Moving to a Mac
Update: A Month with A Mac can be found here. Am I trendy or smart? Probably a bit of both but using Apple computers is not new to me. You see, I bought an Apple II in 1977 when I was a junior in College getting my EE Degree. As I was being was interviewed by my local newspaper, the Memphis Commercial Appeal, as an oddity for owning a computer; the reporter asked me all the normal questions but never really understood why I needed a “personal computer”. How times have changed! Upon taking a job with HP, I had no choice but to use Windows based PC for the next 30 years at work and thus it followed to use them at home as well. However with early retirement, never ending Window updates and crashes and impossible upgrades to the next version; it was time to come home. Last year I bought a MacBook to replace my Windows Notebook and the Apple Time Capsule with Apple TV combo to serve as a music server and wireless router. They have worked flawlessly. So after a never-ending series of blue screens on my 3 year-old Dell, the always running noisy fan on the 4 year-old HP and Microsoft’s byzantine upgrade process from XP to Windows 7 it was time to upgrade the PCs. I ordered a 21.5” and 27” iMac from the online store and they arrived a few days later. Each one was packed in a single box complete with a carrying handle. In less than 3 minutes they were unpacked, on the desk and the old PCs relegated to the basement for migration purposes. The Hardware Elegant, stunning, beautiful and it simply works. I have always admired excellent industrial design and these new iMacs are superior examples – full stop. No ugly grey bay on the floor, clumsy monitor stand and important to me – no tangle of wires. And it is eerily quiet. When I first saw the tiny keyboard, I thought that this would be a problem – no keypad, no dedicated hot keys for apps, etc. But as I type this post, it is a work of art. Simple, functional, stylish – just what I need nothing more, nothing less. And then the mouse. After years of several mice with multiple keys, wheels, shapes and sizes; the new “magic mouse” looked like a Miss Universe contestant after all the work – slick with just the right amount of curves. It moves easily, clicks soundly and has the gestures of a trackpad – another winner from Apple. Snow Leopard OS X Apple is known for outstanding software and this operating system meets that standard – stable, invisible and simply works. While I keep thinking I need to invoke cntrl-alt-del to look at some kind of system activity – I don’t. The Leopard found my other iMacs, PowerBook, iPhones, Apple TV, Time Capsule and even the Windows PCs. It took a tiny bit of direction but overall I had five computers, two iPhones, server and router all talking within a hour – something I never accomplished with Windows Home Networking. And it is now backing everything up hourly – invisible to me. What about the data? This was a huge concern for me. Hello, my name is Alan and I am a data pack rat. My Outlook file is 1.5GB ( yeah I keep everything) with thousands of emails and attachments. Over 30,000 digital pictures at 94GB, a few videos at 2GB and 3000 songs in lossless at 108GB. There is more but you get the idea. I bought a utility from Little Machines, O2M, for $10 that automatically converted all my Outlook messages, contacts and appointments Apple’s mbox format. Next, I copied them all to the new iMac via the network and well, mission accomplished. The data transfer was complete within the couple of hours it took to physically move the bits. Could not have been easier. And the Apps So far, this was too easy. And after 30 years in hi-tech I knew the bear was in the trees sizing me up. I had used iTunes for years so this was not a worry. I had become an Outlook expert over the years but of some concern were my apps to manage my pictures and website. You Have Mail So it was with a nervous twitch, I started Apple’s email program – “mail” (branding geniuses at Apple) and imported my decade of emails. They were all there, albeit not in the same hierarchical folder structure I had, but there nonetheless. Contacts and appointments moved to their new homes effortlessly. Connecting my POP mailboxes was drop-dead simple. I was back online just in time! Cue the Music iTunes was up next. I copied my iTunes folder from my MacBook to my new iMac – iTunes found it and I was in business. My iPhone didn’t like that I was on a new computer and required me to download my apps again from the iTunes store just to prove I was legal – how dare they? But that took a few minutes. I did lose my music on my iPhone and have to figure a way to down sample them from lossless to smaller file sizes to get most of my songs on my 14GB iPhone but this is a small concern as I already transferred my favorite playlist. My iPhone was ready to go. Lights, Action, Camera Next was iPhoto and the bear emerged. OK, so maybe this is a case of old dogs learning new tricks but I have been using Picasa for years to organize my photo collection. It imports from my digital cameras easily, has excellent basic editing capability,uploads to sharing sites and I understand how it organizes the image library – iPhoto did some of this. But most disturbing was that I was missing pictures during the import and iPhoto insisted on creating what it called “events” thus breaking up my albums.
