time of year. Mike Eder, however, is an Avalanche Forecaster at home in Canada, so the team is lucky to have such a professional onboard.