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April 11, 2003 - Generations on Everest are making headway towards the North side of Everest, they departed Kathmandu on April 4th. On this expeditions are two of the first Americans to summit K2. Jim Wickwire and John Roskelley were both member's of Jim Whittaker's first successful US expedition to K2 back in 1978. John Roskelley also became the second person ever to summit K2 without the use of supplementary oxygen on that expedition. Interestingly enough, both Wickwire and Roskelley have not summited Everest, though they have tried - 3 times for Wickwire. Also on the expedition is Roskelley's 21 year-old son, Jess. Should he make Everest's summit, Jess will be the youngest American to do so. Jim Wickwire had planned on climbing Everest with double amputee Ed Hommer, who made a previous attempt during the fall of 2001. Unfortunately Ed died in a mountaineering accident not too long ago - Jim and John are climbing in their friend's honor. Oldest to the summit American Dick Bass will also be on the expedition. He completed the 7 summits back in 1985, at which point he was the oldest to summit Everest at the age of 55. He remained the oldest until 1993 when a 60 year-old Spaniard took the honor of eldest Everest summiter. This year, Dick is 73 years old and should he make the top he will again reclaim the title of oldest person to summit Everest, by quite a margin. Currently the oldest is a Japanese climber who summited in May of 2002 at the age of 65. Do you think the Nepali government is going to start offering senior citizen's discounts anytime soon? Another climber on Everest this year also has the possibility of being oldest to summit Everest. Yuichiro Miura, who is 70 years old will be on the opposite side of Everest and could potentially be the oldest person to summit should Dick Bass not make it. Yuichiro made his first mark on Everest back in 1970 when he didn't reach the summit, but did become the first person to ski down Everest - aided by a parachute. This time Yuichiro will leave the skis home and is setting his sights for the summit. Resources: Expedition homepage.. Oldest Everest summiters on AdventureStats.com.. List of K2 summiters on AdventureStats.com.. List of Seven Summiters, Kosciuszko version.. Back to MountEverest.net.... |
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