IMG Mount Everest Expedition 2003
South Side (Nepal) Dispatch Nine

Dispatch Nine: Monday, April 21, 2003: I talked to Dave Hahn via sat phone on Saturday night. It was Sunday morning (their time) in Nepal, and Dave reported the first real storm of the season since their arrival. The route has been placed up to Camp 3 with some teams already carrying to that camp, but the storm forced many to turn around on Saturday and descend without reaching their destination.

Dave expects the entire team to move up to Camp 1 today for 2 nights, then up to ABC for 3 nights, with a "day hike" up to Camp 3 at some point to continue their acclimatization. We'll hope to hear from them either when they get back to BC, or when our IMG Everest - Tibet team calls in from the North Side, since both teams are talking to each other on the radios now, so our Tibet Base Camp will get news from the Nepal team sooner than we will.

Tap Richards reported in via email with this fun news: "We estimate about two-three hundred climbers here. The overwhelming presence of hundreds of Sherpas running up and down the route everyday is a humbling reminder of how these guys are truly the backbone of today's expeditions. I've been doing serious battle with the computer and sat phone connection$$!

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