Cho-Oyu - Getting more serious

For those of you who don't know what Cho-Oyu is: it's a 26,906ft/8,201m) mountain in Tibet and Stephen has just reserved a space with
Alpine Ascents on their 2007 Expedition. The dates for the Expedition are August 25 till October 8, 2007.
Three people with whom Stephen has climbed before have also (tentatively) signed up for this climb: Laura (was with Stephen on Denali), Kathy (with Stephen on Vinson and Denali) and Horst (Vinson).

So training is starting for real!!

Stephen and team summit Denali!

I just checked the Alpine Ascents cybercasts again and Stephen and his team 'You Enjoy Myself' - Team VI - summitted Denali - Mt McKinley!!!!!
YIHAA!!!!!!

WELL DONE Stephen and team!!!!!!

For the cybercast click here.

London and Eeklo

Some photos

In London I did not have my camera with me when I enjoyed the company of Silvia & Wayne and Heleen.
Likewise in Belgium, when catching up with friends Hilde and later Geert, I did not have my camera at the ready.

Iceland - The Photos

It's a rather big album this time but so worth it - even if I say so myself! Enjoy!
photos

Overnighting at Brussels Airport

Just arrived at my hotel at Brussels airport - this was the easiest option as I'm starting my trip home tomorrow morning.
Just checked Stephen's progress on Denali where the weather has been a spoil-sport for a while now. No teams have summitted in the last 10-12 days or so. But reading the last post from team "You Enjoy Myself" (Stephen's team - and yes... he will ahve to explain how they got that name!) it looks like they still have a chance! Go Team!!!!

I had a great time in Belgium catching up with family (mum and Stefaan) and friends (Kristien&Erik, Hilde, Geert).
Back home in San Francisco on the 14th in the evening.

Hello from Eeklo

I had a lovely time in London and enjoyed gorgeous weather! Enjoyed a bbq at Silvia and Wayne´s on Thursday evening and spent a fun evening catching up with Heleen on Friday. During the day I went for a walk along Regent´s Canal and Regent´s Park and also in Hyde Park.
Arrived in Belgium yesterday afternoon and was met at the airport by my brother Stefaan. Caught up with mum and in the evening Stefaan invited my friends Kristien and Erik around for a yummy bbq.
Today I had lunch at mum´s and spent the afternoon there. And now I´m waiting for Hilde to show up in Eeklo.

Back in Reykjavik

Well, my tour of Iceland finished earlier today - I´m off to London tomorrow morning.

It was a great trip in good company - our guide, Margret, was wonderful! The last 2 days we saw some more waterfalls, geisers and geothermal areas, went for a dip in the Blue Lagoon (a large natural warm water pool)... the weather deteriorated gradually but we still had a great time.
So last evening in Reykjavik - I will indulge in some very expensive alcohol! And then up very early for an early flight to Heathrow.

signing off from Iceland.

Hello from Akureyri - Northern Iceland

My 6th day in Iceland; the 5th day of my tour.
Everything is going wonderful here in Iceland - it's an amazing country; I've seen some spectacular scenery.
I'm in a group of 12 (which is very nice - a small group means some flexibility - everyone is relaxed together) + guide and driver.
From Reykjavik we set off anti-clockwise around the country. So far the weathergods have looked favorably upon us: day 1 was a bit rainy, but everytime we got out of the bus it stopped raining. The next 3 days we've had glorious weather; today is overcast and it has been spitting a little.
Saw lots of waterfalls and out-of-this-world lava landscapes some with black sand dunes.
Highlights so far: snowmobiling on Europe's largest glacier; boattrip on Glacial River Lagoon between icebergs; flight to Grimsey Island located the Arctic Circle to see puffins... to name but a few.
Tomorrow we head back south; it will be our longest day driving and somewhere we will squeeze in an Icelandic Horse show.
Back in Reykjavik on June 7th.

signing off from Akureyri.

Greetings from Reykjavik

Boarded a plane at 11.15am in San Francisco and got to Boston 5.5 hours later. Spent 5 hours on the next plane , after a 90 min lay-over, to arrive at Keflavik airport at 6.30 in the morning. Got to my hotel around 8am - naturally my room was not ready yet so went walkabout in Reykjavik. I did an ´architectural walk´ from the Lonely Planet. I was lucky with the weather this morning - it didn´t rain.
Got access to my room around 1pm. It is now 3.30pm and I´m fading fast - what with the 7 hour time difference: it is the equivalent of 8.30am with no sleep the night before. Am debating whether to go for another coffee or whether to take a nap...
Off on my tour of the country tomorrow morning!

Caroline off to Iceland

There was no way I was going to let Stephen have all the fun so I'm off to Iceland today!!
With the time difference I arrive on May 31st and the next day I embark on a 7-day tour of the country. I've packed my warm fluffy jacket and my rain gear!
Not too sure what the internet situation will be on the tour, but I will post updates when I can. Otherwise: till London - I get there on Jun 8th.

Stephen off to Base Camp

Stephen called this morning to say that he and Team VI were off to Base Camp, so the expedition is truly on its way now.
They were supposed to fly yesterday but the weather on the mountain was not favorable. No time has been lost though as this only meant that they got to spend an extra night comfortable in Talkeetna instead of in tents at Base Camp.
After they have settled in at Base Camp today they will do glacier travel and crevasse rescue review.
Naturally Stephen won't be able to call me again from the mountain so from now on we'll have to follow the expedition on the Alpine Ascents cybercasts page.
As said earlier they are not very good at posting on weekends and holidays and since Monday, May 29 is Memorial Day Holiday in the US, I don't expect any cybercast updates until Tuesday.
It works like this: the cybercasts get phoned in and sent to Alpine Ascents' office in Seattle and that is not open on the WE and hols.

Stephen's off to Talkeetna, AK

I just dropped Stephen off at SFO airport from where he will fly to Anchorage, AK today. From Anchorage he will take a bus to Talkeetna, AK - the starting point for his Denali/Mt McKinley adventure. You can follow the cybercasts with updates on his expedition here. To our knowledge Alpine Ascents is not very good at updating these during weekends and holidays, so just bear that in mind. Stephen will be in Team VI (6).

Tomorrow, May 27th the whole team will meet up for orientation and a final gear check before flying to Base Camp on the S.E. fork of the Kahiltna Glacier (7,300ft - 2225m) on Mt McKinley.