IMG Mount Everest Expedition 2003
North Side (Tibet) Dispatch

Friday, April 25, 2003: Eric Simonson phoned in from Everest Tibet Base Camp today. It was late in the evening their time. Here's the update on all team members:

ABC Trek: ABC trekkers Laura Dozier, Jay Leppanen, Seiji Ohashi, Matt Sant, and Lisa Trotter have all safely returned to Kathmandu with Ang Jangbu Sherpa, our agent with Great Escapes Trekking in Kathmandu. Jangbu made a special guest appearance on this trip and was a great asset to the trek. Eric has worked with Jangbu for many years and values his friendship and help every year in organizing our Himalayan programs. A special thanks to Jangbu for making this trip with us! Pemba is doing his best, as always, at keeping lots of great food in front of the entire group.

North Col climb: Eric descended from ABC to BC on Wednesday with N.Col climber David Ferriera. The trip down took about 11 hours and David has been fighting off a suspected case of pulmonary edema, using supplemental O2 and the Gamow bag to help him recover at Base Camp. Fellow team member and physician Margaret Watkins has been helping to care for David. Meanwhile, the remaining N.Col climbers, including Barry Baker, Morgan Batt, Gail Bredis, Thom Gerst, Terry Holt, Garry Phillips and Ralph Quade returned to BC today with IMG guides Mike Hamill and Mark Tucker. They made an attempt on the North Col on Wednesday and Thursday, with several members of the team reaching the Col before descending.

8000m climb: IMG guides Craig John and Chris Booher spent the day today making an attempt on the N. Col with Nacho Piedra. Craig and Nacho turned around before reaching the Col, and may make another attempt tomorrow. Chris reached the Col and is sleeping there tonite in order to build his acclimatization for a possible climb higher later in the expedition. Craig and Nacho should return to BC on Sunday, after which Nacho will head home to Spain.

Summit climb: IMG super-Sherpa Da Nuru, together with sherpa climbers from the Chinese expedition and Russell Brice's team, fixed rope into the high camp, Camp 6, today. With the route in place to the high camp now, things are really rolling, with a lot of carrying to Camp 4 and Camp 5 taking place also, so Panuru, Mingma, Phu Nuru, and Karma Rita are busy with the task at hand. Summit climbers Jay White, Pete Certain and Ted Wheeler are at ABC and plan to climb to the North Col tomorrow, where they will sleep for 2 nights to push their acclimatization ahead. After that, they will likely return to ABC on Monday, and may choose to either remain there for rest, or descend to BC for some thicker air. They are all doing well.

The expedition is organized by Eric Simonson IMG Expeditions Dispatches

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