Merry Christmas from Vinson Summit!

It's Christmas Eve here at Vinson Base Camp. Hopefully Santa Claus gets down
to the south pole too! Just back from a great trip up Vinson. Paul, Denise
and I summited Vinson on the 22nd of December. Good weather up to summit
day, then some cloud and cold wind, burr! Now its enjoying Base Camp life
until we have good weather for flying. Its been completely zero vizability
since getting into Base Camp. Hopefully tomorrow. Spent part of today
sledding near camp, good fun for Christmas Eve! Thinking of home and wishing
all a very happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from Antarctica!

Scott

Yahoo in Antarctica Now!

Were out at Vinson Base Camp now after a perfect series of connections from
Punta Arenas, Chile thru Ushia, Argentina then onto Patriot Hills Base Camp
and out to Vinson Base Camp here in the Ellsworth Mountains. Simply amazing.
So here we are getting packed and ready now to head for Camp 1 tomorrow
morning. This has been some of the best weather I have seen here in
Antarctica. Sunny, no wind, hot sun. This morning enjoyed several runs on
the local ski hill. 2500 vert, 6" of the lightest snow on earth! Lot of
people say that, but I can promise you it really was! The snow is covered in
piles of giant feathers and sparkles! We are skiing up this trip and I am
climbing with Paul and Denise who are very happy to be here. Managed a 6
hour hike up the Patriot Hills yesterday just before flying out to Vinson.
That was great a 5 mile alpine ridge with views of the Transantarctic range,
out towards the South Pole and over to the Hercules Inlet. So super busy,
lots of adventures and we have only been here about 50 hours! Will post
another report when we are back down here to Vinson Base Camp on about the
24th, for Christmas.

Happy Holidays and enjoying a White Christmas Season!

Scott

Vinson Base Camp

Down in Chile!

Rainy and crazy busy getting the big jet loaded and all the gear ready to go. Just a note, I will not be checking comments on this for the next 7 weeks so. Everything is going well except getting stuck for a night on the way south. So now have evn less time to pull it all together. Will be updating this via email from Antarctica. Now we wait to see if the weather holds to fly south from here tomorrow!Scott

Just about Ready!

Everything is comming together somehow for 7 weeks in Antarctica. A busy last few days. SUper cold here in Oregon, 10 degrees this morning. So packing in the garage this morning is good training! First up will be a Vinson trip with Paul and Denise, see their blog http://www.fejteksevensummits.blogspot.com/ . Then not sure of my exact schedule. Have 3 new kites and really looking forward to kiting at Patriot Hills and Vinson Base Camp. Lots of good friends will be down this season. Sunday morning will be off to Chile and Punta ARenas, then the flight into Patriot Hills is scheduled for Dec 16th, with a fair bit of luck! Stay tuned here and will update with news and hopefully photos. For any Everest questions, talk with Bill or Todd at Mt Trip. Off to the Ice!! Scott

Lots of Snow in the NW!

Yahoo! Its been snowing and have been all over it! Backcountry and inbounds. Been good to get some time in before heading off to Antarctica. Will be flying down on Dec 13^th to Punta Arenas, then south from there on the first Illyshin to Patriot Hills. Not sure exactly of my schedule other than will be guiding Vinson straight away. I will keep this updated from the ice, so stay tuned and will try to send photos out. Good time to connect if you need to! I will be back around Feb 4th till the Everest season. Scott

In Moscow After a Great Elbrus Summit!

Yahoo! Just back from the south of Russia and a great trip to Elbrus. Something like my 14th summit! Sonow we fly to Isntanbul and onto Krygistan to head for Peak Lenin. Will be back home around Aug 22. Scott

In Moscow, Russia Today!

Waiting here to start our Elbrus Expedition. Yahoo! Hot and sunny! @ weeks here enjoying the Russian Alps, very beautiful place and of course a little hike up Elbrus 18,500ft. Will post some photos soon! Cheers! Scott

Photo from last year on Elbrus summit!

In Hood River and Ready for Russia!

Have been enjoying being here in Hood River and now getting ready to go over to Russia and Elbrus. Will be continuing onto Peak Lenin in Kyrgystan after that. Hope everyone enjoyed the Everest Blog! Cheers, Scott

Back in Kathmandu!

