Hi everyone, It’s Paul coming to you from sunny Melbourne. With only 3 more days until I leave, it’s actually starting to seem real now.
Gear Check
I think I have almost everything I need laid out now. Luckily Tim is able to bring some things from the US for me to help get me on the plane within my baggage allowance. (I’ve been granted some extra weight, but I still don’t think it will be enough). We just ran through the list the other day, and he sure is bringing a lot of stuff – including 2kgs cheese, 2kgs nuts, 2kgs dried fruit, heaps of muesli bars, etc (I don’t want to go hungry up there.) Last year Fiona and I had 170 kg between us.
On the News
Last week was a very busy one – especially as Channel 9 followed me around for 4 days filming my training. They even came up to Mt Donna Buang at 5am to film me training in the dark! For those in Melbourne, you can see this on tonight’s news at 6pm. Not sure how this is going to turn out….
Starting the Farewell’s
Last night I had a small farewell party with some family and close friends and realising that it would be the last time I’d see most of them for 2 or 3 months made me think about what I am about to embark on. I’m eager to get over there and get started, but it seems like there are so many last minute things to think of before I go that these last few days will be very busy. Guess I’ll sleep on the plane…
Hope everyone is well.
Paul
Hi Paul
Brings back great memories to see all that gear laid out ready to pack. Isnt it amazing no matter how many expeditions one goes on there are always those last minute issues to deal with, cross checking all is packed and that you are prepared as much as possible. It consumes so much time.
I also found that when I wrote to Qantas they were very understanding and accommodating when I went on expedition to China recently, however I was only carrying 30kgs :).
Who will you be flying with and via which route?
Sleep who needs it, just not enough hours in the day atm. As you said save that for the flight over.
Cheers
Roger
Hi Paul,
I am a friend of TA’s here in St. John’s and I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish you good luck. TA had mentioned your name several times in our conversations about the technology so it’s good to put a face (picture) with the name!!
All the best
Darrell
Hi Darrell,
Thanks for your well wishes and help with TA. She seems to be doing very well with the technology and hopefully this is an omen of good things to come for her on the mountain.
Rgds, Paul.
Howdy Rodger,
I am flying with Thai Airways via Bangkok and Thai have looked after us again with a generous luggage allowance. The Australian GM has given us a letter for our extra allowance, which helps 🙂 I still have a few things to sort out with gear, but mostly it’s done.
Cheers, Paul.
I agree with Roger and you. There is always so much to do before an expedition such as climbing Everest! On your flight over, there will be time enough for sleep.
I like the photo with you and half of your gear laid out. I am reminded of the first photo I saw of Fiona and you last year. Fiona was sewing the large outer mitts from a down sleeping bag (the sleeping bag was on the floor with the cut out of the mitt). In the photo below, you were wearing the giant mitts and smiling that famous smile!
MC
G’day Paul,
Wishing you all the best for this climb!!
Having met you two weeks ago on the Thursday night ride, I got home on that Saturday morning to find our Herald Sun open at your page. Wow, what an awesome challenge!
Was hoping to get home from work tonight to catch you on Channel 9, but didn’t make it.
Looking forward to seeing you on top of the world.
Enjoy
Sam
Hi Paul,
Will be thinking of you during the next phase. I must say I really enjoyed our conversation this morning. Will be keeping an eye on you from your backpak.
Stay safe, climb early and keep sending the updates.
Phil M
Hi Paul,
I saw the Chanel 9 news tonight featuring your adventure. I just want to wish you the best of luck for a successful climb. I have downloaded Google Earth and am ready to follow your path. Good luck to the three Adler brothers and to the girls who will be going to Base Camp. How exciting.
Glenda.
Paul:
We are wishing you a pleasant tailwind flight to Kathmundu! We will be with you all the way! This rather feels like the excitement we went through last year and we will be experiencing it all again with you and Fiona!
You will be heavy in our thoughts…………….
Safe travels,
Tam & Den
Hi Paul! We are very happy for you and looking forward to following everything this year as last year we had not found your site! All your gear looks very organized and ready to be of use to you on your tough “hike”!
Best, Ann and Graham
I’m so excited for you, Paul! Do your best, have fun, and most of all, come back with all your fingers and toes. I’ll be following your progress closely and rooting for you from halfway around the globe in California. Have an awesome climb!
Shanda
hi Paul ,
i look forward to following your progress. When the going gets tough, dig deep!
stay safe
regards cathy
Paul,
I was lucky enough to catch your story last night on Ch 9. You are looking fantastic! So fit, strong and vital. I wish you all the very best as you prepare to climb Everest. My thoughts will be with you, and I look forward to following your every step via the website.
Take good care of your self, be safe, keep warm and remember there are a team of people behind you, supporting you and wishing you towards your incredible dream.
When it gets a bit tough out there just remember… “The only kind of courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one minute to the next.â€
Lots of love – Eliza
PS. Jords will be in touch before you go
G’day Paul,
We met on the Overland Track in December and I was amazed by yours and Fionas drive and determination. I have no doubt that you’ll make it to the top this year and I’ll be following you every step of the way through this great website. GOOD LUCK!!!!
