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Everest and Himalaya daily wrap-up: First evacuations before reaching BC!
Apr 8, 2005 12: 49 EST
Altitude is already affecting climbers and trekkers on their way to BC. Some teams are reporting coming across climbers who are unfit, and not properly equipped. Surprisingly, the first air evacuation has taken place, and one of the Everest teams was involved in the operation.
Meanwhile, high on Everest, weather conditions are far from improving. Blistering westerly winds and showers will engulf the mountain during the weekend.
Everest Weather
Very high winds during the weekend! A westerly jet from central Pakistan to Nepal moves in over ME-area, causing very strong winds which will peak during the weekend: 40-60 m/s (89-134 mph) at the summit level, 35-40 m/s (78-89 mph) at 7500m (24,606 ft). The forecast predicts that the force of the wind will decrease next week. Climbers in Base Camp may expect frequent showers and unsettled weather.
Everest North
Northern Irish
“It is now Friday. We are still in Kathmandu due to strikes and roads closure. We are now flying by helicopter to the Tibetan border tomorrow morning and on to Zangmu, hopefully.”
The Northern Irish are part of Seven Summits/ Alpindustria Russian Adventure team. Read more on the team’s alternative plans in a separate story published yesterday.
Esplugues al Everest
"Rest day in Periche,” reported the Catalans. “Cold and altitude are affecting some team members. However, we will proceed to Lobuche tomorrow.”
Sigrid Hammer and Aud Jovall
We’ve received a telegram-like report from the Norwegian girl’s home team:
“Sigrid called home from Base Camp, 5400 meters. Temperatures down to 12-13 below zero during night and 8-9 above during day. The girls will leave for Advance Base Camp at 6400 meters tomorrow. They also met the other Norwegian team, with Jon Gangdal.”
Everest South
Adventure Consultants
Check out the AC team’s latest report, including a rescue operation!
“Today the staff became involved in two rescue operations not involving our group. Doctor Rachel Harrison cared for the injuries while other staff members organized a helicopter evacuation. The ability of Adventure Consultants to supply oxygen aided in the safe transport of the injured.”
Spanish Valencia team
“Great flight to Kathmandu, guys! The plane from Spain to Qatar was almost empty, and we had plenty of room to make ourselves comfortable,” reported the young Spaniards. “We’ve seen some more military at the airport, but otherwise the town is quiet, far from what we expected.” The team is testing “a new oxygen system we will use on our climb” tomorrow. On Sunday they expect to take a plane to Lukla.
Kanatek expedition
This is -breathless- Terry last’s:
“The altitude is hurting us all since we left Lobuche. Just getting out of the tent can leave me breathless. However, despite the general fatigue and mild headaches, everyone in our party is doing relatively well. There are several other groups here and quite a few of the people are sick. A lot of people seem to have arrived totally unprepared for the experience with inadequate clothing and sleeping bags, little water and poor training. There was a helicopter up the mountain earlier in the day evacuating a hiker who had fallen too sick to make it down on his own”.
“We were also passed by an Everest marathon runner! She was a young French woman, Corinne Favre, who is a three time winner of the foot race from Base Camp back to Lukla. It was quite bizarre to see her fly by as we trudged, breathless, up the mountain. Through the fatigue, there is a growing sense of excitement as we get closer to Base Camp. Tomorrow will be another three hour climb before we arrive there in the early afternoon.”
Exploradus team
”Today we are leaving Pangboche and heading to the small village of Chukung”, explains Jim. “The village is located at the base of Island Peak. We are planning to stay two nights here to help acclimatize for our final push to Base Camp.”
BaseCamp MD
“We were warmly received by many folks…and happily reunited with several. We are photographed with old friend Apa Sherpa, who holds the world record for 14 successful Everest summits(!) and met with Will Cross who is attempting Everest for his second season on his bid for the 7 summits (a very motivated diabetic climber who is extraordinarily well educated about his condition.).”
“We were warmly received by Mr. Honda and his Japanese team, who delivered a lovely tray of sweets as a gesture of thanks that we’re on the mountain. We were amused to meet the Korean team and find them in possession of a Christina Aguilera DVD(?)”
“But when you truly want to be amused, Willie Benegas, one of my favorite people, will usually take the cake – this time, literally and figuratively, as he demonstrated the new Mountain Madness propane oven. We can’t wait to see what sort of culinary delights he serves up this season…”
Adventure Consultants
Singapore Mountaineers w/o O2
Singapore NUS Centennial expedition´s reports
Alpine Ascents Cybercasts
Jim Williams’ Exploradus dispatches
Dirk Stephan and Keith Woodhouse’s reports
Jean Pavilliard and Monica Kalodzi’s dispatches
International Mountain Guides dispatches
Mountain Madness dispatches
Climbing for a Cure’s dispatches
Esplugues al Everest (Catalan)
Jagged Globe dispatches
7 Summits/Harry Kikstra’s dispatches
Ed Viesturs' dispatches
Shaunna Burke and Ben Webster’s dispatches
Czech Expedition - Hornbein Couloir (English on the right side of page)
Gavin Bate’s – Adventure Alternative
Norway for Everest’s dispatches
Valencia expedition’s website (Spanish)
Canadian Kanatek expedition’s website
Sigrid Hammer’s website
Everest Vitesse 2005 (Italian)
Inaki Ochoa (Spanish)
Ivan Vallejo (Spanish)
Leipzig expedition´s news (German)
Silvio ‘Gnaro’ Mondinelli (Italian)
Japanese Team Honda’s website (Japanese)
Gabriel Filippi’s reports through Peak Freak
Live image over Contact 3.0 of the Adventure Consultants ‘rescue team’ courtesy of Adventure Consultants
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| Andrew Lock on Annapurna tragedy: "I wanted to keep on climbing" Jun 6, 2005 | | Gabriel Filippi and Sean Egan's soul, together on the summit of Everest Jun 6, 2005 | | "Supermom" Monica Kalozdi update: Everest Summit and hard descent Jun 5, 2005 | | Robert Milne dies during summit push Everest South Jun 5, 2005 | | Grania Willis summits Everest this morning Jun 5, 2005 | | ExplorersWeb Week-In-Review Jun 5, 2005 | | Himex summit - Update from climber Jun 4, 2005 | | No Mountain top too high, my Love Jun 4, 2005 | | Jagged Globe team summits again! Jun 4, 2005 | | More summits for DCXP/Project Himalaya this morning Jun 4, 2005 |
| | End of season... Jun 4, 2005 | | Ranulph Fiennes turns back on Everest Jun 3, 2005 |
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