Tomaz Humar – Rescue Effort Video
One of the world’s top alpinist, Tomaz Humar, order died this past week on the remote Nepalese peak Langtang Lirung, 23,711′ 7227m. The Slovenian mountaineer was climbing solo on the south face and suffered some type of injury at 6300m. A massive rescue effort was quickly organized out of Switzerland dispatching an elite team of pilots, climbers and logistics experts to Nepal. Sadly, they found his lifeless body around 5600m on Saturday November 14th. Tomaz had called via his satellite phone on November 10th saying he was injured and needed an immediate rescue. The following video reports on the rescue attempt: More on the Swiss rescue team can be found via this link Tomaz was a unique climber as this excerpt from website chronicles: Tomaž Humar a mountaineer from Slovenia, is thought of as a man with either insanely good luck or connections money can’t . It is believed that the Gods are fond of him. He believes that the Himalayas are fond of him. He doesn’t climb for fame or mountaineering awards, although he has received many and his ascend of the south face of Dhaulagiri made him famous in the whole world. He climbs because he can only truly start breathing at an altitude of 5000 m. There is no rest for him in the valley – his heart, his mind, and his legs have been hauling him up there in the mountain faces for as long as he can remember. The reason he climbs is that the mountains are the only place where he is really close to Him. When he explained his plan before ascending Dhaulagiri to Elizabeth Hawley, one of the greatest experts on the Himalayas and its visitors, she said: “He is crazy, but certainly not dumb.” He was never a man of rules. He decided very early on in his life that his story with the mountains would be his alone and that his journeys would be set by nobody but himself. He denounced classical Himalayan expeditions where one has to follow the rules of a leader and became the master of his own destiny. He climbed Dhaulagiri, the most difficult face of his carrier, solo, alpine-style. He says alpine-style is basically about the simple art of surviving in the vertical, where there is no room for lingerers or great heroes. Ice and rocks are his natural environment. Instead of teams of experts he takes with him his ‘private horde’, as his Dhaulagiri expedition was called in some professional circles. It consists of his closest friends and co-climbers, a personal physician, a bio-energy practitioner – people who breathe with and for him and don`t try to get smart even when the situation seems hopeless.. My deepest and since condolences to all Tomaz’s family, friends and admires around the world. It takes a certain courage and ability to attempt what he did over the years and the climbing world will be less without him. Alan
ing Climbing Gear Online
Everybody wants a deal. Houses, cars, beer and of course, climbing gear. Thus an entire industry has emerged over the years to serve this “price sensitive” market online. After all why pay $500 for that down jacket you need – yes you need it – instead of say, $99? I know I most of my gear online these days. It is safe, easy and convenient. I have about 5o gear sites bookmarked and check them all when looking at a big . I have my favorites sites like Mountain Gear, Spadout and I have come to use Backcountry’s Steep and Cheap more often than I should – more on that later. Obviously the biggest benefit of shopping online is the ability to compare prices – if you know what you want. And the manufactures’ sites provide excellent descriptions so if you are looking to upgrade or replace an item, there is no need to actually visit the store – unless you are unsure about sizing; especially footwear. Most sites have excellent return policies to encourage us to press that ” now” button so the risk of being stuck is low. Let’s take a look at these online gear retailers and see if they really offer a good deal – for you. Full Line, Full Service, Full Prices The first tier are full service, full line sites that have real humans answering the phone, fair return polices, excellent product descriptions and the capability to compare multiple selections – all this is the bare minimum. Sites I would put here include: Altrec Backcountry Moosejaw Mountain Gear REI We Don’t Do That Then there are the more narrow sites specializing in a certain aspect of climbing: Mountain Tools – pro, tools, ropes, shoes, etc. Climbing Gear – pro, tools, ropes, shoes, etc. ProLite Gear – lightweight backpacking GoLite – Adventure racing, lightweight gear The Mother Ships Of course, there are the manufacturer’s