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

Dispatch One: The IMG North Side team safely made it to Kathmandu.  Joining Leader Craig John and Ted Wheeler, Jay White, and Pete Certain are "8000 meter" climbers... Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch Two: IMG North Side expedition leader Craig John reports from Xegatse (the second largest city in Tibet) that all is well with the team... Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch Three: Monday April 7, 2003: IMG Everest – Tibet 2003 expedition leader Craig John reported that after spending 3 nights in Tingri, the advance team had a successful arrival in Base Camp today, where the Sherpas had things totally dialed-in and ready to go. Sherpas, Craig and the western climbers are doing fine. The only mishap thus far was the news upon their arrival at Base Camp of the unfortunate loss of Phu Nuru Sherpa’s duffel bag... Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch Five: Sunday, April 13, 2003: IMG leader Craig John phoned in from BC, and we also received a backup report via email from Chris Booher. Everything is set to go, their high altitude team will move up to Interim Camp today and plans to spend 2 nights there before moving up to ABC on Tuesday. They'll try to spend three nights there, with a day trip to the North Col on Thursday, and then will retreat to BC on Friday, the 18th. For the time being, the summit climbers (Jay White, Ted Wheeler, Pete Certain) are cycling up...  Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch Six: Eric Simonson called in this morning from ... Rongbuk Base Camp! Eric and all members of the ABC Trek and North Col climbing teams had a successful journey from Tingri via the 17,800+ foot Lamna La pass, hiking over some beautiful, wide open high Tibetan terrain. Base Camp was fairly deserted when they arrived, with the high altitude team currently up at ABC testing their lungs and making a day trip to the Col for acclimatization. Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch Seven: Friday, April 18, 2003: Eric Simonson reported in from Rongbuk Base Camp this morning with news of the IMG Everest - Tibet team progress. High-altitude team leader Craig John, along with climbers Jay White, Ted Wheeler, Pete Certain, and Nacho Piedra have spent several days at ABC.  Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch Eight: 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.  Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch Nine: 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: Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch Ten: Everest above ABC may turn into a ghost town this weekend as everyone takes shelter from the predicted storm. Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 11: North Side: IMG Guide Craig John called on the satellite phone on the evening of May 5th (morning of May 6th in Base Camp) and reports that all climbers and Sherpas are down at BC, leaving only cook Ang Karma to defend Advanced Base Camp from the continuing high winds.  Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 12: This just in from the mountain this morning: "Hello everyone, just giving you a quick update on life here in Tibet.  Due to the high winds on the mountain above 7,000 meters we have officially bailed on our plan for summit attempts for the 15th and 16th.  Forecasts show very high winds (60-100mph) until the 22nd or so, with a small break in the weather for the 23rd to the 26th.   Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 13: Thursday, May 15, 2003: IMG leader Craig John has emailed news of the weather forecast and the summit bid plan as it evolves. Right now, there are a few variables the IMG team is trying to work around. First, the fixed ropes are not yet in place above the high camp (Camp 6.) Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 14: IMG Leader Craig John called on the sat phone to report that guide Chris Booher and non-guided climbers Ted Wheeler, Pete Certain, and Jay White went to the North Col on May 17, but were forced to hold one day... Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 15: IMG Leader Craig John reports that IMG Sherpas Phu Nuru and Danuru are both at Camp 6 now, and will fix the summit ridge tomorrow. Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 16: Sherpas are the first step & moving up! Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 17: IMG Sherpas Danuru and Phu Nuru reached the summit Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 18: Climbers Ted Wheeler, Jay White, Chris Booher, Karma Rita Sherpa and Panuru Sherpa were en route to the summit.  Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 19: Chris Booher has reached the summit of Everest via the North Ridge route. ...  Check here for the full dispatch.

Dispatch 20: Time to roll from Everest Rongbuk Base Camp. Check here for the full dispatch.

The expedition is organized by Eric Simonson IMG Expeditions

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