Reconciling training and family life is, without a doubt, the biggest problem that each "mountaineer" faces daily and we don't escape from this rule.

Nobody knows why, but the wife of every lover of mountain, loves the sea. But this time, the choice of Salina, one of the most peaceful of the Aeolian Islands and in particular the choice of Pollara, the most peaceful places of the most peaceful island of Aeolian , was excellent.

Indeed, in Salina there are two mountains respectively 962 and 860 meters above sea level, making it possible to train daily on appreciable differences in height.

So the compromise is: wake up at 6.00 0'clock to climb the "Monte dei Porri" and breakfast at 8.00 with my wife, and then a day of sea and snorkeling in a crystalline sea.

The hotel chosen is the "Locanda del Postino", a wonderful structure of only 8 rooms, furnished in style and with large patio with hammock attached.

A dream between caper plants, palms, lemon and an unparalleled view of the most beautiful sunset.

Well, what can i say, good compromise between training and vacation ...

Like the nightmare of our college years, the sentence is done, we must repeat in september! Being the Tibet situation and the controversial communications of several CTMA officers we have decided to delay the expedition to the post monsoon season. Several meeting and telephone calls are done in order to redefine the better period, the permits and visa dates and in order to write up the new program.

The projects and the tests are confirmed. We are straining ourselves to find the positive aspects of the situation, but the sadness of the tibetan situation does not allow us to appreciate the greater time for training and to define the details of the projects.

By the news from Kathmandu, the solution of the Himalayas north situation does not seem therefore simple.

In the meantime we dedicate to physical preparation and the equipments test, in one stressing wait that we will attenuate following friends organization of the Trekking, that remains scheduled for end of April and beginning May, obviously to south of the border between Nepal and Tibet.

Prolongedding of the wait is heavy for all and now we have a more reasons in order hoping that the Tibet condition is resolved if never our moral convictions were not enough.

In the reunion of February 22, the Central Managing Committee of the Italian Alpine Club has deliberated the support to the Cho Oyu 2008 expedition. With synthetic but important couminicaton the CAI secretary Emanuela it anticipates via email the letter to us that we will reach by ground mail.

I've received the news in Orlando FL (USA) where we are setting the extreme environment rescue device prototypes that we will test in the expedition, at the moment all must remain "RESTRICTED" as they say. Through all the engagement that interfere with the physical training, the news make me happy.

(first of all forgive our English) :-)

Well, now we have Climbing Permit for Cho Oyu released by the Tibetan Mountaineering Association! The phone call from Ngima began with this premise.

The work of the organisation is to dispatch one of the steps along the arduous path. And let's leave the cost ....

The trip is scheduled, now starting the medical check-up on the components and stages of training to use the devices to be tested in clinical instruments for medical tests at high altitude, while continuing training.

What can we say? Good work!