Back in business

Today it is exactly two months to the start of my journey to the highest mountain in the world. It is only two weeks since I returned from Aconcagua, but preparations for the next, even bigger challenge, must already be in full speed. These two weeks have been filled with work, as after three weeks away from home I had the everyday chores waiting for me including maintenance of not only the beaten-up gear but also the beaten-up climber. A big chunk of my time has also been taken by the media work with several newspaper, journal and radio interviews of which the articles of Helsingin Sanomat and Aamulehti that have already been published can be soon found under the Media-link. Only now, after a few weeks of recovery exercises and now that the busiest media hassle has ceased, I feel like I ’m back to my normal routines and preparations for Everest can start fully.

Last week on Friday I had the honour of participating in an event organised by the Embassy of Nepal, where individuals and companies that have promoted the relations between Nepal and Finland were rewarded. Those rewarded were all Mt Everest summiteers and summiteers of other significant mountains in Nepal, travel agencies and journalists. In addition to the ambassador giving a speech at the event, WWF ’s Development co-operation expert Sami Tornikoski spoke about sustainable travel and also about our future co-operation in the Himalayas. Among those awarded were many familiar faces and people who have helped me in my project: adventurer Patrick "Pata" Degerman, journalist Artturi Kröger and Personal trainer Arri Leino just to mention a few, but also some new climber acquintances. One of them was Tuomas Sovijärvi, who together with Samuli Mansikka summited Ama Dablam in 2005 and whose next challenge is the amazing adventure race "Patagonian Expedition Race". You can read more about his project from here: www.sovijarvi.com.

Last week I also had two great training days enjoying good company and the amazing Finnish winter. The freezing cold temperature and windy weather was perfect for training for Everest. On Thursday morning I trained together with Tuomas in Uutela, Helsinki and the day ’s sport was deep snow training. Three hours went by quickly playing in the snow in the woods and on the windy frozen sea. On Friday it was time for some snow shoeing in the woods of Oittaa, Espoo and on the frozen lake of Bodom together with Mia. The weather was slightly warmer but as windy as on Thursday. Mia is also going to make Finnish female climbing history by climbing the Himalayan peak Cho Oyu 8201 meters this spring. The wonderful snow shoeing day was crowned by a dip in the icy water and sauna.

Below links will give you access to some photos from the Aconcagua climb and last week ’s training.

http://picasaweb.google.com/cr30169/Aconcagua_

http://picasaweb.google.com/cr30169/TrainingWithTuomasSovajarviAndMiaGraeffe_

You are also welcome to join our group in Facebook: Tango Expedition 2010: Mount Everest

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=165468041729&ref=ts

More news soon,

Carina