4/30/2007 9:34:06 AM -- The Sherpas of the SuperSherpas Expedtion and their thoughts about being a part of the historic expedition.
    Apa Sherpa, 16 summits — This Expedition is very important to the Nepali and Sherpa people because no one knows about us and what we do. This documentary is going to be good for our people; it will help with health and education of our children.
    The Sherpa who died on the mountain [see earlier blogs] shows this is a very big mountain and it can happen to anyone. But what I am thinking is how can we help the family. There needs to be a insurance fund for the family's like in America if they die on the job there family is taken care of. This is a job just like any other but with a higher risk.
    Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, 12 summits — I am hoping this expedition will be a success and may provide for the health and education for the next generation; that they will have a choice and that people will realize we need to be responsible if someone dies and a insurance would help these families who's fathers have passed away working on the mountain. It is very sad to loose friends.
   
   Arita Sherpa, 8 summits, Apa's brother — My brother and Lhakpa are doing this with way high causes for our country and our community. I am so very proud to be on this team.
   
   Ang Passang Sherpa, 7 summits — I will be very proud if I can make the summit with the two world record holders my brother in law and Lhakpa.
   
   Pemba Ringee, 4 summits — Apa and Lhakpa's success will help our country. That's why why I am climbing and I have a lot of hope.
   
   Mingma Sherpa, Lhakpa's brother, first attempt — I am so very happy to be be with the SuperSherpas team.
   
   Dawa Sherpa, 1 summit — This SuperSherpas team is with lots of promise to our country and people. Indeed it feels great when you are working with the people who have success larger than life!
   
   Kusang Sherpa — This feels very good to be a part of the SS Team.
   
   Jangbu Sherpa — It is very good and I am proud to be a part of this team
   
   Ramesh Tanay — I feel great thank you to Lhakpa and Apa for having me on their team.
   
   Lhakpa Tenjing Sherpa — I feel very good and am happy that the world will know more about our people and country.
   
   Oychuu Sherpa — I feel great to be on this SupeSherpas team. "Tuche chey" means thank you.
   
   Pasang Gyalzen — I feel very good and proud to be with the world record holders. I have a big smile on my face.
   
   Kumar Tanang — I feel very nice and very good to be on this great team of Sherpas.

4/30/2007 9:23:33 AM -- NOTE: Roger Kehr, assistant base camp manager for the SuperSherpas Expedition and Salt Lake City resident, was emergency airlifted out of Pheriche while the team was making the trek to base camp. Kehr, suffering from a recurring bout of giardia, chest pains and abnormal vital signs was airlifted to Kathmandu's CIWEK clinic and then admitted to the NORVIC hospital for evaluation of an usually low pulse (45 at 14,500 feet and 35 at 4400 feet). Pulse rates are normally around 70 at sea level and increase at altitude to bring more oxygen into the blood. After a 5-day journey, he is stable and back in Utah for further medical testing.
    Here's a blog from Kehr and his experiences with the living legends of Everest:
   
    It happens about every 5 minutes, which is about the time interval between seeing another group of trekkers heading back to the lowlands — anything under 8,000 meters is considered lowlands. Some guide will shout out "Apa" or "Lhakpa" and the same drama unfolds.
    First, there are the shouts of greetings, then the handshakes and finally the introductions of Apa and Lhakpa to the awed guide's group. Oohs and ahs accompany the quick que for everyone to have their picture taken with the two "heroes". Autographs are signed. And once again, slightly detained, the SuperSherpas team makes its way "up".
    Apa smiles his customarily humble way and prays for every one's hands to have been clean. Getting sick at altitude is not an option. Our western members urge the use of Prell for hand washing, but the quantity required would probably deplete the entire yak population of the Khumbu to carry.
    These, however, are not the usual "heroes" we have seen for the last 50 years — and yes we spent an incredible two days with one of the only foreign heroes "Sir Ed" and his charming wife and family under the careful protection of the sharpest chronicler of extreme altitude endeavours, the incredible Miss Elizabeth Hawley).
    Apa and Lhakpa are forever calculating the logistics of all of our gear and all of the manpower required to attempt to get eight people to the peak of Chomolongma. Unlike the usual heroes who hire the Sherpas to handle the "heavy" and always "dirty" work and look great in television ads, Apa and Lhakpa are the "Real Deal". When western "support" members go astray or get sick Apa or Lhakpa marshal their forces to maintain the fine balance between success and possible tragedy.
    Blessings from the highest holy people have been sought. And in every case something "magical" occurs at these puja ceremonies. In Kathmandu it was the unique appearance of two brothers who are some of the most respected teachers of Buddhism to the western world. One is named Uurkin Tuulco (Tuulco meaning a reincarnated being). The other's name is yet to be written down on paper. Even repeated their names do not stay in western memories. Only pen and ink make them permanent.
    In Namche it was the private puja in Tsadem Sherpa's Zamling guest house with the second highest Lama from Tangboche (Choeying Dorjee and his assistant Phurba Tashi).
    In Pangboche it was a festive blessing from the "Main Man" of the Khumbu Lama Gesu. Glossy 8X10 photos adorn his walls autographed by the greatest climber on the hardest peaks. Babu Chirri, one of the most beloved and famous Sherpas, who at one point held the speed ascent of Mt. Everest and even spent 24 hours on the summit, did not receive Lama Gesu's blessing on his last summit and in a bizarre accident fell into a crevasse and died when backing up for a photo opportunity.
    The word is - get Lama Gesu's blessing and live — or do not get it and die. The story of Babu Chirri's heroic body retrieval should be further clarified by the indefatigable Salt Lake resident Willie Benegas currently on his 7th Everest ascent.
    Altitude blessing and a curse. The sights are heavenly, but the reality brutal. We have already sent down a young boy porter who on his first ascent to Dingboche was suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness. Our nutritional analyst Staci Nix, suffering from AMS and pulmonary edema, toughed it out with supplemental oxygen and two stints in a portable hyperbaric chamber and doggedly continued the ascent up to base camp after the rest of the team had left her with Pemba Renchen Sherpa in the Pheriche clinic.
    But ever "Up" the heroes and their team ascend. The reality of their toughness, athletic prowess, selflessness, and experience grows ever stronger. All Nepalis are the "Kings" of Everest. What then do you call the Apa and Lhakpa - the best of the best?