APRIL
9 2002 Gavin has got in touch with us again in the
last few minutes.
APRIL
13 2002 Well, I have to say I'm a very happy fella.
Coming online today I found an e-mail from Gavin -
the subject line read: "Hello from
21,450ft"....
Gavin
Bate plans of providing for you, the readers
of EverestNews.com, a special view into
Everest. This is part one....
APRIL
15 2002 Advance Base Camp, Everest: Looking
out of the mess tent door, the north east ridge of
Everest cuts the sky in two in one direction; the
North ridge divides it in the other.
APRIL
17 2002 Advance Base Camp, Everest: We
got a call today from Gav as he sat perched at Camp 1
(7,000m). He and Will had done their first climb
above ABC - and have taken up some of their gear in
what will be the first of many journeys between the
two camps.
APRIL
18 2002 Advance Base Camp, Everest: Yesterday was an
important day for Will and I, our first foray up to
7000 meters and camp 1on the north col of Everest. The
day before we had decided to do a little recce with
about 15kgs and dump the stuff in a duffle bag at the
bottom of the huge headwall that rises 2000' sheer
from the head of the glacier up to the col itself. Click
here for the full dispatch.
APRIL
20 2002 Advance Base Camp, Everest: Nights
don't come more windy and noisy than the one we had
before our second carry to the north col. Will
reported the tent virtually turning inside out on him,
so that at one point one of the poles was jabbing him
in the face. Click
here for the full dispatch.
APRIL
22 2002 Advance Base Camp, Everest: We spoke with
Gavin again today - apparently he and Will are back at
ABC having completed their third carry to Camp 1. They
are now fully stocked at camp 1 (21,450ft) and ready
to face the next stage - the camp 2 carry. Click
here for the full dispatch.
APRIL
25 2002 Camp 1 (7,000m) Everest North Ridge: Gavin
has called in this afternoon - he and Will are
currently snug in their sleeping bags dreaming of hot
showers and cheese on toast (if I know Gav!)... They
are sending their first night at Camp 1 - a
significant milestone on the expedition... Click
here for the full dispatch.
APRIL
26 2002 Camp 1 (7,000m) Everest North Ridge: Just
a brief update today - although we are expecting pictures
and text from Gavin and Will in the next 24/48 hours.
They both successfully made it to Camp 2 today and
dropped off tents.
Click
here for the full dispatch.
APRIL
28 2002 ABC, Everest North: Will
and I can hardly believe it. We managed to put in the
first carry of all the teams here to Camp 2 at 7600 meters,
and what an epic it turned out to be! Having avoided
actually sleeping at the north col, 7000 meters, we
have been methodically stocking our camp there over
the past week or so until everything is in place for
the rest of the climb. So the day before yesterday we
climbed back up the headwall, now in a record 2 hours
10 minutes, and prepared for our first sleep at 7000 meters...
Click
here for the full dispatch.
APRIL
30 2002 ABC, Everest North: Dear
All, Gavin and Will called
again today - they have been stuck in a 48-hour
storm at Advanced Base camp. Today the weather
has broken slightly and there has been periods
of sunshine - although the winds are still
strong. Apparently the last couple of days has
been a bit demoralizing with all the bad
weather. There are quite a few damaged tents at
ABC and Camp 1...
Click
here for the full dispatch.
May
1, 2002 ABC, Everest North: How
to climb Everest ! Will and I have spent at least the
past three hours deciding how to make our next moves
on Everest. Most of the other teams are at Base Camp
while this period of bad weather continues to cast
doubt on what we can do. We have to think carefully
because we are trying without supplementary oxygen and
we have to do our own carries. Some of our priorities
are... Click
here for the full dispatch.
May
2, 2002 ABC, Camp 1, Everest North Col: Willie
and Gavin phoned today sounding very chirpy. As
usual Gavin was going on about the culinary
delights being prepared by his tent
mate-come-chef. Fruit dumplings were on the menu
at Chez Tent tonight... Click
here for the full dispatch.
MAY
05 2002 Camp 1, Everest North Col: Will
and I headed back up to the north col for the fifth
time, this time with little weight in our rucksacks.
Everything we need was up at Camp 1. About 15 kilos
was at Camp 2, staked down with ice axes in a little
shallow scrape we had made last time we were up there.
Our job this time was to put in the rest of the gear
we would need for Camps 2, 3 and 4... Click
here for the full dispatch.
MAY
06 2002 Base Camp: Hi Everyone - got a call from Gavin
today. He and Willie are back down at Base Camp for
the first time in a month to gorge on the oxygen-rich
air. They anticipate to be at Base Camp for three
days, then make the two day trek back to Advanced Base
Camp - from where they will assess the situation as
regards any summit attempt.... Click
here for the full dispatch.
THURS
MAY 09 2002 Report from Base Camp: Hi
everyone, Well the big news today is that Gavin and
Willie have decided to join forces with Alexsei from Russia
who they have become firm friends with over the last
month. He too will try for the summit without oxygen.
According to Gavin, who I spoke to today, Alexsei
(sorry if that's spelt wrong!) has been on the North
Ridge route before so his experience ... Click
here for the full dispatch.
MAY
12 2002 Report from: Advanced Base Camp
Hundreds
of emails! That's what we have come back to and we've
only just finished reading through them! I thought we
were getting excited about the top, but summit fever
is catching on! Particularly liked the one that said
'You make Everest come alive for us, the human story,
the trials and tribulations, the decisions, the daily
life, the humour. Thank you all so very much, we're
just sorry we can't reply to them... Click
here for the full dispatch.
MON
MAY 13 2002 Report from: Advanced Base Camp: The
waiting is over. Now the fun begins. A forecast five
day spell of good weather has settled on the worlds
highest mountain and there is frenetic activity at
Advance Base as everybody prepares for their summit
bid. High temperatures towards the end of week - minus
ten on the summit - and low wind speeds of between 10
and 12 knots indicate that the window is here! Click
here for the full dispatch.
MAY 14th: Hi EverestNews.com, Just a quick note
to say Gavin and Willie have reached camp 1
13:00
GMT WED MAY 15 2002 Report from: Camp 2 (7,600m)
MAY
16 2002 Report: Hi Everyone, Here is the latest
from Gavin and Willie's Everest summit bid.
Gavin
and Willie have left for the summit in the last
half-an-hour.
Gavin
and Willie left for the summit from Camp 3 at
15:00 GMT on Thursday (now yesterday!).
Hi
EverestNews.com, I have spoken to Gavin just
this minute... they are at Camp 3.
Ten
minutes ago to my great relief I was woken up by a
phone call from Gavin.
SAT
MAY 18 2002 LOCATION: Camp 1
Gavin
Bate, it is over ??
Gavin
recounts summit bid
Gavin
recounts summit bid: Part Two
Gavin
recounts summit bid: From Everest with Love Part
3
Gavin
recounts summit bid: Part Four
Gavin
recounts summit bid: Part Five
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