IMG Mount Everest Expedition 2003
North Side (Tibet) Dispatch

 Three Updates below...

IMG Everest - Tibet Update: May 21, 2003 8:30pm Nepal time: Craig John gave us a call to confirm the OK status of the IMG climbers on the North Ridge of Everest. Chris Booher reached the summit, along with about a dozen other climbers from the North side (all South side climbers apparently turned back today). Our hats are off to Chris for his ability to make a very strong climb to the summit in less-than-perfect conditions.

Chris Booher, Jay White and Ted Wheeler are now at Camp 5, where they called it a night, and Pete Certain is at Camp 4.  After successfully reaching the summit, IMG climber Chris Booher assisted on his descent through the Yellow Band with the evacuation of an injured climber and Craig reports that the injured climber is now back at Camp 6.  Several teams are collaborating for his evacuation tomorrow.

The Previous two updates are below...

IMG Everest - Tibet Update: May 21, 2003 9:30am Nepal time: 

IMG leader Craig John called in to report that climbers Ted Wheeler and Jay White had reached the Mushroom Rock, and decided to abort their summit bid and return to Camp 6. The snowfall has created a fresh layer of white stuff on the route, and as Craig put it "makes very tricky climbing even trickier." Jay slipped once moving across the Traverse between First Step and Mushroom Rock and gained a higher level of appreciation for the fixed ropes on the route. Coupled with the continuing snowfall, they have decided it's just not the right day to continue climbing. We fully support their decision to save the summit for a day when everything feels right for them. They stopped to take some photos at the Mushroom Rock and are now en route to Camp 6 with Karma Rita Sherpa and Panuru Sherpa, and are all doing OK.  Pete Certain and Mingma Sherpa have already begun their descent from Camp 6, and are well on their way down to Camp 5.

Apparently a climber also slipped on the Traverse between the First Step and the Mushroom rock and broke his leg.  He is now being helped down by three or four climbers, and they are now at the top of the First Step. The weather is calm, with continuing light snowfall.

Meanwhile, Chris Booher had been moving very well, was out in front of everyone on the route and already reached the Third Step.  Jay and Ted left an extra oxygen bottle at the Mushroom Rock before descending, so there is plenty of O's up on the ridge for Chris.  We know that Spanish and Chinese climbers are also pushing for the summit. 

OK, so that's the news coming in, Craig John will call a few more times in the coming hours and we'll update you.

IMG Everest - Tibet update: May 21, 2003 11:30am Nepal time: Chris Booher has reached the summit of Everest via the North Ridge route. He is now descending and will be met by Panuru Sherpa, who is waiting at Camp 6 in support of Chris' climb. If all goes well, they will try to reach Camp 5 before calling it a day. Ted, Jay and Karma Rita have already passed down through Camp 6 and are on their way to Camp 5. Pete and Mingma are moving down to Camp 4.

Russell Brice's team has several Sherpas working to rescue the climber with the broken leg. Eric Simonson

The expedition is organized by Eric Simonson IMG Expeditions Dispatches

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