CLICK TO HEAR THE CALL:

Eric: This is Eric at ABC and I've got a voice patch with Camp V. Dave's going to go first. Here we go:

Dave: Alright! I want to say hi to all my family and friends. Don't worry, I'll be eating Mexican food again. And really special thanks to Mountain Hardwear. This Trango tent, this Trango Arch, is a hell of a tent. And I've had one of these Easton aluminum poles against my back for the last four hours and I know it's gonna hold. If I had a Lincoln LS, I'd be sittin' in it!

Thom: Howdy this is Thom. I'm at 7800m. I'm watching my altimeter go from 25,400 something to about 25,700 something so we got a lot of low pressure and you know it's not good weather when you have to yell at the guy sitting about three feet away from you. But we're doing okay. We're well protected in good equipment and really look forward to checking in with you next time we have a lull in the weather. This is Thom checking out and have a good one.

Eric: Alright you guys, good job! And how strong would you say the winds really are?

Dave: Andy was walking around here, or trying to, earlier. He called it at 80(mph). I'm afraid to go out and see myself.

Eric: Right on...copy that. Well, keep hunkered down, and we'll be on the radio every hour, okay?

Dave: Thanks Eric! And thanks a lot for putting this trip [together]—we've got enough fuel and oxygen and good equipment to be sittin' up here. This is Camp V. Out.

Eric: Alright. There you have it. Okay, talk to you guys later. Bye.

—Eric Simonson, Expedition Leader

DISPATCHES