Just down from Camp 3!

Wahoo! A huge day today. Up to Camp 3 at 24,000 ft.. Everyone did super well
up the lower part of Lhotse Face and back. Leaving Camp 2 here at 5 am, we
moved over to the base of the Lhotse Face and then started up. Good
conditions allowed us easier climbing up to Camp 3. Most everyone setting
new personal altitude records today. Very warm and no wind made for an
enjoyable day, at least as enjoyable as climbing above 7000 meters can be!

We are all back safe in Camp 2 now, and will probably be up here for one
more night before heading down to Base Camp and on down lower for a much
deserved break from being up high for almost 2 weeks. So this is the end of
our second rotation before coming back up to summit. Now it becomes a
waiting game, watching the weather close and making sure all Oxygen and
supplies are in place. A tough job, but the sherpas are on it. Today
multiple loads went up to the South Col.

No hurry here as the fixed lines have not been put in above the South Col.
Also the weather has taken an unstable turn and continues to snow and blow
most afternoons. We are looking for consistent, low wind pre monsoon
patterns that normally bring warmer and more predictable weather to Everest!

Scott Woolums reporting from Camp 2 , Mt. Everest.

Off to Camp 3 Tomorrow!

Everything is set for our first trip to Camp 3 at 24,000 ft. A big day
actually. We climbed to the base of the Lhotse Face today to around 22,500
ft.. Tomorrow its up the blue ice of Lhotse Face to C3. All reports say its
fixed well with both up and down ropes. Now if we can get some good weather
as it has been on and off snow and wind here in camp today. All our Sherpas
are carrying loads to the South Col also tomorrow at 26,000 ft. So we are up
early, sherpas are leaving at 1am, we are leaving at 5am. Standby for
tomorrows report!

Photo from base of Lhotse Face looking up at teams moving today in poor
weather.

Scott Woolums reporting from Camp 2, Everest!

Storm in Camp 2!

Wahoo! Last night ws a bit rowdy with high winds and a lot of snow. No
sunshine this morning. FOrtunatly it was perfect timing as today is a rest
day for both us and the sherpas. Can here huge winds up towards the summit
right now. We have a very comfortable camp solife is ok, even with 30 knot
winds and snow.

Yesterday we came up from Base Camp directly to Camp 2. A tough hike, over
1000 meters vertical. Everyone was tired from that. Was incredibly hot
yesterday on the way up, quite a contrast to now.

Hope all is well at home with friends and family!

Cheers, Scott Woolums reporting from Camp 2, 21,500 ft., Mt. Everest!

Up to Camp 2!

The whole team is here in Camp 2 now after a windy trip up through the
Western Cwm. Beautiful day, just a cold wind as we moved up to 21,500 ft.
Our Camp 2 is located just below the SW Face of Everest, just about the
highest camp in this area. Everyone rallied today and are all doing well. So
now we wait for a few days to acclimatize. Planning to be back at BC on the
28th. So far the weather has been outstanding, with more on the horizon.
High winds forecast for a few days, then some clouds, but overall everything
looks good. Attached some photos through the icefall and just below Camp 1.

Scott Woolums reporting from Camp 2 on Mt. Everest.

Into the Icefall!

Just back today from our first foray into the Khumbu Icefall. Always an
interesting experience confronting ladders across large cravasses and steep
ice sections. The team did super well today moving up to the famous
"popcorn" section of the icefall. Huge multi-ton blocks of ice that can
resemble huge popcorn chunks! Our goal today was some more acclimatization
and experience moving quickly through the icefall. Everything went well, so
we are ready to move up to Camp 1 tomorrow morning early, then onto Camp 2
after a couple nights at C1. Everyone is feeling good, moving well and ready
to go! We are almost exactly on schedule. Today the sherpas moved 14 loads
up and were back in Base Camp around 10am, amazing. We will have a little
less ability for communications while in Camp 1 and should have ok comms
when we are in Camp 2. SO look for more reports in a couple days when we
move into Camp 2 for the first time this year! Still the route is not fixed
above Camp 2 so we are right on schedule for when that happens. Showers,
sunshine and great food by one of the best cooks in the Khumbu- Serki
Sherpa!

Yesterday we shared a very good "Puja" or blessing ceremony with our Sherpa
Team. A very powerful and necessary event before venturing onto Sagarmatha,
the Sherpa name for Mt. Everest. This is a fun event that takes about half a
day where several lama's bless the sherpas, us and our equipment before we
actually start our climb.

Scott Woolums reporting from Everest Base Camp

Base Camp!

Hello from Base Camp! Everyone is comfortably tucked in here now. Very fun
trek up yesterday, and part of the team came in this morning. Perfect
weather, just a few afternoon clouds. Its been busy setting up our whole
solar power/lighting/communications system. And now, our first report out
from Base Camp! We'll be regularly updating things now. The trekking team is
here also tonight- Linda, Julia, Izabella, Robin and Jona. They will be here
a couple more nights before heading back down to the lowlands (and warmer
temps!). Jona plans to stay a little while longer to climb Lobouche on her
way out.

The climbing team is jazzed to be here and all feeling super good. We had a
meeting today with our Sherpa team, who will be a major part of our
expedition. This is the same Sherpa team that have been with me on many
expeditions now. Could not ask for a better team!

Hope all is good at home for everyone.

Scott Woolums reporting from Everest Base Camp!

On Our Way!

