Sherpa Man Bahadur (right), also known as Gopal, is buying silk scarves for the Buddhist Lama to place around each team member's neck, as well as prayer flags, incense and rice, all of which will receive the Lama's blessing. The incense, rice, juniper branches and other items will be burned in a fire at basecamp. The Sherpas will not go on the mountain until this ceremony is accomplished. The prayer flags, which have also been blessed, will be flown the entire time we are on the mountain. Gopal has summited Everest on three previous expeditions.

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