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your message, and yes I hope I am lucky this time. How is the video editing going?
Cheers, Paul.
FYI, When we met Steve on the Overland Track he was lugging around this high definition Sony camera making a documentary about his four wheel drive journey around Australia with his family. You can read more about it here: http://www.expeditionaustralia.com.au
Hi Eliza,
You are making me blush! All the training is done, now it’s a matter of keeping healthy (nearly all the training is done – 25k run tomorrow and then interval training on Thursday before I leave).
Thats a great quote – I’ll remember it.
Thanks, Paul.
Hi MC,
We ended up giving away the giant mitts from last year – our Sherpas really liked them so we offered them up at the end of the trip. They were pretty impractical though – just too big. I am going to wear Fiona’s gloves this year, as my OR Alti Mitts were too big last year. I will take mine up as a spare (in case I drop them) and could also probably get my outers over the top in a worst case scenario.
The chemical heat warmers worked really well last year for our hands.
Paul.
Howdy Sam. Thanks for checking out the site and for your message of support. See you when I am back. Cheers, Paul.
Wow, do I see SIXTEEN books there that you’re taking with you?! You either have a lot of down time while you’re there — or you’re gonna start a Base Camp Library?
😉
We’re gonna insist on some book reports from you now!
Good luck; getting excited for you!
Scott
Just wanted to wish you the best on your summit attempt. Stay healthy and strong. I will be following your progress from Florida!
Sorry, I thought i was logged in!
Be safe!
Geri
Good Luck Paul. See you in a month 🙂 -Julia
tim good luck to you. i made my username to support you and your training or lack of. wish you the best with your journey.
Competent, Capable, Loved and Happy…
All the Very Best for and with You,
On this Everest Journey.
OM
wp
Even in the icy expanses of this great expedition, there is no escape. Just as well you are so fit and prepared . Summitting will be nothing compared to that ever present danger of M in L who must be obeyed!
Much love and positive thoughts go with you from us-what a great advantage you have with such a supportive family and family in -law. They are going with you in body and spirit . Good lucy to the Adler /Harrington support team too especially our very dear friend (aka M in L) Marg, who has put her all into preparing to go to base camp. We are very proud of her.
Take care
Sandy and John McCarthy
Hello Paul,
Once again we are logged in and looking forward to follow your adventure – all the best for summit 2007!
Katrina, Ben and the Cuskelly family
Hey Paul,
i’m 13 and my mum just told me what you are doing, i think its great and i’m wishing you the best of luck. Take a bit of Melbourne with you up to the top though the weather is probaly same. from one Melbournian to another John So is our BRO and good luck with your great quest.
following your trip Jason
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the call the other day. After all your support last year, it’s great to now put a voice to the name (not that your presence in my backpack didn’t have a voice already of course!).
Looking forward to having you along for another ride.
Paul
Hi Jason,
Thanks for your message – its great to hear from another Melbourne guy! Hope you’re enjoying this rain that we’re having now. Because of the downpour, I missed out on my training session today. Although the drought is bad, it’s meant that I’ve hardly missed any sessions before this! Keep me up-to-date with what’s happening in Melbourne while I’m gone.
Paul.
Hi Katrina,
Thanks for your message. It was good to see you again the other night at Jacqui’s 30th.
Take care,
Fiona
Paul, Good luck on your summit attempt!! We will be following your progress on your Mt. Everest summit from the sunny and warm spot (the Florida Keys). It was great meeting you and Fiona when you were here and hearing your stories. We look forward to hearing more stories one day after your summit! Say hello to Fiona. Cindy and Richey from Marathon, Florida
Hi Sandy and John,
I think you win the funniest message award so far! Don’t worry, I have also been in training for dealing with the M in L situation. (Several days spent driving on the wrong side of the road in a foreign country was the real stress-test!) Seriously though, I feel really lucky to have Marg and all the other trekkers coming along to see me at basecamp. It’ll give me something to look forward to after Tim and Damien leave. And maybe it’s a good thing. After all, Fiona had her Mother In-law along last time!!
Paul
Damien and I are just wondering… 🙂
Paul
Hi Geri,
Thanks for your message and well wishes. And thanks for logging in as well – it does make it a lot more personal when I can tell who the messages are coming from. Looking forward to having you along for the climb…
Paul
Hi Scott,
Yes, that’s about right. Depends how my packing goes as to whether I can take them all though. We do have a lot of down-time on Everest. At basecamp, we’ll often have 4-7 days rest between acclimatization trips high on the mountain. And even on the days when we do climb, we start early when the conditions are best and so often we’ve reached our destination around midday. Neither Fiona or I ever seem to find time to read novels at home but last year we both read more than we had in the previous few years combined!
We also do start a basecamp library of sorts. Once I’ve read my books, I’ll contribute them to a library box in the dining tent and share them with the other climbers. At the end of the season, they all get donated to the local schools.
By the way, I’ve also got a few jigsaw puzzles out to pack as well!
