We are –     Daniel Mazur – USA – Leader

                 Jay Reilly – Australia – Co Leader

                 Anupama Keshavan – India/Germany

                 Brian Rolfson – USA

                 Kirsti Samson – UK

                 Bryan Bonser – USA/Japan

                 Larry Rigby – USA

                 John Fawcett – UK

                 Sandy Garrington – UK

                 Ken Tranter – UK

                 Tracey Purchase – UK

                 Jocelyn Dufour – Canada

                 Ryan Singleton – USA

                 Tony Kinny – Australia

                 Camille Kinny – Australia

                 Chris Kinny – Australia

                 Clay Chappell – USA

                 Liz Carr – USA

                 Ali Naderi – Sweden

                 Fred Strehlow – USA

                 Murari Sharma – Nepal

                 Bidya  Sargar Tuldhar – Nepal 

Our training day in Kathmandu went off without a hitch and all the members appreciated Dan’s thoroughness as he explained the schedule and went through the basics of operating the Gammow bag (small portable recompression chamber used to treat altitude related illness).  

We were a little late departing the hotel, due to our bus driver deciding to move his bus for every car that came along. In Kathmandu, that’s a lot even at 5.00 in the morning! But we made the airport and had a stunning flight to Lukla with spectacular views of huge peaks filling the port side windows.

Our first night at the village of Phakding was a good chance for the members to really start getting to know one another. The last minute schedule in Kathmandu was a little too hectic! There was a little excitement when a herd of eight zopkyos broke into our campground at about 7.30pm. I just managed to drag Kirsti out of harm’s way when one of them, scared by all the shouting, charged and tried to get through the narrow gap between tents which we were standing!

Anyway, everybody is feeling good and looking forward to getting on the trail tomorrow. We’ll send you some more news when we reach Ama Dablam Basecamp on the 7^th Oct.

Thank you very much for following our Expedition, from Jay Reilly and all of us here at Summitclimb.com