Happy Graduation!

Hi everyone! Wish I could be there for 5th grade graduation today!! (it's actually only 4:00 am there right now)
I miss you all and can't wait to see you when I get back to Colorado.
The climb was difficult, but completely worth the hard work. . .like a lot of things in life huh? Hope everyone is well - school's almost out!! Yay!
:)
Mrs. Chalk

Dear Ms.Chalk,
We're glad you made it to the summit :). Hope you'll be back very soon. We want to know all about this someday. Maybe you should write a book (only if you want to). We can't beleave you made it to the summit of Mount Everest. No actually we can. From some of us to you, I can't wait untill you come back. I miss you so much-Sara, Congradulations!!!!!!!I miss you so much!!!!!! -Emi. Also ROCK ON MRS. CHALK -Evan, Awesome!!! Can't wait to see you!!- Jonny. Live, Love, Laugh.-Todger. And We are all so Happy you made it-Class. See you soon-Ricky.We are so proud of you.

Love,
Your 5th grade Class of 2010

Hi Todger, Carey, and Jen! 
First off I am sorry I haven't been in touch more, we were a bit misled and internet at basecamp is basically non existent. .. today we walked about 4 hours to the closest village with internet.. we'll stay here and rest and eat good food and then head back to basecamp tomorrow or the next day.  

If you could, would you mind reading this email top the class and/or posting it on the blog?? (maybe sara will want to help with that :)   )  I actually wrote it the other day in basecamp while thinking of you all, but couldn't send it until now . . 

It's funny, here most people avoid thinking about thier jobs and even dread going back to work, but I think of you all fondly and often.  When you  are doing the pledge in the morning and getting ready to begin your day, we are just finishing up dinner.  We try to stay in the mess tent (where there is a gas heater) and hang out playing cards and drinking tea in the warmth before we retreat to our sleeping bags. Sometimes I lose track of what day it is, but on weekdays I think of you all getting settled at your desks - I wonder how they are arranged now - and think about what special you have that day.  
I'm sure things have changed since I've been gone, and I wish I could see you all and read your latest stories or see your latest drawings.  The Sand Dunes trip is coming up and I'm sure you are excited for that.  I wish I could be there, but hopefully you'll think of me as you are climbing to the top or laying  (probably talking and giggling) in your tent at night.  
As for us, this triphas been amazing and challenging. The mountains here are beautiful and the Nepalese people are wonderful.  The climb has been difficult on days and enjoyable on others.  At times in the ice fall or listening to the glacier shift I have been scared, only to get through it and look back thinking it wasn't that bad.  Climbing the Lhotse face to camp 3 was very steep and terribly exhausting.  There were times when I thought I couldn't make it. .. but I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and eventually got there. :)
Brandon's challenge hasbeen the food here - there are no corndogs :) . . .actually, it is harder to digest food because of the lack of oxygen and he has been sick often because of the change of diet.  
However, through these challenges and missing you all terribly, we are still excited to be here because you really don't know what you can do until you challenge yourself.  
So now we are just waiting for good weather.  Even when it seems nice at base camp, the winds can be blowing 60mph at the summit, so we are reading a lot and going for day hikes to stay in shape and wait for the good summit weather - looks like maybe around the 24th.
I want you all to know how much I think of you and miss you.  I'm sorry again for the lack of communication. . .we can get text messages on our phone from www.irridium.com(I think Jen and Carey, you got the #) 
Lots of hugs to everyone!! :) Can't wait for ice cream party round 2 when I return :) !! 
Mrs. Chalk

HI!!!!

Mrs.Chalk
How are you? We're fine but have been having a lot of testing. We got your email and hope you summit soon. We all miss you so, so,SO much.
We wish you clear skies-
The 5th grade
P.S. Mr.Treat says hi

Hello from Everest!