Paul
to Paul just wanna say good luck when u climb Mount Everest. I just wanna ask u questions, are u excited to cilmb the mountin, amd r u nervouse???
Hope u email me back here is my email adresse so u can email me back scrazyladies@hotmail.com
scencerly yours jennifer
P.S. good luck
]hey Paul its Jennifer again i just wanna say just to ignor the email k thankyou
Julia is just a very astute, truthful and inciteful person!
Hey Paul
I followed you two daily last year via the website, left a few messages of well wishes from America, and am greatly looking forward to another grand Everest adventure once more. I remember last year on Summit Day following along, glued to my pc late at night here, anxiously awaiting Mary’s next update from Base Camp. When “Summit! Summit! Summit!” came across, I literally stood and cheered! I was overjoyed for Fi, and heartbroken for you. Now, my friend, it’s time for unfinished business on Chomolungma! My best wishes and prayers go out to you, for safety and sound decision-making. Climb well, climb safe. The Adler Army is once more reporting for duty — go get ’em, mate!
Mark
Pennsylvania, USA
Hey Paul and Fiona,
It’s just amazing to see what you both have achieved. I have followed you, like countless others each step(posting) of the way. I too met your mum Mary (M in L) last year as she was heading up to EBC – in fact she was chatting to Gavin (and thankfully holding him up as he is usually about 20mins ahead of me!), and I guess that is where all this has begun.
Strangley you both seem like family already, especially with your encouragement and help in getting Gavin started on this fantastic website. I was hoping to have been in Kathmandu when you guys met up, but unfortunately my working world doesn’t understand the pull of the Himalayas 🙁
You are both inspirational people who seem so down to earth and eager to help others – very comendable qualities!!
So, I just want to wish you and your trekking party a great trip ahead, and I hope you return with wishes fullfilled.
Know that there are many around the world who are waiting on each posting, and pushing you along when the legs get heavier and the breathing harder.
With all the very best wishes,
dhara
and I hope to meet up with you guys one day too!
Hi Paul & Fiona,
All the very best in the coming 8-10 weeks with your latest adventure.
May the Mother Goddess Chomolungma allow you to step on the top and open that window for you….Please do say a silent prayer from me @ the top.
Climb on and climb high..
Jatinder
PS: A mate Duncan (DCXP) and some oldiesare trying the north side..I have heard alot of good reports about the outfit you are using. I will talk to you about your own experiences when you are back and hopefully this year we can catch up in melbourne.
Hey Paul,
All the best for the forthcoming trek up Everest. I was disappointed for you last year when you had problems with your oxygen. I’m glad you’re having another go and (knowing you) I’m sure you’ll succeed this time!
Good luck and take care!
-Tanno
So you’re starting again… What a man ! My family, my friends (who well remember your last visit in France) will be with you day by day. I’m proud to be your cousin. Jean-Pierre Genton (Paris)
Hi Paul and Fiona
Just wanted to wish you well on your trip and I will be watching your progress again with great interest (makes logging onto the computer at work in the morning so exciting!)
I also wanted to say that your myeverest website is fabulous- I have been reading the stories about people’s challenges and they are really inspiring and motivating- its is a wonderful idea.
Good luck and best wishes
Leanne
Hello Dhara,
I didn’t realize that you had met Mary. It’s such a small world. Thanks so much for your message. Hopefully I’ll meet up with Gavin in Kathmandu – I am looking forward to his suggestions on where to eat and also where to pick up a few items. It’s been a pleasure helping Gavin with his site.
Regards,
Paul.
Hi Leanne,
Great to hear from you. I am glad you like the site and hopefully find it motivating. I know I do. Cheers, Paul.
Bonjour Jean Pierre, I hope everything is going well with your new restaurant. Thanks for everything you did for us last year too. Neil still talks about the time we met Michel in his cave. Paul.
Hi Mark, Yes, I well remember your messages from last year. Thanks for your support. I am really hoping that I get there this time! Goodness knows I have put enough work into it.
Cheers, Paul.
Hi Tanno – thanks mate. Just about to leave for the airport. Paul.
Hi Jatinder, Will definitely let you know about my experience with Asian Trekking. I too have heard lots of good things, which is why I went with them.
DCXP only seem to climb on the North – I wonder why?
Paul.
Paul,
Good luck on your climb! Guess you and Pat will be meeting in the next couple of days in Kathmandu! Thank you so very much for all your time and patience spent with Pat in setting up the blog and everything else! You have been a life-saver. Got your emails-thanks for the info on the SAT phone. I will try after Pat activiates the phone. Sorry, but I’m technically challenged. I will be following your climb along with Pat’s and will drink a glass of wine to toast each of your successful summits! Cheers.
Carol
Hi Paul and Fiona,
All the best for your Everest challenge. We look forward to following your journey.
From VCAL class.
yo I am daniel godfrey and I am sending you this to say good luck and I know you can do it. I hope you liked your things. I sent you the Q.E.C.V.I t-shirt! hey are you in Nepal yet? and when you get to base camp can you message us at Q.E what it is like? well hoping to hear your messages about your climb on Mount Everest soon.
By your friend:
Daniel Godfrey.