Autumn 2003: International Mountain Guides 8000 meter Coverage

Dispatch Eight

Current Expedition Time

Dispatch Eight: Monday, September 15, 11:00am (Nepal time)

IMG expedition leader Chris Booher called in to report that the team had a good round of climbing up to Camp 1, with all members back safely at Advance Base Camp Sunday, resting on Monday, and planning to climb again in the next couple of days. If all goes according to plan, Mike Hamill will lead the first group up to sleep at Camp 1 on Tuesday, then they will climb to Camp 2 on Wednesday to sleep, and then will descend to Advance Base Camp on Thursday. Chris Booher will lead the second group to sleep at Camp 1 on Wednesday, then to sleep at Camp 2 on Thursday, descending to Advance Base Camp on Friday.  After a couple of days rest, the team will be ready to consider summit bids when the weather looks OK.

Camp II on Cho Oyu, Tibet Photo© Eric Simonson Collection

After a lot of helpful research from our satellite service providers, it seems our phone unit has suffered technical/hardware malfunction of some sort and so word from the mountain will be limited. Other teams, including AAI and Himalayan Experience have graciously lent use of their phones to Chris to call in with brief updates, and we certainly appreciate the on-mountain help from other teams!

From here on in, the team will be up high on the mountain a lot. We'll post updates when they are able to call in between climbing rotations. So far, all are doing fine and the group is in good spirits and enjoying their time in the Himalaya!

—Erin Simonson
International Mountain Guides

EverestNews.com coverage will include dispatches from the IMG Cho Oyu Expedition along with exclusive dispatches from Nancy Norris as she warms up for Everest 2004, when she hopes to attempt to become the oldest American woman (at age 60!)to summit Everest.

Eric Simonson, veteran expedition leader, Everest Summiter, author and motivational speaker. To book Eric