Mad about Everest - higher, higher!
Apr 21, 2004 17: 23 EST
It's only April 21 and climbers are already migrating to Camp 3 on the South side. This leaves time for the early birds to return to BC, rest up lower in the valley for a few days, and still be positioned for a first summit push in early May.
Today, Ed Viesturs and crew were first up for an overnight at Camp 3, perched on the icy, steep Lhotse wall. Now the rest follows, including Mountain Madness, who just shot off a last dispatch for a while, along with some nice pictures from the South route.
"From a conversation with Willie Benegas, guide (10:30 A.M. April 20, 2004)
The group is reported to be doing well. Tomorrow they will begin the final stage of their acclimatization process with a move to Camp 1. The plan is to spend a night there before moving up to Camp 2 where they will spend several nights. From there it’s a move to Camp 3 and one overnight there before moving back down to basecamp and the final big rest and preparation for the climb.
They hope to summit according to a schedule that puts them on top on May 16. There will be a break in dispatches for a few days, so look for more in about a week, or so. In the meantime, wish the group luck and good weather.
Mountain Madness is a US commercial outfit returning to the South Side of Everest this year. Leading the crew is Willie Benegas. Willie is an Everest veteran and last spring climbed a new route on Nuptse’s West Face. Also on the team is Murray Rice, Gene Rehfeld, Gary Ponder, and Sarah Henley will be the team’s Base Camp manager. Murray has been on previous expeditions to K2 and Everest.
Gene is a cream cheese dealer from Denver, Colorado who completed his fourth of the seven summits this past winter when he summited Vinson with Mountain Madness.
Gary Ponder rounds off the climbing team and isn’t a stranger to Everest’s South Side. Back in 2002 he made an attempt with Mountain Madness. Unfortunately he severely twisted his knee in the Khumbu Ice Fall and had to be evacuated from Base Camp. He had surgery soon and vowed to return in 2004. Gary kept his promise.
Image of Everest ice fall courtesy of Mountain Madness.
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