sites. This is where it all begins and an excellent source of first hand product information including construction materials, country of origin and the full catalog. I have found that many of the general sites simply use the same product description from the manufacturers but here you can see their full line and are not limited to what the reselling site carries. Some of the favorites out there include: Arctryx Black Diamond Feather Friends First Ascent Marmot Mountain Hardwear Patagonia Outdoor Research The North Face Yea, But Where’s the Deal? Ah, the DISCOUNTERS! This is what you were waiting for, I know 🙂 All the other sites previously listed have plenty of s and some have dedicated outlets (REI, MooseJaw) and others have frequent holiday and weekend s (Mountain Gear). However, the selection is usually very narrow with limited sizes XXS and XXL in Neon Orange so getting what you want is rare. Finding the Deal These next sites have made discounting into an art form. Steep and Cheap, part of Backcountry.com, has a loyal following for good reasons: great prices and outstanding customer service but only offer a handful of items each day. I use their notification slider on my PC that shows new deals frequently throughout every day. If it interest you, simply click on the slider which takes you to their web-page with that product. But you have to act quickly since the section is often limited in styles and quantity. Two new discount sites launched this week both using an interesting approach of having to be invited to join before entering the site. But I requested an invite and quickly received them. The Clymb is using social networking on twitter and Facebook plus the limited access to build momentum. They launched with a of Ice Breaker wool tops and now are in the middle of a 3 day Sunoto watch . In addition to discounted prices, they have a green theme that encourage ers to reduce their carbon footprint. The other new entry, is from Backcountry.com and is called Department of Goods. Instead of a limited offering or a short time based of a single item, this site has a full line of products at good discounts -albeit without all sizes and styles available. They have a nice deal of comping your 10th ! Steep and Cheap The Clymb -invitation only Department of Goods – invitation only I Need a Sherpa! All this can be time consuming and very confusing so a few sites offer a shopping service. The one I have found is Spadout . They have a nice search engine, community and some reviews. If they have what you want, simply ask the site to show the prices from multiple sites and even to monitor it if the price drops. It is a great way of getting the deal you want without spending days switching between sites. Another version on this theme is from Gear Attack and Google’s Shopping or Ebay but they lack the sophistication of Spadout. A Test Drive So, let’s do some shopping. Here is my shopping basket with the list price from the manufacturer’s website: Mountain Hardwear Men’s Sub Zero SL Hooded Down $275 Mammut Infinity 9.5mm Single Rope $229 North Face Dark Star 0 degree sleeping bag $299 Black Diamond Bibler FitzRoy Tent $699 I won’t bore you with all the details but after getting calluses on my finger tips after searching all the sites mentioned in this post for my shopping list, I found that almost every site offered every item at list price – so where are the deals? By using Spadout, I found some sites I was not aware of such as Sunny Sports. While I did not actually order any item, I completed the checkout process to see if the final price was what was advertised and it was. But I have no idea of return policies, accuracy in shipping dates so it remains er beware for site new to you. Here are the results: Mammut Rope FitzRoy Tent North Face Bag MH Jacket Altrec
Longs Peak Diamond Climb – video
If you have explored my site, you know that Longs Peak is one of my favorite climbs. In under two hours, I can be on the trail at 9400′ and reach the summit at 14,256′ in a few hours on a good day. It has all types of routes from simple walkups to world-class technical trad climbing. And it offers the and worst in mountaineering weather all year-round thus making for excellent training for Denali, Aconcagua or serious Himalayan climbs. Of all my pages on 14ers, I have more about Longs than any other since have climbed on it well over 60 times and summited it 16. So when I saw this video of professional climber Steph Davis climbing the Diamond, it captured what I love most about Longs and climbing in general. I hope you enjoy her video as much as I did. Climb On! Alan
Mom – Is Everythng OK?
