5/01/06

Roger reporting from Base Camp

I have been sleeping with my radio. It seems my importance as Minister of Information grows as climbers move up and down the mountain. I think the guys are getting used to my accent as they sit, huddled in their cold, high, mountain tents. As I wander around base camp, I am entertained by many unique characters. Two of my favorites are Mark and Ellie. This dynamic duo comes to base camp every year to sit in base camp with their respective teams. I doubt that they are getting rich but they are getting paid as professional base camp managers.

I am learning a great deal from these two. They know just how to corner the weather report, manipulate daily base camp events, and handle emergencies calmly and smoothly. I am learning what is important and what is not important. From listening to the voices of the mountaineers calling down from the high camps - you learn to read into their voices and determine if they are flowing as well as they think they are.

As for myself, I am not very professional. I tell a pretty good joke on occasion, however, when it comes to technical issues, I am all thumbs and not very patient. Thank God for climbers like Dirk, who is from Germany. Dirk helps me with the technical aspects of laptops and satellite phones. Also, thank goodness for Amy McGhee who helps keep things together back home and forwards any information as soon as she gets it. 

Some aspects of this job require detail orientation and some require calm under fire. I tend to be versatile and able to meet the requirements necessary to get the job done. I must remind myself and  all of you following the climb, however, that I am not a professional.

We will try to pick up the information flow, however, it is pertinent that all family and friend remember that while the guys are on the mountain - they are very focused. If several days pass and there are limited updates . . . consider no news good news!

Talk to everyone soon, Roger