APRIL 1 ---
The team is in Kathmandu, Nepal getting ready to depart for Lhasa, Tibet, then into the Base Camp on the North Ridge of Everest. We expect to get regular messages by fax, via satellite, once they reach base camp. These faxes will be sent directly to the Mountain Visions Virtual Base Camp and updated reports will be posted on these pages as they come in. As far as we know this is the first time live reporting of a major mountaineering expedition has been reported on World Wide Web Pages.

APRIL 2---
We talked to Tom Whittaker by phone in Kathmandu. They are making final preparations for the expedition. Leo Dickinson's film crew was with Tom and Greg Child. Filming a 52 minute documentary, "One foot on the Road to Everest" has begun. They leave Kathmandu on April 4. to fly to Lhasa, Tibet.

APRIL 4---
Attempt to Fly to Lhasa, Tibet. Windshear directed an alternative landing in Chengdu, a town of 6 million people, in China.

APRIL 5---
Up at 4:00AM. 2nd Attempt to fly to Lhasa. Weather too poor to land. Return to Chengdu.

APRIL 6--- Land in Lhasa. Big rebuilding of the town by Chinese.

APRIL 7--- Went on Potala Palace tour and visited Barkhor Bazaar and Jokhang Temple. (For more information see: Lonely Planet Tibet Guide, by Robert Strauss and Flight of the Wind Horse, by Niema Ash.) Banquet by Chinese Tibeten Mountain Association. Moved to Holiday Inn, Lhasa, as there is no electricity or hot water in our accomodations.

APRIL 8--- Filming done in Barkhor Bazzar. Shopped for souvenirs. Went to local restaurant for supper. Good, but raised a few American eyebrows, i.e., chicken soup includes the head complete with beak, comb, and eyes! John Muir took one of the chicken feet to adorne his fox skin hat...strange people these Australians...and I have one as a partner!

APRIL 9--- Drive in Toyota Landcruiser to Shigatse. $150 per person per night included food but no sanitation, just the communal hole in the floor routine. APRIL 10--- Drive to Xegar. Greg Child and Tom Whittaker do acclimitization hike. APRIL 11--- Visit Monastery of the Shining Crystal. Hiked from 14,000 to 15,200 feet to visit ruins of fort. Footage was collected by the film crew.

APRIL 12 --- Drive to Everest Base Camp in 3 ton truck on very rugged and steep roads. Spent most of the trip standing. Very dusty, 7 hour trip.

Countryside: Extremely barren and wild. Not a blade of green. Much new construction on roads and in towns. Yak plowing, planting barley, the Tibeten staple. Herds of sheep and goats roam seeking a meager living. Donkey carts laden with earthen ware pots head to Lhasa.

Wildlife: Lamagar, the largest of the Himalayan birds cruise the thermals. Blue sheep graze at base camp, unafraid. A resident pair of magpies meet us at each village. Pika scurry amongst the stones.

 

• The Sponsors
• The People
• The Route and Itinerary
• Expedition Log
• Epilogue and Base Camp Pictures