Featured Expedition: 2003 American Ski Everest Expedition
Dispatch

Copyright©Jim Gile American Ski Everest 2003

Dispatch 25: American Ski Everest Expedition... (Transcribed from a satellite phone voice message, the evening of May 12th in Tibet.)

May 12th, We are still at Everest base camp. On May 11th, Steve, Dr Jon, Callahan, and Jim Gile came back from convalescing down the road. The two days below seemed to help their recovery. They had good food, slept in beds and the change of pace was nice.

On the same day, Jeremie but it was a little over 21,000 feet. It was a beautiful ridge walk at about 4,000 feet above base camp. It was a good acclimator to keep us in shape and had incredible views of Everest, Cho Oyu, Nuptse and Pumori. So it was really great.

We have been pinned at base camp for some many days. I can't remember how many days it has been, but we all needed a change and in one way or another and we all got it.

News from high up is still not good, with high winds above 7000 meters or 23,000 feet. In the past couple of weeks, only a few Sherpas have been past the North Col. Most camps above the North Col were significantly reduced. Most teams have made plans to re-establish those higher camps, and we will be doing that ourselves. Some teams are still here at base camp, some went down to stay at villages below base camp. Some people actually stayed up at ABC, but are reported by other climbers to be pretty smoked. We are pretty bored here, but we are rested and are ready to go whenever.

The weather forecast is actually calling for a solid summit window between May 22nd and May 27th. The reports we are getting from the Swiss [see below] are so accurate that it really gives us a light at the end of the tunnel. However, they say that between now and the 22nd, it is extremely risky and dangerous to make a summit attempt.

None the less, it is rumored the Koreans and the Chinese will make Summit attempts before the 22nd.

We will heed the forecasts. Our plan is to head up May 16th, and between May 17-19th, do a little bit of work on the high mountain and then go back down to ABC not BC, rest a few days and then make our summit attempt when everyone does, between May 22-May 27th.

There was news of SARS activity at base camp, or I should say rumors.

However, there is a report coming out of one of the camps, of a ringworm outbreak contracted from one of the yaks. This has been turned into a very positive with an American woman attempting to be the first to Summit Everest with the disease. The worm appears scared but is reported to be happy to be going along. [LOL]

That is it, from base camp. Great news with the forecast. Everyone is excited. We got 2-3 days more weeks and sounds like the majority of that will be moving up the mountain. Which is positive and along with it is much warned here at base camp. Our camps are fine up high as mentioned in other reports by others. All our gear is still in place at the North Col and we are well rested and ready to go up, establish camps and SKI !!!

All is well. Mike.

[Note the American Ski Everest expedition is working with Russ Brice/Kari Kobler(Swiss team)/IGO 8000 to receive the Bracknell/Swiss weather reports. Most teams DO NOT pay for these custom forecasts, and most teams DO NOT receive this forecast. Also note they are receiving the forecast for the North side of the Mountain, NOT the South. Several different forecasts are being used on the mountain as usual this year.]

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