Disabled
mountaineer Gary
Guller will attempt to summit Mt. Everest,
the highest mountain in the world at 8,850m,
in Spring 2001. While any attempt at Everest
is one of the greatest challenges one could
undertake, Gary's attempt will be especially
personal. In 1986, Gary suffered a spinal cord
injury in a climbing accident. His neck was
broken and the nerve roots going to his left
arm were pulled out of the spinal cord.
Despite experimental surgery, the paralysis
was irreparable and he made the decision to
have his left arm amputated.
May
15:
The biggest storm we've had during the
expedition hit the mountain last night. Thunder
and lightning with heavy snow at all levels.
Mike, Tunc and I remain positive - some might
say against all odds!
The
weather is forecast to be bad until 19 May
(our most accurate long-term prediction).
The last possible summit date is 27 May,
although in theory 28 May is an option-
provided we run down the mountain after
attempting the summit. This gives us
another 11 days or so, and within this
period we will need settled weather before
we can go back up. The main problems are
the deteriorating conditions in the Ice
Fall and more importantly, in terms of the
summit, the depth of snow above the South
Col. We understand that this may be the
worst Everest weather on record since
1974.
We've
had two members of the Arun support trek
with us for the last three days. Erica and
Rich have been great company and will be
missed when they depart tomorrow. To
relieve the monotony of living in bad
weather, some of the team members may hike
down to Gorak Shep with them in the
morning.
Further
e-mails of positive encouragement are most
welcome (who's buying the BBQ and cold
brewskis for Gary on his return will help
keep his positive attitude alive!!!). I
also hear the Icefall ladders are missing
me and my tender crampons going across
them... I wish I felt the same about
them.... ha!
