5/23/2007 8:07:41 AM -- HELICOPTER ARRIVES, GREETED LIKE HEROES IN KATHMANDU
   Day Log
    May 20
    Celebration party time at base camp for our SuperSherpas team. It was a magical night as the team came together to have their final get together everyone danced and sang Sherpa songs. As you can see by the smiles on their faces this was a special moment for all of us.
   Apa and Lhakpa and the team preformed their traditional Sherpa dance and all the other Sherpas from other teams came by to congratulate their heros. As all the teams stopped by they said "you guys just got here and you are leaving so soon". The SuperSherpas team was last to arrive at base camp and the first to leave it took 22 days to accomplish our mission and with this team and who would have expected any thing less. Thanks to all of our team for all their hard work and doing their jobs.
   
   Day Log
    May 21
    We broke down camp at 7 a.m. and started off to Syangboche. It took 20 yaks and 15 porters to carry the loads to Lukla. We walked roughly 18 miles this day as we started around 8 a.m. and got to Panygboche at 7:15 p.m. everyone was exhausted, but knowing that we were on our way home we did not think about the distance we had covered. The weather was very cold and there was a steady mist and sleet and rain as we continued to our destination. We had a good rest and were greeted by the Nepal News where we were staying and everyone was very proud of the countrymen the SuperSherpas team.
   
   Day Log
   May 22
    We started off from Payngboche and headed towards Syangboche. This trek was roughly 13 miles, as we left at 8 a.m. and arrived at 4 p.m. Again we were all very anxious to be able to catch the helicopter as we had a good rest. We woke up to a very gloomy and cold morning and waited all day for the clouds to lift as Apa made a call and the news was there would be no helicopter today.
    This was a day that we all sat around and reflected in sorrow for our dear friend Pemba Doma, as we received word that she had passed away in an accident on the Lhotse face. We were all very sad and it seemed that the weather and the timing for us to grieve for her loss was only right and we all said a prayer for her and her husband. Pemba you were a dear friend and you will truly be missed by all who had the opportunity to know you we will miss your smile and big hugs.
   
   Day Log
   May 23
    We all woke up and looked outside. The clouds and mist was as bad as the day before as we took a walk. We were all hoping for a break in the weather and it finally came. We received a call at 11:15 a.m. that the helicopter was on its way and we all began to cheer.
    The team ran to the top of the hill as we listened and waited for the sounds of the chopper. There it was and we all began to cheer!!
   We dropped half of our team off in Lukla as they said goodbye and went home to their families.
    As we proceeded to Kathmandu the team was all smiles as we knew we were getting closer to coming home to our families.
    Apa and Lhakpa were greeted like kings as the they should be, as the Sherpas are the kings of Everest.
    The gathered media and people were great as we stepped off the helicopter there were hundreds of people waiting. The fun part was the Toyota pickup truck with two big chairs in the back as they paraded around Kathmandu with a police escort. The people of Nepal honked and cheered as their heroes went by. What a great day for all. I hope you all enjoy the photos as they will tell the story and joy in their faces. From Kathmandu our new base camp for a few more days.