This morning at 5:24 o'clock, a huge avalanche destroyed camp 1 almost completely. The camp consisted of about 60 to 70 tents and only five of them were unaffected, among them that of our expedition.

Per hazard, I (Olaf) went down to the base camp this morning. So I, along with 5 Sherpas was one of the first at the catastrophe site, about one and a half hour after the disaster. And I will never forget this view. Where the colorful city of tents was there was a white expanse of ruins made of ice and rocks. First I passed the five intact tents, luckily the one of our expedition among them. Three persons were just making a radio contact to the base camp. They told us what happened. It takes about 5- 10 minutes from this point to get to the main camp 1. When setting our camp 1, we thought that this more advanced site would be more secure, which turned to be true. When we reached the main camp 1, there was a horror view: Complete destruction.

We found two injured under ruins. They had provisionally rebuilt a tent and were waiting for aid there. Two sherpas already cared for them. Another three injured called for help when they saw us. Carefully, we tried to get closer to them. This was very dangerous because the ways between the tents were not visible anymore and there are some cleavages in this area. We asked them what injuries they have and to what expedition they belong. All of them could answer and one of them wanted to descend of his own power. They told us that they belong to a big commercial expedition and asked us to descend to the basecamp in order to organize the rescue.

Because we had not any tools and only a tiny first-aid kit, I decided to follow their request. After about three forth of the descent to the basecamp, we met the first helpers. Apparently, the basecamp was already informed.

At the moment, nobody knows how many people have spent the night in camp 1. Three tent sites with 8 persons have survived the catastrophe. Because most expeditions use camp 1 only as an interim and depot camp, these 8 persons could be the only ones there when the avalanche came down.

when I phoned with Olaf last time, it still seems that, like a miracle, there are no deaths due to this avalanche

Beside this drama, there are some good news regarding our expedition. Thomas is on the mend and thinks about ascending the day after tomorrow. We have set camp 3 at 7250 m elevation. Lakpa, Nuri, Kami and me were there yesterday. It was a heavy work to carry the equipment the 800 meters difference in altitude up the Lhotse face.

The summit of Mt. Everest seems to be very close already there. But there are still 1600 meters difference in altitude left. But the perspective is completely different already. And I was knackered when I arrived at camp 2 at 6500 m.

Olaf: knackered after ascent to camp 3.

The plans for the next days are not made yet. I need a two or three days rest. Thomas have to ascend for further acclimatisation. The exact date depends on when he has overcome his cold completely.

Updates

Background

A German team will attempt the South side of Everest (Nepal). The final team: Olaf Rieck, Thomas Türpe, Lakpa Gelbu Sherpa, Jana Odrich.

all members are Germans except Lakpa Gelbu Sherpa (Nepalese)

all ascends listed below were without oxygen

Thomas Türpe: born 1961

1994        Cho Oyu (8201 m)

1996 Everest until 8400 m

1999 Cho Oyu (8201 m)

2000 Makalu (8463 m)

2001 Everest until 8700 m

2002    Cho Oyu (8201 m)

2003 Gasherbrum II (8035 m)

Jörg Stingl: born 1961

1996        Mt. Everest until 8500 m

1997 Cho Oyu until 7800 m

1998 Makalu until 8250 m

1999 Manaslu (8163 m)

2001 Mt. Everest  (8850 m)

2004 Nanga Parbat (8125 m)

Lakpa Gelbu Sherpa: born 1977

1996        Cho Oyu (8201m)

2000 Everest North (8850 m)

2001 Dhaulagiri (8167 m)

2003 Lhotse (8516 m)

2003 Everest South (8850 m)

Olaf Rieck: born 1964

1999        Cho Oyu (8201 m)

      Cho Polu (6735 m, first ascend)

2001 Gasherbrum II (8035 m)

      Hidden Peak until 6500 m

2002 Num Ri (6677 m, first ascend)

Olaf Zill: born 1966

2000        Makalu (8463 m)

2001 Mt. Everest until 8000 m

2002 Dhaulagiri (8167 m)

2003 Cho Oyu (8201 m)

Jana Odrich: born 1974

Island Peak (Imja Tse) 6189 m

Kilimanjaro 5 895 m