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Eric Simonson from Advanced Base Camp, 21,400 feet. Everything's going really well. I'm up here with the climbing team and all the Sherpas who have been doing a dynamite job putting in the route to Camp V. Right now, we've got eight Sherpas at the North Col. Today, they were able to push the route all the way to 25,000 feet on the North Ridge and fix ropes all the way to that point. It's been really windy, and they were unable to go to Camp V today. But tomorrow, they hope to try again.

Today we had a really interesting time checking out a camp that Andy Politz found a few days ago, which we think dates possibly back to the '30s and the British. We found several old tents, old ice screws, and tent pegs, and rope, and an old hammer—a whole bunch of interesting stuff that we dug out. And we're going to have fun trying to date these relics.

Everything's going really well, and tomorrow, Conrad and Jake and Thom are going to move up to the North Col to work with the Sherpas in putting in the route to Camp V. And then the next day, several more of the climbing team will be moving up there to Camp IV working on the route to Camp V.

So we're proud to say that we think we're doing really well. We can't ever remember being this high on the mountain, this early in the season. So the climb is going great. We've got a great team, and, knock on wood, if the wind doesn't get too strong, we hope to have Camp V in the next day or two.

Okay, I think that's about it. Can you guys think of anything? Does anybody want to add anything?...What?...(laughter)...send more Easy Cheese. Okay. Goodbye.

—Eric Simonson, Expedition Leader

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