Everest South Side Expedition: American Commemorative Expedition

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Continued High Winds Delay Progress May 22, 2003

Continued high winds and foul weather have kept our team at Camp 2 today, rather than continuing higher on the mountain as previously planned. The team feels that the promised improvement in the weather was too short-lived to justify the risk involved in proceeding for now. Although individuals from some other teams reached the summit today, they did so under extreme conditions of 50 mile an hour winds, and the high number of climbers clogging the narrow route on the South side of Mt. Everest. Waiting for more favorable weather and safer climbing conditions is the choice our team members made.

 A scene from Camp 2. Camp 2, located at the top of the Western Cwm at 21,000 feet, is a relatively large, flat area and there is a dining tent and expedition cook. Although few of us would consider this a vacation destination, the well-supplied camp offers a better environment for waiting out the weather than Camp 3, which is perched on the Lhotse Face at 24,000 feet, or Camp 4 at 26,000 feet - also known as the "Death Zone" since the body rapidly deteriorates at this altitude as vital functions begin to shut down.

Due to the prolonged delay, team members Chuck Huss from Iowa and Dan Smith from Utah have decided to return to base camp on Friday and then proceed back to the United States. The remaining members of the team will stay for a few more days, hoping for improved climbing weather and a chance for Apa Sherpa to bag his 13th Everest summit. Apa, who holds the world's record with 12 summits, is the team Sirdar and came out of retirement to climb once more with Bob Hoffman and the American Commemorative Expedition. We will report the team's progress as it is received, so check back often! -Sue Hoffman

Dispatches