Tashi Delek from Mount Everest Base Camp!

Christine Kane reporting on behalf of Team Everest '03! After a few days of consistent snowfall, we are now experiencing early morning high winds. Our climbing Sherpa decided to stay at BC, a wise choice since it looks like we may have a couple more days of mixed precipitation and high winds. Our camp is blanketed with snow, the prayer flags are blowing wildly and Mt. Pumori has a dangerous looking cloud clinging to its peak. The plan at the moment is for the team to ascend to Camp 1 on May 4 or 5, Camp 2 on May 6, Camp 3 for a night on May 7 or 8, then back to Camp 2 for a day of rest. Perhaps our first summit attempt will be two days thereafter! Please keep your fingers crossed and your positive thoughts coming our way.

Vince Bousselaire arrived back at BC three days ago from resting and recovering at the lower elevations. He is in great spirits and is now between Camps 1 and 2 with Karma Sherpa. They took the opportunity to ascend to Camp 1 very early yesterday morning when there was a brief period of clear weather. It is important for Vince to have some acclimatization nights at the high camps to check on his health before ascending higher up the mountain. Gary Guller spoke with Vince last night at Camp 1 and all was well. As a team and on behalf of Vince, we are convinced that his recovery is 100%. Vince sends his kind regards to all the people that have supported him and the message of Team Everest '03.

Last night we were looking for something to uplift our spirits, so Gary Guller and I decided to take over kitchen detail in what was considered a revolution against our camp cooks! We dug through barrels and bags and found ingredients for an Italian feast: garlic, bread, tomatoes, onions, pasta, salami and cheese. (Thank you Central Market in Austin, TX!) Needless to say, we have a new appreciation for our camp cooks. However, the feast was enjoyed by all! We even managed to rustle up some Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. You'd be amazed at what melted chocolate morsels will do to add laughter to a cold and windy night at almost 18,000ft. Without an oven, we made the cookies in a pot lid cooked on three rocks in a pot over a kerosene burner that looks like a small rocket launcher, a first for me. Sadly, more funds are needed as our expedition leader is wasting away to nothing! Though we are kidding, realistically CTD/TE '03 needs your financial support to continue with its efforts ensuring that all people have the same freedoms to live and explore.

Hot off the press: Please pick up a copy of the Dallas Morning News this Sunday, May 4th. There will be a feature story by reporter/trekker/sherpani extraordinaire Lee Hancock with some of the greatest pictures ever by photographer/sherpa superhero/get any shot Erich Schlegel. This issue is a must see. Please buy a few extra copies for friends, family and those of us still on the mountain!

We spent lunch yesterday learning new phrases in Sherpa language. The Sherpa here are very excited and impressed that we are learning new words, and are always happy when we talk with them using their wonderful language. Many thanks to Nima Dawa Sherpa and Namgya Sherpa for all their help. We will keep these lessons coming so you can all keep up with your Sherpa dictionaries!

Good Morning/hello:Tashi Delek; Good Night:Ngel pep; Happy Birthday:Harin kuran kiu nima; I love you:Na la ga lengino; What's your name?:Qura min kong hin? How old are you?: Qurung lotso lepsum? Where do you live?:Qurung kani deki? What's for dinner?:Guamisama Kong hin? Where is the bathroom?: Chakang kani hin? Good-bye: Golep pep.

To all our friends at the US Embassy in Kathmandu, we are very proud to be representing our country by flying the American flag at Base Camp. We look forward to seeing you on our return to the capital city. Thank you for your interest and support!

Hello to all our friends and supporters, especially those at Base Camp CTD in Austin. We received your great notes, and are sending the message as much as we can and the amount of interest here on the mountain in our cause is truly incredible. A quick note to Dan Steinborn of the world famous internet printing house www.printglobe.com. Thank you for your PR efforts in continuing to further the success and awareness of Team Everest '03.

And finally, thanks to all the students who have written us, including Betty Adams Elementary in Colorado, the Jefferson School Kindergartners in Texas and Sollars Elementary School in Misawa, Japan. We'll be sending the answers to your questions soon in a separate dispatch. Thanks for all the messages from the middle school students and teachers at TSD. I miss you all and hope school is going well. Hello to cousins, friends, relatives and the 8th grade students at Easthampton Middle School that keep me popular with so many emails here at BC.

Golep pep! Talk to you again soon!

Christine Kane, Base Camp Manager
Team Everest '03