IMG Mount Everest Expedition 2003
North Side (Tibet) Dispatch Eight

Dispatch Eight: Monday, April 21, 2003: Rescues already, and it's only April. Chris Booher reported in from Base Camp and shared this story. When our high-altitude team was on it's way up to ABC last week, they were taking a rest day at IC on April 14th and encountered a group of Tibetans carrying down a Japanese climber from ABC. Chris and Craig believed the climber was suffering from severe cerebral edema and a possible stroke. He had been given no O2 or medications by his team, and when the Tibetans got him to IC, he could not sit up under his own power and had "mentally, totally checked out of the game." Chris and Craig loaded him with Dexamethasone and Diamox, then sent him down with one of IMG's oxygen bottles and a regulator.  We haven't seen the guy since, as he was taken to Kathmandu, but we have heard that he was doing much better. Deposit received and credited by the Karma Bank in favor of the Tibetans and IMG guides Craig John and Chris Booher, who likely saved this climber's life.

After spending several days and nights at ABC, Chris and Bruce Bramhill walked down to IC on the 17th and then to BC on the 18th. Bruce has now decided to head home, and was journeying back to Kathmandu when another "all nation" strike stopped him en route. So Bruce was able to enjoy an extra night at that great bastion of border delight, Kodari (think Star Wars bar scene) due to the unavailability of any motor transport on the streets of Nepal on April 20th. Bruce should be in Kathmandu today!

Craig John and Nacho Piedra descended from ABC to BC on the 18th, and the summit climbers (Pete Certain, Jay White and Ted Wheeler) spent an extra night at ABC, descending to BC on the 19th. They are all now getting some much needed rest at BC.

John and Nancy Steffa made it safely back to Kathmandu. The last word heard from Eric Simonson, along with Mike Hamill and Mark Tucker and the trekkers and N. Col climbers, was of an enjoyable evening spent at Camp 1 (above Base Camp, but below Interim Camp, this camp is established for the trekkers in order to make the ascent from BC to ABC more gradual) with plans to continue upward soon. This word came not from Tibet, but from Nepal, where leader Dave Hahn and our South Col team now have found the radio frequency to stay in touch with the Tibet team via handheld radios. So now, everyone is talking to everyone, as it should be!

Erin Simonson International Mountain Guides

The expedition is organized by Eric Simonson IMG Expeditions Dispatches

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