Hi everyone!! The blog is great, it was so fun reading everyone's notes. This was the first time I've been able to check it, unfortunately internet is not working well and skype will not be possible from basecamp. We walked 4 hrs to the nearest village with internet and I sent Todger and Ms. Pinkus a note to you all.
Sounds like everyone is doing well in Vail! I miss you all and can't wait to see you this summer. . .hopefully we can have a big ice cream party and slide show of pictures :)
We will head back up to basecamp tomorrow. . then hopefully get some good weather within a week to start heading for the summit!!
I think the best way to contact us is by texting the satellite phone, www.irridium.com, click "send satelite text message" and our number is: 881632512929

Unfortunately we cannot text back, but you can unpdate us on everything that you are doing ! :)

When is 5th grade graduation?? I can't believe you are all going to be 6th graders soon!! Wow!!
Big hugs to everyone!
Mrs. Chalk

catching up

Dear Mrs. Chalk,
The mountain is closed but it is still dumping snow. Sadly there has been no snow days. How's the weather on Everest? We hope your having a good time. We are having fun here . We miss you and wish you luck.




From, your class

Comments

Dear Mrs. Chalk,

Hi Mrs . Chalk! How are you! We are gathering comments from the class. So here we go. 

Hi, Its me Natalie.Schools great, and we are just finishing our state posters.

We all miss you!!!!!!!

-Natalie

Hey Mrs. Chalk.We miss you!!

-Emi

Hi. How are you? 

-Brian

Hi Mrs. Chalk! I miss you so much! I can't wait until you come back. BYE!!!!!!

-Sara

School is going great and our state posters look amazing. We all miss you!

-Izzy

Have fun on Mt. Everest!

-Robert

Dear Mrs.Chalk! Hi! I really miss you. We are just finishing our state projects. Where are you now?

-Sue

Hello Mrs. Chalk! Were just finishing our state projects. Miss you! Bye!

- Amanda

Hi Mrs. Chalk! I was wondering if you could visit MY blog. Its frogarmy.blogspot.com

Thanks!

- Rickey

Greetings Mrs. Chalk! I wish you luck. I hope you reach the summit.

- Julia

Hi Mrs. Chalk! I was wondering if you could visit my blog at mileawaytoad.blogspot.com

-Ethan

Hello Mrs. Chalk, snow here is very thin. we hardly have any.

-Halsey

 Hi Mrs. Chalk. I miss you. Climb safe.

- Mariah

Hi, Mrs. Chalk! How is Mt. Everest. How are you? Are you having the time of your life. In school we are finishing up our state posters, having lots of fun. We miss you dearly. I am positive you will make it to the summit!

-Lynn

Hi Mrs. Chalk! I miss oh so very very much! I see the future... your life-long dream is about to come true!

You WILL make it to the summit of the tallest mountain in the world!

Peace

- Danielle

    Signed

The Everstudents of Red SandStone Elementary

Dear Mrs. Chalk,

How is Everest? Here we are in a winter wonderland. How is the weather there?Our state projects are going well. We just finished theme thirteen. When do you think we can get together on Skype? We are all yearning to see you and miss you very very VERY much. Two more weeks of skiing and snowboarding then its all over. Has anyone ever skied on Mt. Everest? If so, it must have been such a thrill.

We wish you luck and clear skies.

Peace

The Everstudents of Red Sandstone Elementary

                                         

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Mrs Chalk, 

We heard that you were taking the South Col Route. We hope you will have fun on the oldest Route to the summit. But here's a taste of what we are doing here in Vail. The school luckily has not fallen to the ground, considering the mob of children who hustled out of the school to see Lindsey Vonn's homecoming, Its surprising it hasn't! Also Ms.Pinkus is extremely kind.

   We received a bunch of letters from the states. We went to the 3rd and final Jazz goes to school that will be performed at RSES this year. Next week we go to the Vilar Center to see them perform there. They may even be singing a Blues song us 5th graders were allowed to create.

     We will be updating the blog as often as we can. All of us miss you exceedingly much.

We wish you well.

                                 Take care,

                                       The Everstudents of Red Sandstone Elementary

P.S  Live,Love,Laugh 

Layover,. . .

Hi guys! I'm in the Hong Kong airport, just had an incredibly long flight (14 hrs.) and now we have a long layover - but at least there's a Ben and Jerry's here :) can't wait to actually arrive in Nepal! Hope you all are enjoying your spring break! Mrs. Chalk

Our 5th grade teacher Mrs. Chalk is about to go climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world at 29,035 ft. We will be updating this blog as we hear from her. Help us wish for good luck and good weather for her!