Its been a long hard journey, but we are here and enjoying Kathmandu. Will be leaving this morning to fly home, although not confirmed all the way. Went to an awards cerimony where they gave all Everest summiters medals! Yahoo! A very nice event. Have been taking care of details and accounts the last couple days after waiting 4 days for all our bags to finally show up in town. QUite bad weather after we left Base Camp and for the Lukla flights. We actually ended up taking a helicopter out as all fixed wing aircraft wre grounded for a few days. Will be adding some more photos when I can catch up with everything! See eveyone back home in a few days!

Scott Reporting from Kathmandu!

Yahoo! Back in Base Camp after the Summit!

What a relief now we are safe in Base Camp, below the Lhotse Face, Below the
IceFall! Lots of great photos from the top and up high. Have a challenging
solar power situation so have limited power right now. Will post lots of
photos very soon. Just wanted to check in with everyone that's been
following the blog! Next trip will be to Russia in July, then Kygristan in
August! Not sure on our plans to trek out yet. Just want to relax and enjoy,
reaching the top of the world! What a day we had. Absolutely perfect weather
with views in all directions. Quite tired now and will enjoy our first night
in Base Camp! So that was my 4th summit now of Everest! Scott Woolums
reporting from Everest Base Camp.

Back in Camp 2

Scott and the team have arrived in Camp 2 safely and are going to spend the night there before descending through the Ice Fall for the final time tomorrow. They are expecting to leave Camp 2 tomorrow at 4:45 am and arrive into BC sometime in the morning tomorrow. Everybody is doing well and feeling good. 

Chris Klinke reporting for Scott Woolums

Back In Camp 4

Scott, Brian, Johnny, and the Sherpa's are back in Camp 4. Scott called abot 19:34 Everest Time and said that the descent was smooth and easy. That it was an amazing day to reach the summit with very little crowding and warm weather. There plan is to rest at Camp 4 tonight and then descend to Camp 2 tomorrow, then move through the ice fall and be back in BC by the following day. 

Chris Klinke reporting for Scott Woolums via Sat Phone

Summit!

At approximately 8:00am Everest Time Brian, Johnny, and Scott stood at the top of the world! 

They are on their way back to Camp 4 and should be arriving in the next few hours.  I had to call Laurie this morning to get the details. Let's hope they have a speedy and safe descent to Camp 4.  Scott also said that 5 out of the 7 Sherpa's summited with them, so it was indeed an amazing day. Calm weather, blue skies, and the amazing view makes the journey worth it. 

Chris Klinke reporting from Laurie via Scott on Sat Phone.

Scott called at 8:50 am EST, approx 6:35pm Everest time.

They arrived safely into Camp 4 (South Col) they are eating, hydrating, and resting before leaving for the summit in about 3 hours. The plan is to depart around 9pm (Everest Time) this evening to head to the top of the world. A few people summited today and are safely headed down the mountain or are resting in Camp 4.  A large crowd in Camp 4 getting ready to go up tonight or tomorrow given that this is the best weather window they have had so far this year. 

The team has a total of 7 Sherpa's and everyone is feeling good and strong. They have plenty of O2, and are resting quite comfortably. Please join me in wishing them a safe and speedy journey to the Summit. 

Chris Klinke reporting for Scott Woolums via Sat Phone

Scott called this morning at 7am to check in from Camp 3 at 24,000ft. It was a good climbing day and everybody moved well from Camp 2 to Camp 3. The entire team is feeling good and they have 3 Sherpa's climbing with them right now an additional 4 Sherpa's will climb up from Camp 2 tomorrow to meet them at Camp 4. They will have plenty of support for their summit bid. There is some wind up higher but everything is calm at Camp 3. 

The team is targeting May 20th and the weather report is favorable for that day. Scott is planning on having the team go onto Oxygen as they move up to the South Col (Camp 4) tomorrow. 

Chris Klinke reporting via Satellite phone for Scott

Moved up to Camp 2 Today!

Moved up to Camp 2 at 21,000 ft. Hopefully our last trip up through the icefall. Great weather today. Quite windy up higher, but nice here. We are planning a recovery day tomorrow. Then the day after, move on up to Camp 3. Everything is still looking g0od for summiting around the 20th. Yahoo! Our whole sherpa team is here with us and they are all doing well also. So everything should happen quick from here, stay tuned!!  Scott Woolums reporting from Camp 2, Mt. Everest!

