For  Latest News. For earlier reports: See the News Index for a list of all the Daily Reports. See the Home Page for Individual Stories.  Receiving Reports from over 25 Teams on Everest this Spring 2000.

• In search of Mike Matthews' Body

Michael Matthews, age 22, of London, England, lost his life on May 13, 1999, while descending to Camp 4 from the summit of Mt. Everest.  Mike was wearing a red Northface Himalayan down suit. There as black trim on the shoulders and knees, and he would have been wearing a Russian oxygen system with perhaps a "UK" or American bottle (UK or American bottle is about twice as large as the orange Russian bottles) and was a grey-blue color.  His boots were black One-Sport boots with yellow trim.  His ice axe was a silver color and was made of metal.  We have reason to believe that Mike was approximately 200-300 meters above the balcony when he lost his life. 

Mike's family requests that any climber (western or Sherpa) who locates what he thinks may be Mike's body or personal effects please contact EverestNews.com at everestnews2004@adelphia.net or Jak M. Smith at jaksmith@dixie-net.com or telephone number 1-662-844-7721 in the United States.  We would appreciate you locating the body or effects as precisely as possible and contacting one of us.  Your cooperation and help would be greatly appreciated. Jak M. Smith

Mike picture with what he was wearing that day is here. Mike was the youngest climber to ever reach the Summit of Everest from the UK. As you can see clearly, Babu's "tent" is in the background. There is no doubt Mike reached the Summit.

• Coming to EverestNews.com: Guest Columns from Writers, historians, and Everest climbers...

• Danish Expedition: Thrane & Thrane

The satellite communication company, Thrane & Thrane, is sponsoring the first all Danish Mount Everest Expedition. The expedition named ‘BigE – Thrane & Thrane Danish Everest Expedition 2000’ -  All eight members of the BigE-expedition are among the most experienced Danish climbers with significant mountaineering experience. Leader of the expedition and team doctor is Henrik Jessen Hansen. Henrik Jessen Hansen has been on five earlier expeditions to the Himalayas, including one to Mount Everest in 1996. This year was a disastrous year at Mount Everest with numerous casualties. As a result, Henrik Jessen Hansen had to give up his personal attempt to reach the summit. Instead Henrik Jessen Hansen established the world highest located emergency hospital, where he performed important and needed rescue help.

Update: On Friday, April 7th was a rest day at Lobuche. 

Check their reports at

An interesting rest is http://www.tt.dk/everest/406_e.html 

• Canadian Everest Expedition 2000:

Current Status: Base Camp.  We made base camp late yesterday after a hard eight-hour trek. I'm very proud of everyone but there is one problem; climber Francois Bedard didn't accompany us. 

You can get full details on the Canadians at the Canadian Everest Expedition 2000's official website -- http://www.canoe.ca/Everest/home.html

• Dutch

Three Dutch Climbers Frits Vrijlandt, Steven Le Poole, and Joke Groenendaal: Frits and Steven, will attempt to climb Everest via the North ridge. When they succeed, they will be the first Dutchmen to do so. Joke will keep you updated.

Dispatch: Frits Vrijlandt Happy Breakfast 

"Once more we have had a big breakfast outside: Heavy breakfast (eggs, bacon, fried potatoes with garlic, tomato and bread). The waiter pronounces it as 'happy breakfast' causing hilarious laughter every time. 

This morning we slept late because we had our first appointment at 10 am: a Lama would bless the expedition members. At 10.30 we were at the Asian Trekking warehouse, where we would meet our sherpas. 

We bought the required prayer flags and prayer shawls, but our sherpas had tough luck at the monastery: the Lama was out. The next Lama was in, residing in his town dwellings on the second floor of Kathmandu's cable company. This Lama is the spiritual leader of the largest monastery on the way to the Nepalese Everest Base Camp. The sherpas had not announced our visit, so we had to wait until the Lama had finished lunch. Every one of us was received by the Lama for a personal blessing and after that, the prayer flags for our Base Camp got their blessing too.

This afternoon we have renumbered our 22 pieces of luggage at Asian Trekking. Every single piece of luggage must get its unique number so we can easily keep an eye on our belongings during the next few days. Afterwards I went back to our hotel for a rest and to find out whether there was anything left to do. There was: getting fifty liters of fuel and oil for the generator and a 0-modem cable to connect our two laptop computers. By the time I found that cable, I had scoured fourteen of the sixteen computer shops on New Road. But as far as I can see, now we really have everything we might possibly need and are ready to leave for Tibet. Tonight we'll have a goodbye-steak at KC's Restaurant and pack our rucksack for the next few days." 

Check them out: http://www.everest.home.nl/ for the full details.

• List of Expeditions who have paid for their permits in Nepal: Not a complete list of all Expeditions for Spring, just a list who has paid so far...

Source: Bikrum Pandey Kathmandu Nepal

• Annapurna Spring 2000: 

EverestNews.com will follow the attempt on Annapurna of the "International Annapurna 2000 Expedition": We think you will find these daily reports very interesting. Go to their site for the pictures and dispatches in Spanish. Their web site:  www.interofer.es/annapurna2000 with reports in Spanish, Pictures and more !

Title: Without news from the Expedition 

Update: The lack of news makes us speculate that the team is crossing the Thulobugin Pass. The itinerary puts them at Base Camp after crossing this path so it is assumed the next communication will come from there.  In the mean time, we spoke with Antoni Villena, a Catalan mountaineer who knows the area around the pass like few others. He has visited there on two occasions.  He was also a member of the second Spanish expedition to Annapurna. He said "If the porters have left the team because of the adverse weather conditions near the ascent to the Thulobugin Pass, the complications will worsen in the climb out of the pass". Villena was in the pass last year, 25 after his first visit, on his way to Annapurna Base Camp.  The team's situation is not strange to him.  "It is normal that it snows during this time of year considering the altitude.  Additionally, when thinking of the steep entrance to the Pass, it is very dangerous". "The snow accumulates in the path which forces the team, in many cases, to install fixed lines to secure the section ". Antoni Villena, who will return to the Nepal to hike the Annapurna circuit, assures us that the complications are far from over. "The path to Base Camp of the north face of the Annapurna is without a doubt the most complicated of those to any of the 14 8,000 meter peaks. Thus, it is not a surprise that the porters would fear this route.". "Annapurna is a mountain of that is not journeyed to very much because of these difficulties and the avalanche danger, it is danger. ", explained prestigious the climber. Source: The Annapurna Web Site Editor.

• Recent News

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Death on the way to Everest continued

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EverestNews.com will feature full dispatches from Adventure Consultants for Everest Spring 2000

Close Does Not Count for Records

ALAN HINKES TARGETS THIRD HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD, KANGCHENJUNGA AS TWELFTH MOUNTAIN ON HIS CHALLENGE TO ACHIEVE BRITISH RECORD

EverestNews.com will feature full dispatches from Jagged Globe for Everest Spring 2000

Spanish Climber to attempt the Messner route on Everest

Change of Guard at the Khumbu Ice Fall

Graham Hoyland and the BBC returns to Everest in Spring 2000 in search of the camera and Irvine.

Jochen Hemmleb Q&A Part 7

India climber plans to spend the night on the Summit