Everest 2006: The first Big Summit push of 2006 at Camp Two and on the move ...

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A professor of nutrition at the University of Maine and an employee of L.L. Bean leading the way? Two guys from Maine, with no Sherpa support and planning on going without oxygen are among the climbers at Camp Two in Tibet. Go Maine! They are reported to be strong so far....

John Bagnulo (the professor) and Bill Yeo (works of L.L.) are headed up! Will they fall behind those using oxygen? Only time will tell for sure, but one would expect them to fall behind the others because they are not planning on using oxygen... Bill Yeo was also planning on collecting soil on the way up. Hopefully he will cache it somewhere... Other currently with the Maine guys are expecting to summit 5/11/2006 in the morning Tibetan time.. (We expect a Summit call...!)

No news on the others who were in front on this group... Being mostly small groups and independents, not much news is expected until after they come down...

The Koreans and running a little behind, but have Sherpas with them... Others are lining up in line... The window appears open...

Update: We have learned that John and Bill decided to use oxygen...

Stay Tuned!

Earlier Update: Independent climbers led the way again, with the Austrians  making a dash for the summit but they bailed out, David from the UK made a solo push with no Sherpas and 2 bottles on oxygen, no radio. He was planning on Summiting on Sunday/Monday... Next more independents including some who don't wish to be named and the Koreans with Mr Park, who has summited the 14 8000 meters peaks, 7 Summits, etc etc are planning on attempting.... Then the commercial boys are expected to follow in the path.... However, some of the commercial teams will need much more time and put their clients on oxygen at camp 2 or below.... taking at long as 2 more full days to "summit" the mountain.

The BIG Snow after the BIG push? One weather report has a big snow coming on the 15th. Being a week away, who knows.... we will see it comes true....

News on other climbers: Ken Hill is back and all set, he said to be "the strongest non sherpa on the mountain, what a guy." We will see... soon enough, who is .... We will try to bring you news on many others climbers in the days ahead....

Some commercial expeditions has just gotten to ABC....

Everest remains a dangerous mountain with 4 deaths including one on the North on the Brice led commercial expedition already in 2006. 300 or more summits are expected again in 2006...

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