“I think something is wrong with Mom.” I said quietly to my wife. And with that Christmas observation in 2000, the future was cast. Recognizing the early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia are crucial for taking care of parents, relatives and friends. And since we often only see them during the holidays, early November is a good time to review the signs. I lived across the country and sometimes across oceans from my parents as they aged thus missing some obvious signs. But during a Christmas visit in 2000, I noticed my mother not being herself. Once meticulous about her dress, taking care of the house and organizing events – she was blasé about all this – a dramatic change. During drives around town she would ask over and over “Now, where are we going?” Something she never had done in the past. She was our families’ memory keeper yet now couldn’t remember her brother’s and sister’s names. However, she was still herself. She laughed easily, made small talk, answered direct questions and carried on genuine conversations. When she got stuck, her husband – my dad – of over 50 years would quickly bail her out – and we noticed. The Alzheimer’s Association has ten warning signs everyone should be aware of during these important holiday visits. Have you noticed any of these warning signs? Please list any concerns you have and take this sheet with you to the doctor. Note: This list is for information only and not a substitute for a consultation with a qualified professional. 1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What’s typical? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later. 2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What’s typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook. 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What’s typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show. 4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What’s typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later. 5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own reflection. What’s typical? Vision changes related to cataracts. 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”). What’s typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word. 7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What’s typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control. 8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. What’s typical? Making a bad decision once in a while. 9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. What’s typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations. 10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer’s can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What’s typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted. If you have questions about any of these warning signs, the Alzheimer’s Association recommends consulting a physician. Early provides the opportunities for ment, support and future planning. For more information, go to www.alz.org/10signs or call 877-IS IT ALZ (877.474.8259). This is an official publication of the Alzheimer’s Association but may be distributed by unaffiliated organizations or individuals. Such distribution does not constitute an endorsement of these parties or their activities by the Alzheimer’s Association. Copyright 2009 Alzheimer’s Association. All rights reserved.
What’s in Your Pack? 14ers
Ever look at another climber’s pack and wonder? Come on admit it, I know you do! Packs come in all sizes and shapes. Some are lean and mean while others are fat and dumpy. However most of this is not due to the pack; it is what’s inside that counts. This is the first in the series “What’s in Your Pack?” where I will look at gear from simple day hikes to overnight trips to treks to Everest Base Camp then climbs to 8000m and above. But first, lets take a look at packing for a simple day climb of a Colorado 14er in the summer and winter. It all starts with the so called 10 Essentials – those items you should always have in your pack. The term was coined by Seattle’s Mountaineer’s Club back in the 1930’s. Today they even have a book about the 10! The original concepts were simple and have been updated from items to systems. 