Everest North Side Expedition:  Adventure Peaks

 Current Tibet Date/Time

NEWS UPDATE - Thursday 22nd May: Peter and Walid are safely back to ABC, both are ok, I have spoken to both today and both have commented about the strength and sheer determination of Conan.

Evacuation progress has been slow today but it’s not surprising seen that Conan is hopping, crawling and sliding on his bum, as well as been carried by our Sherpas.

He’s currently just above the North Col so the decision has been called to stay the night at the North Col and continue down the Col to ABC tomorrow. From there the team and Sherpas will carry him the 22km back to BC. The British Embassy in Nepal are currently working through paperwork and legislation to enable the helicopter to fly into Everest Base camp, if the helicopter cant, then a Jeep is on standby to take him to Kathmandu. The response in the office has been overwhelming and I would like to thank everyone for their support and kind words to the whole team.

The previous update is below

URGENT NEWS - 21st May: On behalf of Adventure Peaks in the UK we would like to confirm that the British Climber who today has broken his lower leg is Mr Conan Harrod from Manchester.

Conan was moving with fellow team member Peter Madew from Australia when the accident happened between the first and second step on summit day. We are still unclear exactly how the accident happened but we are led to believe that a climber from another team slipped from above, landing on Conan. A radio call brought Walid who was higher on the mountain down to assist Peter with getting Conan back down to Top camp. The 2 team mates escorted and dragged Conan back to his tent and safety whilst sherpa support from our team and others moved to assist.

Conan is currently stable with medical support at Top camp. Evacuation will begin at first light tomorrow sherpas and other climbers will carry him down to ABC. A rescue helicopter is on standby to pick Conan from BC to fly him direct to Kathmandu.

Words can not describe what his fellow team members, sherpas and other teams have done for Conan today.

Jill Pinkerton
Adventure Peaks Office - UK

The previous update is below...

Report No 11 - Monday 19th May: A few hours after our update was posted on Friday the team changed there summit plans. On Sunday 18th, Team 1, Peter, Walid and Conan left ABC to move to the North Col (camp 1). They are still going for the summit on Wednesday 21st May. Today, Team 2, Dave, Philip, Patricia & Pemba (climbing sherpa who will be accompanying Patricia to the summit and back) have left ABC to move to the North Col. They are going for the summit Thursday 22nd May.

As Dave receives news on Wednesday from Team 1 we will be updating as soon as we hear, this will be around 3pm UK time. On Thursday, Dave again will phone the news straight home. Jill Pinkerton

Report No 12 - Monday 19th May, 3pm: Dave has just called to let us know that Team 1 are safe and well at camp 2 (7800metres) and Team 2 are safe and well at the North Col (7000metres). Jill Pinkerton

Report No 13 - Tuesday 20th May: Team 2, Patricia, Philip and Dave set off from the North Col this morning up the North ridge. Both Patricia and Philip were moving extremely slowly with the affects of been over 7000metres and at around 7400metres both made the decision from within themselves to turn around and return back to ABC. Dave accompanied both back down to ABC.

I have just spoken with Philip and Patricia at ABC to offer our congratulations and praise to both of them. Both are extremely pleased with the effort they obtained, and happy that they themselves made the safe, correct decision to turn back.

Dave has just called home after the 6pm Tibet time, radio call, all three of Team 1, Walid, Peter & Conan are safe and well at top camp (8200metres). They will begin there summit push about 1.30am Wednesday. Turn around time has been set for 12 noon, meaning that wherever they are at 12 noon they should turn around and return in order to safely return in daylight hours. They will be radioing Dave at ABC 8.30am Wednesday, by this time they should be well under way. As soon as Dave calls tomorrow with news, once family have been informed we will aim to update the website asap. Jill Pinkerton

Dispatches