Off to the Summit....Tomorrow!

Yep, everything is looking good to have a go at the top. We plan to leave
Base Camp tomorrow morning very early and be at Camp 2 tomorrow night. We
are planning 2 nights there, then up to Camp 3, then Camp 4, then the summit
on or around May 20 or 21. Yahoo. Everyone is feeling good, the sherpas are
ready and everything is in place. The forecast is looking good. Already
there has been a number of teams leaving Base Camp for there summit pushes.
So we should have a trail going up! We will be posting text reports hen we
are going up to Camps 3 and 4 and hopefully from the Summit! Scott Woolums
reporting from Everest Base Camp!

Finally a Good Forecst!

Lots of Buzzz in camp today as teams are getting ready for summit pushes.
Many groups will be going up tomorrow for summiting during the 18-19 window.
We are still holding to have a look at todays forecast and also to try and
stay away from the first big rush. There are quite a few people in Base Camp
waiting also. We took a short hike over towards Pumori Base Camp just to get
out of camp. Lots of hanging out as we wait... Everything should come
together in the next week. We should have a more defined plan this
afetrnoon. Scott Woolums reporting from Everest Base Camp.

Waiting in Base Camp.....

Its been an awesome break down low recovering from our stays up higher. Now
were back, rested and ready to go! A lot of snow as we moved up yesterday.
Also a lot of stuff going on in camp. Arrived back in Base Camp yesterday
afternoon to a number of rescues and medical issues going on. You can read
about all that in other reports. Life here is always interesting. Slowly the
tents are melting out, each up on pedistals of ice after a month and a half.
Lots of small lakes forming as the glacier warms up. The icefall seems to
have quited down after the accident last week. Lots of buzzz in camp as
people are planning summit attempts. Looks like a small window on the 17-18
but also a bit later on the 21-22. We are probably going to hang out a bit
more to let this weather stabilize for now. We have some great forecasting
coming in every day so we are keeping a careful watch on conditions.
Everything is set to go, just need some weather now. It's a 5 day lag
between when we say go and launch our summit push and when we are actually
at High Camp and going. We will move to C2 for 2 nights, then C3, C4 and go
from there! Scott Woolums reporting from Everest Base Camp.

Enjoying DIngboche!

Our whole team including sherpas are down here in Dingboche. Very nice to
breath and relax after a month of up and down trips on Everest. We left base
camp yesterday morning and at 10.30am local as we were across the Khumbu
Glacier from Base Camp, we all watched a huge release off the West Shoulder.
A very difficult thing to see after just being in the icefall a couple days
ago. Very clearly it completely swept the route on the lower third of the
icefall. A very scary thing to see and our hopes are that no one was injured
although we have found out since there was. Our team and all sherpas are all
ok.

We are watching the weather now with no plans at the moment until we see a
solid opportunity. I have never like early season summits as the windows are
short, cold and much lower percentages of summiting. Good luck to all who
have gone up though as there did seem to be a short window to summit this
weekend. Its windy here in Dingboche, but have a report from Camp 3 that its
calm there right now. Video from a small Stupa near our lodge today. Photos
of the team in Dingboche. Yahoo! This is the exciting part as the summit
gets closer. Scott Woolums reporting from DIngboche, 14,000 ft. Nepal.

Back in Base Camp!

Yahoo, just back down from Camp 3 yesterday and now all the way to Base
Camp. A busy few days. Yesterday we enjoyed some very good weather to climb
up to Camp 3 at around 24,000 ft. No wind, clear and beautiful! Then back to
Camp 2 last night. This morning we got up early and descended through the
icefall again back to Base Camp here. Definitly some changes in the icefall.
Several ladders had been taken out by some large avalanches, but the icefall
doctors are quick in repairing the route, so no problems getting down to
Base Camp here. First showers in a week, sunshine and thick air, at least as
thick as it gets at 18,000 ft. SO now we plan to watch the weather
forecasts. Rest, eat, relax till a weather window shows up. We probably are
looking more towards the 16-18 now with the weather we have now. Stay tuned
as we get closer to the summit. It feels a long way off right now. Hope
everyone is enjoying a great spring where ever that may be! Scott Woolums
reporting from Everest Base Camp.