In Namche Bazaar now. The whole team is here after a great hike today up to
Khumjung Village just above Namche. To catchup, we flew in on schedule, sort
of. Only a 6 hour wait in the airport on the 8th trying to fly in. That's
Nepal, hurry up and wait! So we have quite a team, actually 2 teams here
now. The climbing team- Cindy Abbott, Vivian Rigney, Ania Lichota, Paul and
Denise Fejtk, also Bill Allen and myself. And the trekking team- Linda
Unwin, Julia Bell, Izabela Spero, Jona Price and Robin McGregor. Completely
fun group! We are definitely having a blast on the first couple days of our
trek into Everest Base Camp. All our equipment and supplies are now in Base
Camp with our Sherpa team. Enjoying this afternoon in the Everest Bakery.
Internet, lattes and good friends! We will now be posting regular reports
along the way. Scott Woolums reporting from Namche, Nepal.

Off to Lukla!

Tomorrow morning we are scheduled to fly into Lukla. Everyone is excited to
get out on the trek at this point after months of preparations and training.
Enjoyed a huge dinner out at the Roadhouse, a local favorite. Today we were
issued with our Everest expedition permit and an Liaison Officer. Always
interesting to meet the Minister of Tourisim for Nepal! So off we go! Scott
reporting from Kathmandu!

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Enjoying Kathmandu...

Namaste from Kathmandu! Scott here, starting our live Everest reports. We
will be posting reports as often as possible so check back for the most up
to date news following our teams progress. Life is dusty, exotic and busy
right now. Adjusting to an 11 hour time change, sorting lots of gear and
bags, double checking electronics, packing barrels. It never stops here.
Lots of friends to catch up with and going over hundreds of details before
we go into Everest. Its all fun but quite busy. Thanks for following the:
Mountain Trip Everest 2010 Expedition Reports!

Scott reporting from Kathmandu, Nepal

It certainly has been busy getting everything ready for our upcoming Everest expedition. Lots going on but everything is under control and on schedule. I am going over to Kathmandu March 30^th to prepare the last of the loads into Base Camp. Most of the team is arriving a few days later. Very much looking forward to another great season on Everest. So we will be posting reports regularly here throughout the expedition. So off we go…..  Scott Woolums- Reporting from Hood River, Oregon

 

 

Bolivia 2010

 

Some photos from our recent trip to Bolivia! Awesome country. Simply amazing what you can see and do in a short time there. Lots of rain in the wet season, but we managed to climb Huayana Potosi, 20000 ft. visit Lake Titticaca, do some rock climbing and visit the Amazon! Really great trip! Now next up…Mt Everest!  Scott Woolums- Reporting from Hood River, Oregon…for a few more days!

 

Great Season in Antarctica!

Good to be home now! So unpacking, washing and throwing things in bags for a quick trip to Bolivia next! Yep, off to explore the Cordillera Real. So a little time here for some skiing (awesome season in the NW!) then off to Bolivia on Feb 16^th. Scott Woolums- Reporting from Hood River, Oregon

Down from a quite sporty summit!

Just back this afternoon from Vinson. Third summit this year, whew! A busy
season and quite a windy summit. So everything is wrapping up here with this
last climb. In the next few days we will be breaking down Vinson Base Camp
and flying out to Patriot Hills, then with all the guides here, over to the
new runway at the Union Glacier. Lots to do in the next couple weeks.
Scheduled to fly back to Chile on Jan 31st, with good weather! That will be
the last flight out from Antarctica! So -note to self- Do not miss that
flight! Have 11 more days on the ice working with some good friends. Should
be an adventure as there is a lot to explore over on the Union Gl. Wishing
everyone warm thoughts! Next up Bolivia Feb 16th...

Scott
From Vinson Base Camp!

From Vinson Base Camp!

Enjoying some down time here in camp. Very nice actually as so far this
season has been solid work, ski, climb, kite! Last few days have been
putting in more and more tracks above Vinson Base Camp in excellent powder.
As much as we can actually. Today we'll probably ski over to Penguin Peak! A
small peak on the edge of the huge Nimitz Glacier. 3 guides are now up near
the summit of Mt Shinn today. I am managing Vinson Base Camp now so have to
stick around. It been some of the best and warmest weather I have seen in
Antarctica the last few days. Very nice. Tee shirts in the -6 degrees
celcius temps, hot sun and very little wind. The flights coming in have been
delayed now for 2 days and the forecast is still for winds at Patriot Hills
which is why things are delayed. No problems here as we have plenty to do
and/or not do! All the comforts of home more or less. A new shower for the
staff here, heaters, movies, email, skiing even have some fresh lettuce and
veges! Also some good Chilean Wine. Quite cozy all up!

I will be off to Vinson once more as soon as the next Illyshin-76 Cargo Jet
arrives with the next groups. Should be fun as I have 2 clients for this
next climb. After that we will be buttoning up camp here on the Branscomb
Glacier and being shuttled over to the new blue ice runway on the Union
Glacier. Lots to do there as all operations may be moved there at the end of
the season. We have to setup a comprehensive safety program for the staff,
check safe travel routes, and hopefully squeeze in a few climbs and ski
tours.

Photo from the ski hill behind Vinson Base that slid after a lot of new snow
a week before. Very unusual for Antarctica. Our best ski line came right
down the center of the face, fortunately the lower part has been determined
to be more stable!

Missing home!

Scott