1930’s Today 1. Map 2. Compass 3. Sunglasses & sunscreen 4. Extra food and water 5. Extra clothes 6. Headlamp/flashlight 7. First aid kit 8. Fire starter 9. Matches 10. Knife 1. Navigation (map & compass) 2. Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, lip baum) 3. Insulation (extra clothing) 4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight) 5. First-aid supplies 6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candle) 7. Repair kit and tools 8. Nutrition (extra food) 9. Hydration (extra water) 10. Emergency shelter (tent/garbage bag) With these lists forming the basic concept, this is what I have in my pack on every 14er climb: GPS with extra batteries, altitude watch with calibrated compass, topo map, compass sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, ball cap, bandanna, knit cap wind shirt with hood, rain paints, socks, down vest, softshell with hood, buff, light gloves headlamp with extra batteries basic First Aid Kit (TP, band-aids, alcohol pads, moleskin, tape, Ibuprofen, hydration salts, water purification tabs, hand warmers, eyeglasses, mirror, paper, pen) matches, fire starter, lighter Leatherman multitool, pocket knife, 10’ cord, duct tape hard candy, nutrition bars, gels 2 liters water with electrolyte emergency bivy bag And in these modern times, these are my additional essentials: camera with extra battery and storage cards cell phone iPod Shuffle, earphones trekking poles helmet (depending on the route) All of this weighs under 10 pounds without water which adds another 2.2lbs per liter. winter Additions In the winter, the list stays the same however I add a few additional items: down jacket with hood heavy insulated gloves down mitts goggles fleece face mask crampons ice axe – long handle and/or short depending on terrain and type of climb avalanche shovel, probe, beacon and snowshoes depending on conditions and route What to wear? In terms of what is on my body, again it stays pretty much the same regardless of season and routes: synthetic pants synthetic or light merino wool shirt wool socks (one pair) cap sunglasses light but sturdy boots winter just adds layers but with a different pant: insulated pants heavy merino wool shirt fleece farmer john suit double plastic boots that fit crampons 800 fill down jacket with hood Check out my gear page for specific brand and model recommendations. I have worked on this list for years and am very happy with it today. The Neat Pack Now back to packs. I like smaller packs that are versatile and sturdy. I will trade a few extra ounces in return for flexibility. Currently I use a 55L (3350 cu in) Black Diamond Shadow pack that is a few years old these days. I use it both in the summer and winter. It is a bit heavy at 3+ lbs but I have used it on treks to base camp at Everest, Broad Peak, and Aconcagua and on 50+ 14ers. It is bomber construction and shows no wear. Crampons and axe straps are convenient and when loaded, it looks like a pack should look. Once on Denali I overheard a young guide chastising his group – he was very concerned about appearances. He insisted that nothing dangle from their packs and all straps were secure. He felt if you looked sloppy then you climbed sloppy. I think he had a point. Next up: Spending the night Clmb On! Alan
"My Name is Lisa" -a short video on Alzheimer's
This is an incredibly powerful short video. From the Alzheimer’s Association site about the video: “My Name is Lisa” is powerful fictional film that depicts a 13-year-old girl struggling with her mother’s Alzheimer’s disease. It won short film on YouTube in 2007, no drawing the attention of millions. We hope it changes the way you think about Alzheimer’s and those who are affected.
Random: NYC Marathon, Chinese Alz, Pumori
A wonderfully inspirational story- Meb Keflezighi wins the NY Marathon Tough season on Pumori-no summits from Peak Freak in spite of a leading great effort and the Hanesbrand test team . Success on Ama Dablam: IMG with no drama The Alzheimer’s Association site is now in Chinese, drugstore Korean and Vietnamese. Interesting analysis of Colorado’s recent huge snow storm, impact on climbing conditions in RMNP 6 Early avalanches in the Colorado high country Found in Antarctica: two cases MacKinlay’s Scotch Whisky from 1908 Ernest Shackleton’s South Pole team United Airline’s last 737 flight Diamox – The Altitude Wonder Drug? Maybe. Maybe not.
