my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 06/05/08* HE IS HOME!!!!!

MT. Everest He is doing this for the company that helped in rebuilding my house, Contractors For Kids. you can follow his climb on the WBAB web site. Also there will be coverage on the news channels and this Sunday's newsday.... PLEASE help me in giving him the prayers for his safe return

ETA:

here is the link to the WBAB page where you can track his climb GOOD LUCK BOB

UPDATE: Direct messages from the climb.

email 1 dirctly from my mom's boss before he climbed:
Was just informed at a meeting last night that we may have very limited communications to you from base camp that is e-mail and sat phone restrictions because of the torch thing and China etc.We are not allowed to go into details (until after the torch)now will know more later.The ban will end after May 10th we hope.Will have to play it by ear However until April first we are ok,very political right now in fact we will have government officials in base camp to enforce this????oh well.

Today we went on a conditioning hike(6 miles) felt good to breath and get the heart going.Tomorrow we will climb high and come right back down but should get a good view of Everest.Two days ago Everest had very strong wind blowing on top(maybe 120 mph) we are waiting for the monsoons to come in in May to push the jet stream north so we can summit.That's all for now hope all is well with you and yours in the real world.Oh by the way on our hike today we saw women washing clothes in the river using rocks and brushes to clean clothes and the men plowing the fields using yaks.Is this 2008?? interesting.Also the annual income of a Tibetan is

300 dollars per year I guess no Starbucks form them but the kids are so cute and friendly.

Love and misses Bob/Dad.

email 2:
We arrived today in Namche at 11,000 feet.We are about one fourth the way to base camp.The flight into Lukla was very interesting to say the least.The runway is only about 800 feet long and uphill was glad we stopped in time since the end of the runway is a solid wall of rock.

We hiked for 7 miles and stopped for the night.The walk was mild for us but good exercise.The next day we went uphill all day to Namche.What a wild place a small village carved into side of a mountain with hotels stores etc. since there are so many trekkers this time of year.We will be here for three day to acclimate but we will go on a hike each day.Tomorrow we hike up a hill to 17,500 feet to stretch our legs and get our lungs working a bit.I feel great Our small group is fun and we are in great shape so we an move fast,the trekkers are very slow.Crossed many suspension bridges high above the canyons got some great pics.The RMI site and others should have our first pictures and dispatches,Casey sent the second today.

I would like to take this time to thank everyone for the great send off and all the e-mails I received with support and encouragement it really helps and makes the climbing and hardships worthwhile.

On our approach to Namche we got our first look at the big E (Everest) and she is big an intimidating to say the least.

That's all for now Beat to all and you too Slim Love Bob/Dad




Email 3 and 4:
We leave for Dewboche tomorrow am a small village at 12,500 feet.Yes we move up slowly but that is for acclimation we want to arrive in base camp healthy and strong.We could climb faster but risk getting sick or run down then it would take much longer to recover or we would be sent down to recover.
Looks like we will have the military in base camp with us.We have permits but with restrictions.Things are still unrestful with demonstrations continuing.The weather has been generally good hi 30's in the day low 20's at night.Have to go this internet connection is not working well.Thinking of you always,be well Bob/Dad.



This may be my last e-mail for a few days.We had snow on and off all day with a surprise in the afternoon a 5.2 earthquake shook things up but no damage.Word of the day Namaste Nepalese greeting for anytime of day(na ma stay )Everyone is in good spirits and hoping for the best with this communication and torch thing.Played a wicked game of hears last night with three guides between them they had 12 summits of Everest.Had some oxygen training too the bottles are fairly light and we will be using a new mask which is similar to the type I used in the military. Be well always Bob/Dad

