Thanks!

Hi everyone.. Just wanted to say thanks for "listening" these past few months! I've had a good time keeping everyone up to date on Bob's adventure, even with some of the communication challenges!

The next update will probably be coming from Bob directly... Can't wait to see some of those amazing pictures!

Take care!

-Rob

Update from Bob

Hi everyone – I just got an email update directly from Bob about an hour ago. He’s back at Kathmandu… Way to go Bob! Everyone here can't wait to hear the details about the amazing journey. Glad to hear your are back down in the "thick" air and doing well.

-Rob

From: Robert Lowry
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 7:27 AM
Subject: Update

Well I have made it back to Kathmandu.
The first hike out was 7 hours and a decrease of 2000 feet. The second day
was a 13 hour journey, 11 hours of hiking and a decrease of 9000 feet. much up
and down, my legs were just swinging forward hoping to land
safely.

The brief summary of the climb is this, I needed another
rotation to have the strength to summit. What I did not explain due to
political reasons was part of the issue. The Chinese "asked" Nepal to
close the mountain as you probably already know. The compromise was that
the Nepal Army would be stationed at base camp to ensure nobody goes beyond camp
2 until May 10th. The did that be having weapons at camp 2.
Typically by May 10th teams would have been done with their acclimatization
hikes. What I have always known about myself is that I need one additional
acclimatization hike above everyone else, that is just the way it has always
been. Since the Army did not allow us that opportunity, I had to settle
for one less. If I had the chance to come back down from Camp 3 and rest
for 4 days, I might have been strong enough to summit. Instead I made the
difficult choice to abort my summit attempt because my legs were like
jelly.

When I approached Camp 3, I felt like crawling in. It
took me 7 hours. Another team took 8 hours, and one of their teammates had
to turn around the next day due to exhaustion. I was concurred that I
would run out of steam and be above the yellow band in The Death Zone, which
means I could end up being someone to rescue. Everyone was supportive yet
sad for me about my decision.

When I reflect back I
can say now that where I sit today, it was a good decision. There was
one confirmed death, a few near HACE incidents, snow blindness, and frostbite
cases. These are people that took the chance that I did not. Many on
the mountain were seen crawling, and being helped down, according to those that
summit ted on our team. These are people that probably had less
experience, or had summit fever.

As for our group about 50% summit
ted. I was glad I was here, in reality the summit is only 4 days, this
journey is 2 months of hard work.

Some of my best learning is about
myself. To live is such a remote area for as many days teaches you what is
really important in life. I can truly say, taking care of your person and
the closeness of Friends and family is what is most important to me. On
these trips, the true person comes out.

My hair is longer now, I
lost 20 pounds and I am pretty tired, but other than that all is well.
Currently I am trying to move my flights, but I am finding that a little
challenging today.

Thanks everyone for your support, when I get
home I will detail the expedition and attach some photo's so maybe you can get a
better feel for the trip.

Talk to you soon

IMG Dispatch # 39-46

Updates on IMG team progress...

-Rob

IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #46
May 25, 2008

IMG
Leader Mark Tucker reports that Dave and Nicky headed out for a short while, but
returned to C4. Apparently they were in the middle of a big damp cloud
enveloping the upper mountain and they were getting quite rimed up with
ice. After consultations with our weather forecaster back in the USA they
decided it was better to wait another day with the hope the conditions will
improve. SO--that is the plan, they are taking a rest and will hope to go
for the top tomorrow.

Eric Simonson


IMG
Everest Expedition
Dispatch #45
May 25, 2008

IMG Leader
Ang Jangbu reports that Dave and Nicky made it up to C4 at South Col in good
time. Dave said it is a bit windy now, but they are hoping that the wind will
drop later tonight -- they plan to leave between 10 & 11. We have
Samduk Dorje and Phinjo Dorje climbing with Dave and Nicky and Nima Karma is
staying on the Col in support. The Sherpas brought down extra gear from C3
today, and tomorrow we have 9 sherpas going from C2 to the Col bring start
bringing gear down at C4 and to provide support for Dave and Nicky if
necessary.

Eric Simonson


IMG
Everest Expedition
Dispatch #44
May 24, 2008

IMG Leader
Mark Tucker reports that everything is going smoothly on Everest.
Yesterdays climbers Justin, Jaro, Dean made it down to Camp 2 along with Ryan
and Serge. Todays summiters Val, Tim, and Mike are spending the night on
the Col and will be coming down in the morning. Dave and Nicky made it up
to C3 and are doing well.

Eric
Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #43
May
23, 2008

IMG Leader Mark Tucker reports at 8:30am Nepal time that
the IMG team are all making good time on the descent. Val has now reached
the Col and Tim and Mike are below the Balcony. Justin, Dean, Jaro, Ryan,
and Serge have all left the Col and are below the Geneva Spur on their way down
the Lhotse Face to C2.

Eric
Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #42
May
23, 2008

IMG Leader Mark Tucker reports that the IMG team reached
the summit at sunrise and have now all started their descent. Congrats to
Val and Phunuru, Tim and Phinjo, Mike and Dasona, and one more sherpa (I need to
verify name). Ryan and Serge turned back from near the South Summit and
they are they now back to the Col.

