Hi, this is Daniel Mazur calling for the Cho Oyu expedition. We've made it to our high Base Camp at 5650 meters and we've been carrying loads up to Camp 1, which is located at 6400 meters on the flank of Cho Oyu. Yesterday and today, Jon Otto and Walter Keller and Yang Li Qun and Jangbu Ang Shera Sherpa, along with Derga Tamang fixed rope on the steep section of the route, which is located just below Camp 2 at 6750 meters. They weren't quite able to reach Camp 2, and they returned to Base Camp today in a snowstorm. Yang got snow blindness and Jangbu injured his knee, and Derga seemed to have come down with some symptoms of flu. So everyone decided it was time to pull back.

Our team has split into two groups, it seems. So tomorrow our next group will be moving up into Camp 1. That includes myself along with Philip Crampton, Tim Bolter, Edward Donovan, Franck Pitula, Rod Richardson and Jon Arnold. We'll be moving up into Camp 1 and we will finish any rope fixing that needs to be done and then make our way to Camp 2 and put the camp in.

There has been quite a bit of snow in Base Camp, although it seems to have melted off every day. The same is true for Camp 1 — although up in Camp 2, there is a lot of snow and it's been sticking. We've been informed by some other teams that are up there that there is about a meter of loose snow, it's quite deep and tough going. So we feel lucky that we have brought our snowshoes with us and we'll be carrying those up tomorrow as well.

So I'll look forward to keeping you informed of what's happening and I'll make sure that all of the team members keep you posted as well. I'd just like to thank you for following our expedition. We're really excited about this chance we have to climb the 6th highest peak in the world. We are really praying for good weather, because that is what's going to make it happen for us. I think we have a really strong team, and if the weather cooperates we'll be moving on upward and into Camp 2 and Camp 3, and on our way to the summit.

Thanks for staying with us, and we'll talk to you soon. Thanks a lot — bye-bye!

— Dan Mazur, MountainZone.com Correspondent