4/28/2007 8:13:59 AM --
    We are in base camp and it has been a sad arrival with the death of a friend to Apa and Lhakpa.
    From Loboche to Gorakshep we went from 15,336 feet to 16,660 feet, the steps were 10,882 the air is very thin. Lhakpa had a fever and he was treated by Dr. Scott McIntosh. Apa is doing well and we took a rest day in Gorakshep. We have heard that Lhakpa's good friend was killed on the way to Camp 3 his name was Dawa Sherpa. Lhakpa said he is from Solu and he is very sad.
    From Gorakshep to base camp Lhakpa was feeling better. I woke up with a headache from the altitude and hope that I can adjust. We stepped 10,220 steps, for a final total of 45 miles since the trek began, and arrived at 17,500 feet at the base. I am feeling better and adjusting. We were greeted by our base camp team members and cooks. They had our camp all set up. It was very nice to make it to base camp. Dinner was ready and hot tea these guy's really have done a great job.
    The first night at base camp was very cold and the wind was blowing very hard. We are camped right below the Khumbu Ice Fall. All night you could hear the roar of avalanches. They are very big and very loud. It was hard to sleep with the thin air and the sounds of avalanches.
    We woke up this morning [Saturday] and had asked Mr. Jim Williams of Exploradus [www.exploradus.com] to help us with the communications set up. Jim has been friends of Apa and Lhakpa and Dawa our cameraman for many years. Jim was a great help and we would like to thank him.
    We would like to give our prayers to our team member Roger Kehr and let him know we are all doing well and we miss him. [Roger developed health issues and had to leave the team to seek treatment.]
    The Sherpas and other team members are bringing the body down through the ice fall as I watch through our communications tent. Apa and Lhakpa want to help, but they cannot go through the ice fall until they have the Puja - final blessing ceremony from a lama - that will happen tomorrow.
    Hello to all and best,
    Jerry