Eric
Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #41
May
23, 2008

IMG Leader Mark Tucker just got off the radio with the
climbers, who report that they are climbing past the Balcony (about 1am Nepal
time). The weather is good and everyone seems to be moving along
OK.

Eric Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #40
May 23, 2008

IMG Leader Mark Tucker just got
off the radio with the climbers, who report that Val and Phunuru, Tim and
Phinjo, Hamill and Dasona, Ryan and Passang, and Serge and Panuru left the Col
at 8:16pm. They left early to get ahead of the bulk of the climbers--there
are only a few ahead of them. Weather is good. Remaining in
support on South Col are Ang Karma, Datenji and Tshewang Lendu.
We'll keep you posted on their progress!

Eric
Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #39
May 23, 2008
IMG Leader Ang Jangbu reports that Justin, Dean,and
Jaroslaw made it back to the Col about noon (Nepal time). Tim, Val,
Hamill, Ryan, and Serge made it up from C3 and are also at the Col now.
Adam and Kurt are on their way down to C2. Nicky and Dave
are taking another rest day at C2. Chip, Vance , Joe, and Rohan will
be back to Base Camp soon.

Eric Simonson

IMG Dispatch # 36, 37, 38

Several more members of the IMG team have made the summit and are heading back down... I heard from Eric that Bob is back at BC. As soon as I get an update I will let you know.

-Rob

IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #38
May 22, 2008

IMG
Leader Ang Jangbu reports that our IMG climbers reached the summit of Mt Everest
at 6:55am. Congratulations to Justin (#2), Dean, Jaroslaw, Mingma Tenzing
(#4), Tsewang Lendu (#2), and Passang Nuru. The weather is holding
and they are starting their descent now.

Eric
Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch
#37
May 22, 2008

IMG Leader Mark Tucker reports on the sat
phone that Justin, Dean, Jaroslaw, and the Sherpas have just called down on the
radio and they are on the South Summit (about 5:30am Nepal time). The
weather is clear and a little breezy. They are all together and will be
starting the traverse to the Hillary Step soon.

Eric
Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #36
May
22, 2008

IMG Leader Mark Tucker reports on the sat phone that
Justin, Dean, and Jaroslaw left the Col at 9:18pm. Climbing with them are
Mingma Tenzing, Tshewang Lhendu, and Pasang Nuru. It sounds like there was
some snowfall this afternoon, but now the clouds have dropped, and the wind is
calm. Sounds like a nice night to go climbing!! We'll keep our
fingers crossed and not expect to hear from them until they get up by the
Balcony.


Eric Simonson

IMG Dispatch # 35

Okay, IMG has confirmed Bob is now back at BC. Will post an update as soon as I have more.

-Rob

IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #35 correction
May 22, 2008

I made an error with what I just sent out. This is
correct:

IMG Leader Mark Tucker reports that Chip, Vance, and Joe
with their Sherpas went all the way down to C2 while Adam and Kurt elected to
remain at the Col and will come down tomorrow. Justin, Dean, and Jaroslaw
are at the Col ready to start their climb this evening. Tim, Ryan and
Serge, Val & Hamill are at C3. Rohan went back to C2. Casey,
Ari, Bob P, Scott, Bob L and Monty are down at base camp. Dave and Nicky
are at C2.

Eric Simonson

IMG Dispatch # 32, 33, 34

Here is the latest from IMG. Some other members of the team have summited. It appears that Bob L, Scott, and Monty are heading back down to BC from C2. Not sure what the plan is exactly. I have sent a question into IMG - If and when I hear something I will let you know.

-Rob

IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #34
May 21, 2008

IMG
Leader Ang Jangbu reports that Adam and Ang Namgya and Kurt and Kancha Nuru are
now on the summit and will be starting down soon. Chip, Vance, Joe, and
their sherpas are making good time and are now below the Balcony on the way
down. Justin, Dean, and Jaro are in the Yellow Band on their move up
to the Col from C3. Val and Phunuru, Tim and Phinjo, Ryan, Serge, Rohan
and Hamill are moving up to C3. Monty, Scott, and Bob are heading for BC
from C2. Dave and Nicky are in route to C2 from C1.

Eric Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #33
May 21, 2008

IMG Leader Mark Tucker reports
that Chip with Jamling, Vance with Pemba Dorje and Joe with Mingma Tshering have
reached the summit and are now on their way down. Adam and Ang Namgya and
Kurt are a little below the summit still going up.

Eric
Simonson


IMG Everest Expedition
Dispatch #32
May
21, 2008

IMG Leader Mark Tucker called to say that the summit team
are all above the Balcony now and making good time. Several of them are
getting close to the South Summit.


Eric Simonson

IMG Dispatch # 31

Next "wave" of climbers is heading up. We should hear an update from IMG in about 5 hours.

-Rob

IMG Everest Expedition Dispatch #31
May 21, 2008

IMG Leader
Mark Tucker just called to say that the next wave of climbers at the Col have
now started up a little after 9pm (Nepal time). We should hear
from them again in 5 hours or so when they get to the Balcony. Weather is
looking decent.

Also -- Casey, Ari, Bob, Dawa, Nima
Karma, and Danuru made it all the way down to Camp 2 last evening. Good
job!

We'll keep you posted.

Eric Simonson