Scott Hamilton Wednesday, May 5 Pheriche Village, Nepal

May 5th was a full day of medical research and humanitarian healthcare in Pheriche Village, which team members refer to as "The Home of Wind". The conditions were particularly difficult with high winds causing great clouds of blowing dust, combined with bright sunlight that made ventilation a necessity. Our replacement generator arrived after being transported to Syangboche Village via helicopter, then via porter to catch up with the E-3 research team in Pheriche. Upon filling it with fuel we discovered a major fuel leak caused by a defective fuel line. Of course we had no spare available. Jim Williams and Scott Hamilton went to work, scavenging a piece of breather hose to serve as a substitute, then determined that the original cause of the problem was a misaligned fuel bowl on the carburetor. After disassembling, repairing, and then reassembling the critical components the generator ran perfectly. Problem solved.

Dr. Ken Kamler and Dr. Nick Craig were literally swamped with patients from the Village and the E-3 team kept its medical clinic open until sunset, when the last patients were finally treated. Interesting patients included a patient who had been run over by a yak, a 14 month old infant with pneumonia, and a women complaining of "insects in her teeth", no kidding!

May 6th was a long and difficult day for the E-3 team as they trekked from Pheriche, through Dugla Village (2 buildings) enroute to Lobuche Village at an altitude of over 16,000 feet. Along the steep and narrow trail lies a sacred spot known as the Sherpa Memorial, a graveyard of sorts covered with monuments to those who have lost their lives on Everest. The spot is eerie, sacred, covered with cairns dedicated to unknown souls as well as small chortens with names painstakingly chipped into the stones. Friends and family pay their respects here by placing small white stones, sprigs of juniper, a silk scarf, or prayer flags on the monuments. The backdrop is a spectacular combination of Himalayan Peaks including Tawochee, Tamserku, Kantega, and other summits covered with snow and ice while clouds swirl among them. A spectacular and spiritual place.

Pyramid. The manager of the Pyramid, GianPietro Verza, also known as "Peter", most graciously and generously allowed the E-3 project to utilize the research and laboratory facilities located at the Pyramid. Peter serves as the Manager of the Research Facility, and is also a Mountain Guide and Electronic Designer. The pyramid shaped aluminum and glass research facility is located at 16,568, and is designed to study climatic and environmental changes, physiology and human medicine in extreme conditions, and technological research. The "Pyramid Lobuche" is currently engaged in a project known as EV-K2-CNR, and has been extremely generous to the E-3 project in allowing us to use their facility. We sincerely thank Peter and the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research, the Italian National Research Council for the use of their facility. More information can be found at www.mountnet.net

The jinxed baggage of Dr. Chris Macedonia. For some reason it seems on each expedition the baggage of one member becomes jinxed. For reasons that cannot be explained this persons bags are often misplaced or late. On the E-3 project this person is Dr. Macedonia. On the flight to Lukla his bags failed to make the first cargo flight. In Namchee Bazzar his bags were left behind by a yak driver who decided they were "too heavy". In Pheriche his bags were the last to arrive...slow porters. Yesterday we gave his bags priority treatment, to make sure they arrived in Lobuche on time. The saga continues...the yak driver was later found out to be drinking "chang" local moonshine. In a "drunk driving" incident he seems to have driven his yak off the trail at one point, slightly injuring the yak, and therefore unable to transport baggage. When we finally learned of this mishap we sent two porters back down the trail to retrieve his bags. Once again the bag of Dr. Chris Macedonia were the last to arrive in camp.

Scott Hamilton