This is Scott again.  This’ll be my last entry until I get back from the summit of the mountain, hopefully here in a few days.  But just want to comment on the real expeditionary nature of being here in the wilds for now 54 days and counting. 

This really is a way station up… towards the summit of Mt. Everest just like the International Space Station is for places beyond Earth orbit.  Days are long and its time away from family, which can be very difficult.  Fortunately communications are better these days and we can call our families and, at least from Station, have access to news and some of the creature comforts of home.  It hasn’t been so easy here on Everest this season just because of some of the communications issues we had. 

But I’ll tell you one of the great highlights of my stay here was the [garbled] folks led by Sabrina Singh who’s one of our EVA Flight Controllers.  Came in earlier this month bringing cards and letters and a care package from home and friends from the Astronaut Office.  It was just a wonderful thing.  It felt very much like what I imagine a shuttle visiting crew feels like to an ISS expedition who’s been up there for several months.  Bye.