IMG Leader Mark Tucker reports lots of climbers moving up and down on the mountain, now that all restrictions have been lifted. The Army team has now left BC and only the Liaison Officers remain. There are thirteen of the IMG climbers up at Camp 2 tonight, with two at Camp 1. Tomorrow, four of the climbers at C2 will be coming down to BC and the C1 climbers will go up to C2 tomorrow.

On the way down, NASA Everest Trek Blog

"When we finally made it to base camp we were greeted by a very happy and active Scott Parazynski. He was bounding across the rocks as we were barely catching our breath. To see him so positive gave us all a lot of energy. We took a lot of pictures around base camp, and the Khumbu ice fall."

1352.54 16522.56 More Funsterism

More on current - I had taken the EAC into account in the original back of envelope calculation, but ignored the equatorial current transit, thinking (actually assuming - silly child) the effect would be negligible. But it all gets taken into account by my conservative average of 4 knots overall - we'd be averaging close to 6 but for the current and we're getting about 4.5 now, in it.

Eric here, with an update on our IMG expedition team. First off, I have to say something about the tropical cyclone Nargis -- we were concerned last week that some of this storm in the Bay of Bengal might hit Everest (see dispatch #15).

McQ: little us

Crikey folks, its tomorrow already- where do the days go??? It has been a typical 'Simpsons' sky all day today- light baby blue with blobs of white cloud all over and it stayed like that for most of the day. Another magnificent sunset, presided over by the merest fingernail sliver of a moon way up above. The sky fully glowed bright bright orange for ages and the sea was lit up, flickering blue, then green then pinky red all the way from us to the horizon. Magic!!

WooooHooo-ish 1021.31 16416.44

The first almost cloudless night for ages and ages. Still humid and some haze but the universe is out there with attitude. Because of the haze, the stars don't have that magic clarity and definition you sometimes get out here but wonderful to behold. The Milky Way - that slash of dolphin phosphorescence across the whole sky, with (I think) Saturn just below it to the SE, Squornshellous Zeta up high and the Frogstar lurking green and slimy in the Coal Sack.

0830.34 16416.40 Berri to the Funsters!

Go the Funsters! Great to have you on board. Is there anything you want to know about what we are doing? We can try to answer your questions if you send them to us, but we have to keep it all short so that we can actually transmit your questions and our answers over the radio.

McQ: Burds and, if there is space, theirpocket warmers...

I saw a bird this afternoon. Now I am not especially good with birds but this was definitely a new one, and it was black. Except that might just have been the colour it looked as it was silhouetted in front of the sun! It had a pointy tail and looked like a smaller version of the bigger one with a pointy tail that we saw the other day. Pretty average bird really I am afraid and can't give you any more distinguishing features.

0459.00 16414.45

Just a quickie to say g'day. Amazing how the mood changes once the rain stops and there's been some sleeping. About to cross 5 N and into the trades, I hope. And half way is tantalisingly close - 361 miles - just over half a S2H. When McQ wakes, I think it might be time to open Kimbra's goody bag and find the one for tropical squalls...been there, done that!

0237.59 16400.04 Sillyoloquy

Polaris Lives! or rather, lurks. He's still in the murk layer but I can just see him. He's such a seemingly insignificant little pinprick for such an important place in our universe. A bit like the good Taoist leader - he's out there, leading, but not noticed by the punters - and therefore, presumably, neither loved nor hated, like lesser leaders. I grew up conscious of him from as early as I can remember - my dad, no doubt, had something to do with that. It's still a bit odd looking for him way below the pointers instead of above.