Home
   Today's News
   8000 Meters Facts
  
Banners Ads
   Bookstore
   Classified Ads
   Climb for Peace
  
Contact

   Downloads
   E-mail (Free)
  
Educational
  
Expeditions
  
Facts
  
Games
  
Gear
  
History
  
Interviews

   Mailing List
   Media

   Medical
  
News (current)
   News Archives
   Sat Phones
   Search
   Seven Summits
   Snowboard
   Speakers
   Students
   Readers Guide
   Risks

   Trip Reports
   Visitor Agreement

   Volunteer/help

 

    
  

 

  




  Mt. Everest 2005: Alpine Ascents Everest 2005: Everest Base camp


Update: May 20, Everest Base Camp
    
Everest Base Camp, May 20

I recalled the entire expedition to Base Camp yesterday due to continued very low temperatures up high and continued strong winds, forecasted to increase significantly in the next few days. Winds as high as 80 knots and temperatures of -37 degrees are in the forecast. There is a group of Koreans and two British-based groups trying to sneak in a summit bid before the strongest of the winds in two days. We wish them well, but this morning, which was supposed to be lower winds, dawned very breezy here at Base Camp with obvious signs of high winds on all the peaks in view around Base Camp. I don’t think that I care to be in their places right now, especially as I watch a rapidly growing lenticular cloud cap engulfing the summit of Pumori. So, now we play the immensely unpopular and difficult expedition waiting game at Base Camp along with most of the other expeditions here and reportedly on the north side of the mountain as well.

Yesterday the whole crew moved down very well and made it back to Base in around five hours. A bit of excitement for everyone’s entertainment occurred when Dave Morton bent over to pick up the fixed rope to attach it to himself for crossing a ladder over a crevasse, and his radio promptly jumped out from his clothing and committed suicide in the crevasse. David, being very conscientious about such matters, decided to rappel into the crevasse to attempt a rescue. The crevasse, however, had other ideas, and so we temporarily have a radio-active glacier (at least until the batteries go dead).

My crystal ball says that we will be here at least three days before going up again, perhaps longer. The collective waiting and boredom at Base Camp has spawned some interesting group activities. A few days ago, Kristina, the doctor for the Czech Republic team and a concert violinist in another life, put on a concert at the “Himalayan Rescue Association Plaza”, a magician worked his stuff much to the delight of all the Sherpas in attendance, and three official government liaison officers got up and performed a song for all. There is much visiting of other camps, tea drinking (and some much stronger drink as well), socializing, and an upcoming swap meet back at the HRA Plaza while everyone waits. (Ellie is trying to figure out how she can swap her camp booties full of holes for a new pair; perhaps if she finds someone who has imbibed a bit too much of the much stronger drink?)

Meanwhile, Nigel eats, Danielle has set up quite a business repairing all the fixed line damage to everyone’s gloves, David entertains us with his book of Spanish language jokes, the chess board and decks of cards are being exercised, and Tony continues on his work of casting actors for our upcoming (imaginary) film production. . .

Willi Prittie

Dispatches

Vern Tejas, Willi Prittie, Dave Morton, Jose Luis Peralvo, and Lakpa Rita Sherpa will lead the Alpine Ascent team on Everest this Spring. They will attempt the standard South East ridge route.

GUIDE STAFF (BIOS)

Lakpa Rita Sherpa
Senior Guide & Sirdar

Vern Tejas
Senior Guide

Willi Prittie
Senior Guide

Dave Morton
Senior Guide

Jose Luis Peralvo
Senior Guide

Ellie Henke
Base Camp Manager
CLIMBERS

Nigel Clark

Esther Colwill

Ron Farb

Kevin Grant

Cathy Groninger

Kent Groninger

Mostafa Mahmoud

Jeanne Stawiecki

Dianette
Strange-Wells

Tony Van Marken

David Liano

Danielle Fisher

 

Built to handle a myriad of different climbing pursuits, the Ultralight Universal is our best selling crampon. This crampon lives for trekking, glacier travel, or steep couloirs and snowfields. Totally adjustable Zytel straps make this crampon durable and easy to use. Fits everything from moon boots to flip-flops, our lightest crampon available. Weight: 590g Points: 10. See more here.

 






 

   Ascenders

   Atlas snowshoes

   Atomic

   Black Diamond

   Botas

   Brunton

   Carabiners

   CaVa Climbing Shoes

   Chaco

   Clearance

   Clif Bar

   Cloudveil

   CMI

   Crampons

   Edelweiss ropes
  
Eureka Tents

   Exofficio

   Featured

   FoxRiver

   Garmin

   Granite Gear

   Harnesses
  
Headlamps

   Hestra
  
Helmets

   HighGear

   HornyToad
  
Ice Axes

   Julbo

   Kavu Eyewear

   Katadyn

   Kelty

   Kong

   Lekisport

   Life is Good

   Lowa

   Lowe Alpine

   Lowepro

   Millet

   Motorola

   Mountain Hardwear

   Mountainsmith

   MSR

   Nalgene

   New England Ropes

   Nikwax

   Omega

   Patagonia

   Pelican

   Petzl

   PowerBar

   Princeton Tec

   Prescription Glacier

   Glasses

   Primus

   Rope Bags

   Salomon

   Scarpa

   Seattle Sports

   Serius
  
Sleeping Bags

   Stubai

   Suunto

   Tents

   Teva

   Thermarest

   Trango

   Tool Logic

   Trekking Poles
  
Yaktrax
  
and more here

 



Send email to  • Copyright© 1998-2008  EverestNews.com
All rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Visitor Agreement, Legal Notes: Read it