10:06 am CDT May 21, 2008
(MountEverest.net) Project-Himalaya Jamie McGuinness called ExWeb from the summit of Everest, reporting plenty of climbers enroute or on top. More are expected up tomorrow and Friday.
Meanwhile, also Lhotse has been topped out and more summit reports keep arriving from Makalu. On Annapurna, the situation is still serious but at least Iñaki and Alexey are alive, and a rescue is underway.
Today’s summit reports
First summit news from Everest today was reported by Mountain Madness team (check a separate story published earlier today).
Shortly afterwards, Dominique was the first Peak Freaks member to reach the top. According to the team’s latest report Larry, Scott and George were closing in as well. Leader Tim Rippel was in between everyone, watching for Farouq and Sultan who were behind. Tim said everyone was moving slow as there were about 50 people in front of him. Saad Naseer aborted his speed ascent attempt.
Project-Himalaya team members, including leader Jamie McGuinness, also topped out. Listen to Jamie’s live voice message from the summit here!
Alan Arnette did not climb with Project-Himalaya (as earlier stated on ExWeb) but with Mountain Professionals (small team led by Ryan Waters). Extremely tired, Alan turned aborted at the Balcony and decided to return to Camp 4, according to his home team.
“At 6:23am (Nepal time) Danuru (#10), Dawa (#6), Casey (#2), and Ari reached the summit,” IMG Leaders Mark Tucker and Ang Jangbu reported. “Bob and Nima Karma turned at the South Summit on the way up and are now back to the Col. Vance, Chip, Joe, Adam and Kurt were on their way from C3 to C4.” In a later dispatch, IMG confirmed the summiteers had safely reached back in C4.
Spaniards Pepe Baena and Ricardo Guerrero, members in Cordoba Everest team, summited around 11:00 am, local time, after a 10 hours-long climb from C4. Also Spaniards Xavi Arias, Xavi Aimar and Lina Quesada have topped out.
SummitClimb team members Matt, Barry, John (Irish), John (from UK) and Ken reached C4 yesterday, planning to summit today. Andrew Brash, currently in C3, congratuated “Ken and the guys,” for having summited Everest in the morning.
Nepal Government still restricting comms?
While most teams seems to be able to use their sat-phones, Alpine Ascents’ crew in US has posted the following note: “We are still operating under limited communications based on the government restrictions,” they stated. AA team planned to reach C3 today.
Everest teams lower down
Andrew Brash arrived in C3 today. “Tomorrow morning it's to the south col for us, and then summit night on the 22nd/23rd - no pressure,” he reported.
Adventure Consultant climbers are still holding in C2. “This morning we were greeted by the longest trail of bodies from Camp 3 towards Camp 4, anyone, even our Sherpa staff had ever seen,” they reported yesterday. “This made us happy, it hopefully means fewer people on our summit day.”
François-Guy Thivierge’s expedition, also comprising Sébastien Audy and two Sherpas, will attempt to reach the top tomorrow.
Mountain trip team members are also having a rest day in C2 today.
Lhotse: Summits, further news expected, and a rescue
Back in C3 at 7000m, Arnold Coster has reported on member Harris and Lhakpa Sherpa topping out yesterday, in spite of pretty strong wind. Maya Sherpa, Jangbu Sherpa and Arnold himself eventually turned around due to the windy conditions.
Spaniard Rosa Fernández also summited yesterday, together with a Sherpa and using supplementary O2. She had set off from C2.
As for today’s summits, there are good news from Asian Trekking international team: at 8.45 am, local time, Dawa Steven bagged his third 8000er after Cho Oyu and Everest. Team mates Stuart G. Smith, from Texas, Mexican David L. González, Nima Kanchha Sherpa, Peba Tshering Sherpa, and Palden Nyange Sherpa followed shortly after.
After some rest back in BC, Dawa will attempt Everest together with his fellow mates from eco Everest team.
Meanwhile, news is expected from Italians Mario Merelli and Marco. “There’s been lots of rumors, but no confirmed information yet,” Patricia from Mario’s home team stated. “Earlier today, Silvio Mondinelli told me from BC that Mario and Marco should be moving towards the summit at that moment.”
Carlos Pauner has just reported from C4. He was extremely tired, and reported he had turned around shortly before the summit.
Yesterday, there was also a rescue going on on Lhotse: a rock slide hit some tents in C4, injuring a member in a military team from Jaca, Spain. Francisco Borja was hit in the leg and had to be helped all the way down by his mates, who needed the entire night to bring him safely back to BC.
Makalu: Summits and retreats
Joao García is back in BC from Makalu summit, recovering form an exhausting climb in cold conditions. He reported on Andrew (Australian Andrew Lock) and Hector having reached the summit three hours ago. This would mark Lock's 8000er number 13, with only Shishapangma left.
Catalan climbers Blanca Ardanaz and Jordi Servosa phoned yesterday from BC. They had summited on May 18 at 1:00 pm, local time, without O2 or Sherpas. The two climbers succeeded in their first shot, starting from C2. Blanca had previously summited Broad Peak last year, while Jordi had attempted Everest in 2006. They shared permit with the Basque Expedition.
Andalusians and Basques have finally called from C4 , after turning around on a summit bid on May 19, due to rough weather conditions.
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