The Big Day

Today is April 4th and I am leaving. Here is a picture with all of my hair cut off and my 3 big bags with my stuff which I will be using over the next 2 months.

Slept well last night after a big workout yesterday so I am ready.

Stepped on the scales and I am weighing in at 97. 6 kilos Pretty close to where I wanted to start. I believe when i return I will be less than 90 Kilos so it will be interesting to compare when i get back home.

Take care and keep the support coming.

The RED SHIRTS are coming

sitting in the restaurant today and enjoying a little relax time before I leave and the waitress tells me that I need to pay and go home.

apparently the Red Shirts have shut the town down and everything was closing in the next 20 mins.

I made it home safely but the amount of people and the chaos was unbelievable.

One more interesting day in living in a foreign country.

I am sure it will be a long night in BKK.

The Time has COME!!!!

Time is running out and I am ready to go. The last few weeks have been quite stressful with work,travel, saying goodbye to friends/family and the anticipation/preparation of the climb.

I got my satellite phone set up and downloaded my Internet connection this week so I should be ready to keep communication going while I am away.

Jim Williams ( my guide) emailed yesterday and told the the Heinz 57 and black pepper was heading up the mountain today. Got to have something when all the food starts tasting the same about week 3.I have a MT Dew for the summit day. I just hope I can hold off drinking it before then.

I have had quite a few restless nights over the past 2 weeks as I think about this climb that I have been anticipating for almost 3 years.

Believe me I have asked myself many times in the last couple weeks " What the Hell are you doing Steve" but I keep moving forward to this dream of mine.

I only wish that I could have some of my buddies with me that I have climbed with over the past 7 years but as I always say "It is what it is" and you have to deal with it but I will be thinking of all the times we had all over the world together.

I have had so many nice comments/emails from many of you and I hope it continues for the next few weeks to help me get to the top of this damn mountain and back home safely. Thanks for all of your support