Why I Climb
Why do you climb? An age-old question first publicly asked in the 1920s of George Mallory during his attempts on Everest. His incredibly complex or dismissive answer was “Because it is there.” Similar to mine and no less understood by strangers, acquaintances, friends and some of my family. To see the sun rise before it does. To understand fellow climbers in an accelerated environment. An alternative to the day-to-day world. To see if you can do it. To spend time with yourself and see if you are really whom you think you are. To discover your limits. Climbing captures the allure and mystery of life for me. First there is the peacefulness of being high on a mountain as the sun peaks around the Earth. Then there is the camaraderie of friends being roped together as they work up a mountain not as individuals but as a team. Finally, there is the challenge of taking a step on a steep slope knowing that a mistake could be deadly but the next step will be rewarding. After six weeks of climbing up and down the Khumbu Icefall, Western Cwm and Lhotse Face, I leaned heavily on my right knee. My headlamp showed pure white snow at my foot – a sharp contrast to my bright yellow boots. I felt another wave coming over me. I gagged once again and struggled for breath. Even with my oxygen bottle turned on, I was having serious difficulties at 27,200′ on Mt. Everest. After a quiet discussion with myself, I turned around to return to the South Col and Camp 4. My 2002 summit of Everest would have to wait. A test of my body or of my mind? continue reading “Why I Climb”
Welcome to Everest 2010
Welcome to the 2010 Everest Coverage. Even though most teams will not arrive in Kathmandu until late March, climbers are busy training, finalizing expedition members, organizing logistics and for some, making huge plans. Last year we saw over 300 summits and sadly, 5 deaths. For 2010, I am expecting a record number of summits after the nearly 500 summits set a single season record in 2007. There are several factors playing into this season. First, the north side should return to near normal with the Chinese allowing more teams to climb. For the past two years, permits were difficult, if not impossible, to obtain with the Chinese taking the Olympic torch to the summit in 2008 and again restricting permits due to violence in Tibet in 2009. After a near normal 2009 fall season for Tibetan 8000m peaks, including Cho Oyu, all indications are that teams will make a comeback on the north. Second, the world economy has stabilized thus enabling many climbers to once again separate themselves from the tens of thousands of dollars it takes for an Everest expedition – and the operators are most willing to cooperate! Finally, many local operators out of Kathmandu have improved their services while maintaining low prices thus attracting a new group of climbers. However, as always, safety should be everyone’s primary worry. In 2009, three climbers died on the north side, two who were climbing without supplemental oxygen. On the south, the Khumbu Icefall was extremely unstable and took the life of Lhapka Nuru on May 7th. His body was finally recovered in September 10th by a team of Sherpas from Asian Trekking. The Icefall dangers were so strong that some climbers refused to enter it and other teams including Russel Brice’s Himex, used nearby peaks to acclimatize in order to avoid multiple trips through the dangerous seracs. 2009 saw some maintenance on the mountain. Bolts were put into the Yellow Band on the South to improve the stability of the fixed lines and will speed climbers through this bottleneck. And for the mountain, several tons of garbage were removed through the efforts of Dawa Steven Sherpa’s Eco Everest Expedition. There were some first, as always, and a few brave efforts including Korean Park Young-seok new route variation on the Southwest Face after three previous failed attempts since 1991. Then the Kazakhstan team attempted the first true traverse from Lhotse to Everest and back down the West ridge but abandoned their effort with one member dying. Technology also stood out last year and I expect the same for 2010. The launch of Eddie Bauer’s First Ascent clothing line took center stage with an elite team dispatching every move with audio, video to a nice website. But the Discovery Channel’s filming of their series, Everest: Beyond the Limits is what many Everest followers are waiting on. They followed climbers with IMG and Himalayan Experience with high-tech infrared cameras, microwave links and Sherpa-cams. The series is schedule to debut on January 6th, 2010 on the Discovery Channel. A popular feature of my website coverage is tracking the location of climbers and teams. Similar to last year, a table will always be at the top of the main blog page showing team locations. I will update it as I recieve reliable information but remember it is high level and there may be team members at several different camps. Also, I will add new teams as we get closer to the start of the season. Please send me the name of a team and their website if you woudl like it covered. Next up is a look at some of the climbers for 2010 plus a big announcement of another attempted first on Everest. Climb On! Alan