Maoist attack update: Alex joins expedition in Everest Base Camp
Apr 19, 2005 10: 37 EST
10 days ago the guys were targets of a Maoist attack but now things are calming down. Sergey returned to Moscow Saturday and Alex Abramov arrived at Everest BC yesterday, joining his team at last. This is his latest report:
All set, including toilet
"I have just arrived in BC and was met very friendly and warmly. Everything is practically ready here: tents, shower, mahogany toilet.
The expedition members are working according to our plan, they have been here for 4 days already. Tomorrow the yaks are leaving for ABC - 40 yaks have left already and 40 more are leaving tomorrow. So, 80 all in all, and 20 yaks have been to Middle Camp already bringing our loads.
Two Slovenians, Victor and Marko, are in IBC (5800 m) now. They are going to spend 2 days there and then move to ABC. Tomorrow 7 people with Nikolay Cherny as a leader: Iakovenko, Dusharin, Semenov, James Wilde, are leaving for acclimatization; first in IBC and the day after tomorrow in ABC.
Plans for the North Col ascent will depend on the weather. Other teams are also planning to start for IBC and the day after tomorrow for ABC.
The weather is rather good, though the wind is pretty strong - but our camp is in a saddle, so we are well protected from the wind. We bought hoses in Katmandu and found a small lake with pure water on a glacier just 150m above us. So our expedition is well provided with the pure water."
Saturday, April 9, Alexander Abramov and Sergey Kaimachnikov were hit by a Maoist hand grenade as they traveled in a cab behind their expedition convoy. Alex still has shrapnel in his body, Sergey had a complicated injury to his leg. Sergey was airlifted back to Russia and Alex continued to Tibet and his Everest expedition.
Alex made quite a name for himself here at ExplorersWeb. He was the one to drive a Land Rover to the top of Elbrus and crashed it coming down, he was the one who slaughtered his own BC food on Everest two years back, and finally the expedition leader of our team mate's climb to the summit of Mount Everest this past spring.
This year, Alex joined hands with Harry Kikstra of 7summits.com, forming the 7summits-club.
Harry and extra guide Nickolai Cherni are leading Lynne Stark, Hanna Noel Richmond, Nate Schneider, and Lorenzo Gariano. Nikolay Cherni has 6, 8000ers and was a co-leader of the Russian Central North wall expedition last year. Lynne Stark will attempt to be the first woman from Northern Ireland to climb Everest.
Alexander Abramov guides the rest with extra guide Ivan Dus. The entire expedition offers a full service outfit with 11 climbing Sherpas (all Everest summiters), and an expedition Doc. There are 18 expedition members in total.
Image of Alex in Everest BC courtesy of 7summits-club.
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