The nuts and bolts of assembling a major overseas expedition is daunting, sometimes maddening. A grueling full time summer guide schedule and responsibilities of the expedition leader, leave little room for rest.

"Badly needed day off yesterday. But still not sleeping well. Must be the pressure. Just too much going on in my life right now. Sepu looming large. Spent all of yesterday up until 3 working on Sepu stuff. Then had to blast over to Jackson to get a money order and Fed Ex all the passports off to the Chinese Embassy. I included a letter begging for 60-day visas. Have never gotten one from the Embassy before. Only been able to snag a 60-day visa from the consulate in San Francisco... The visas have been and are an ordeal: getting everyone's passports in to the Embassy, getting the letters of invitation from Tibet Mountaineering Assocation and Chinese Mountaineering Association (each vying for ultimate control over the trip--makes me wonder what sort of negotiations are going on for the $25,000 headed abroad), getting the proper list of participants, sketchy faxes all in Chinese that I do my best to decipher before Fedexing them off."
- Mark Newcomb
August, 2002

Behind all the logistical stress lies the certainty that climbing - especially in the big mountains - is a risky venture.

"So I guess that’s why it feels better to jump in head first, without too much planning or hope. I’m going to Tibet to be the athlete I know that I am, and to challenge myself, both physically and mentally in a new way - and hopefully we will all make it back in one piece. But we will, there is no reason why not. I can’t imagine anything but success. After all, I was born in a groove. At least, according to my sister. And she ought to know."
-Carina Ostberg
August 3, 2002