Mt. Everest 2005: Alpine Ascents Everest 2005:  Vernon Tejas and David Liano are pushing up to Camp 4 at the South Col

Update: May 29 Camp II
    
Well, the hard-headed contingent are still here at Camp 2 waiting it out for the (hopefully not) bitter end. Vernon Tejas and David Liano are pushing up to Camp 4 at the South Col today after a good night at Camp 3. They report only moderate winds, but just above all the climbers heading up today is a nature photographers dream of bizarre lenticular cloud forms, always changing. These types of clouds always mean high winds and bad weather. As the afternoon has progressed, the winds have dropped and the clouds have dissipated and the latest news is that they will attempt the summit tonight.

The rest of us will be headed up tomorrow to Camp 3 to follow in their trail. Our primary weather forecast source, Michael Fegan, is very optimistic of dropping winds for June 2 and 3. So, that is the final hope of getting a crack at the summit for the rest of us. Beyond that date the warming temperatures at Base Camp and above are going to make the Khumbu Icefall increasingly dangerous, especially for our hardworking and dedicated Sherpa staff who will be cleaning the mountain of our gear and garbage after us. Warming temperatures mean ice and snow anchors melt out more quickly which makes the fixed safety ropes and ladders we rely upon less reliable, not to mention the increased risk of icefall (ice avalanche) as the glacier's movement speeds up in response to warmer weather. We have established a firm end date of June 5 for everyone and everything to be back at Base Camp for this reason.
So, here we go. . .

Mostafa Mahoud of Jordan has also left the expedition to head home. I decided that the risk to his health from his developing stomach ulcer too great for him to remain at high altitude any longer. We have a special note to King Abdullah of Jordan. I would personally like to thank the Jordanian royal family (his sponsor), as well as all the Jordanian people following his progress. Not only is Mostafa a good climber and excellent team member, but he is a wonderful human being and I feel privileged to now call him my friend. Mostafa: The mountain will always be here; you just make sure you will be too.

Willi Prittie, May 29, Camp 2

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

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A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

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