email 5:
Hi from Dingboche 14,500 feet this is higher than Mt. Rainier and as high as most of the rocky mountains and to think Mt. Everest is two and a half mils higher yet.We are deep into the Khubu valley now very pretty with towering peaks verywhere,We were blessed by the high Lama today and given a Khata,a very fine silk prayer scarf which we wear on our backpacks,He also gave us a blessed card and we were told to carry this at al times climbing since no one carrying the card has been killed on a mountain.You can bet I will have it with me at all times.We also saw some Himalayan mountain goats very cool.We also pass mnty stones,these are stone with prayers carved on them.It is said that for each chip one gets closer to enlightenment.It snows everyday now and the temperature is quite cool at night.We will be here for two days then leave for Loboche at 15,500.Ashley please forward this to Alexis.Hope all is well in the real world oh by the way myself and Casey have or are just getting over a stomach virus,everyone gets it better t get it Early and have your body build up immunities. Love be well Bob/Dad



email 6:
sorry I think I misspelled the prayer stone it is moni stone.We leave tomorrow for Lobuche,about 16,000 feet.We will be there for two days then on to Gorak Shep at 17,000 one day there then on to B.C. 17,500.We are at the base of Alma Dablam what a beautiful mountain and it just calls to be climbed go to Google images and take a look.When we arrive in B.C. we will have our PUJA this is a religeous ceremony where a Lama comes in and bless the climbers and their equipment.There is chanting and rye flour is tossed and the head sherpa the Sirdar will spread rye on each climber's cheak and shoulder then the climbers do the same to each other,this can get out of hand and soon handfuls of flour are thrown etc you get the picture but this is good karma.The flour represents long life.The Lama prays for safe passage on the mountain.Everyone is feeling good and we are looking forward to BC.Hope all is well with everyone back in the states.Lets hear it for contractors for kids,I have our whole team behind this. be well talk to you again from BC.Sorry not to answer your e-mails but do not have the computer time but keep them coming I read them all
Bob/dad



Phone call from Bob:

** These are Bob’s words from Base Camp.***

Communication is limited and SAT phone time is hard to get, so look to RMI’s site for SAT dispatches. bob's phone call(but in text)

We arrived in Base Camp for 3 days of rest and training. All I can say is that it’s a Hell of a lot bigger than in the pictures. We’ve witnessed a number of avalanches today, very cool. The group will soon climb the Khumbo Ice Falls to prepare for Everest. We had our Puja ceremony, so we are “Blessed” and ready to go.

I hope communication will be better in the next few days. It has been an Adventure so far!

Love be well Bob/Dad


UPDATE HE IS HOME!!!!!

he made it just a 1000 feet under the goal. you can read his sorry on the web site WBAB

GREAT JOB BOB I AM GLAD YOU ARE HOME

Message edited 6/5/2008 8:12:57 AM.

Re: my mom's boss will be the first Long Islander to climb*UPDATED* he started his climb

bumping

Re: my mom's boss will be the first Long Islander to climb*UPDATED* he started his climb

Wow, I can't imagine doing that!

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 4/2/08*

bumping i am so worried about him

Message edited 4/2/2008 7:32:07 AM.

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 4/2/08*

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 4/2/08*

Wow, that's awesome!!!!

Praying for his safe return home.

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 4/2/08*

thanks guys! your support of him doing this means ALOT TO ME!!!! It will be nine weeks(well now 8) till he returns. we thought we would be able to hear from him at least every other day but because of the Olympics being held there they have restricted his use of the phone and internet . Bob is A WONDERFUL man who was there for me at my wedding and at the saying so long to my beloved so to Bob to you I (we) THANK YOU!! And when you return I will be one of the first people who want to give you the biggest hug and Welcome you home!!!!

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 06/05/08* HE IS HOME!!!!!

BUMPING FOR UPDATE

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 06/05/08* HE IS HOME!!!!!

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 06/05/08* HE IS HOME!!!!!

Did he reach the summit, or he was just 1000 feet below the summit?

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 06/05/08* HE IS HOME!!!!!

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 06/05/08* HE IS HOME!!!!!

wow!

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 06/05/08* HE IS HOME!!!!!

WTG BOB!!!! I'm glad he is home safe.

Re: my mom's boss is climbing *UPDATE 06/05/08* HE IS HOME!!!!!

How awesome! So glad he's home safely!