You will have noticed from your newspapers that there continues to be discussion and uncertainty over the future of this year's Everest climbing season. Some teams have pulled out while others remain in hope that a resolution can be found. There are several factions in the debate and any suggestion that this is simply a disagreement between the Sherpas and the Western companies is well wide of the mark. I assure you my group has not and would not force our excellent team of Sherpas to do anything beyond their will and are acutely aware of their predicament. By way of example of the complexity the Nepalese Prime Minister, First Minister, and other senior government dignitaries flew in to base camp this morning for a meeting with Sherpa leaders. Western climbers were not involved. Given the sensitivity of the situation you would not expect me to join the debate. However I ask that you do not believe everything you read, hear or see in the media. If it becomes clear that no accommodation can be found between the protagonists we will withdraw. Until then we stay in the hope of yet being able to climb the most magnificent Mt Everest.