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This is Eric, reporting from Kathmandu. I'm standing on the rooftop of Hotel Manaslu in Lazimpat and we're getting ready to go to dinner here pretty soon. We've had a really busy 24 hours since we got into Kathmandu.

We got in yesterday afternoon, moved all of our luggage to Great Escapes Trekking and then retired to the hotel. We met with Heather MacDonald yesterday afternoon and had dinner with her. She is working for Elizabeth Hawley over here as a Himalayan correspondent this spring interviewing the expeditions as they come through town.

Today we've been busy. We met with the Sherpas first thing in the morning, we sorted equipment, we made some lists, we had a meeting and discussed salary and equivalent money and bonuses that are going to be paid to the Sherpas. Tomorrow we are going start buying food and do some more equipment organization. So far in town we have the seven of us who flew over together, that includes Dave Hahn, Andy Politz, Tap Richards, Jake Norton, Conrad Anker and Lee Meyers. Today historian Jochen Hemmleb showed up, tomorrow we expect to see some more people hitting town. That's about it, we are excited and everything is coming together and we are going to try and get you some photos. Okay, thanks, bye.

—Eric Simonson, Expedition Leader

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