Everest South Side Expedition: American Commemorative Expedition

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Two updates below

Bob Hoffman Update May 22, 2003: Well, as is par for the course around here, the weather has forced the team to change their plans - again. Patience and flexibility are proving to be crucial attributes for all parties involved in summiting this mountain! The Sagarmartha weather continues to be uncooperative and it may not take a turn for the better until the 26th. So all team members are still camped out at Camp 2, doing well, just a little frustrated with the high-wind weather reports of late. A few teams did manage to summit early this morning, however. About four members of the Indian-Nepal Army team, and I believe some Koreans and a couple of Americans decided to stick it out at Camp 4 for 3 nights and pulled off a summit early this a.m. This is good as it assures that the lines up there have been set. We'll just have to all keep our fingers crossed and hope that fair weather blows our way before the monsoon season sets in. The window of good weather may be very brief, indeed, but when it comes, rest assured the team will be ready!  -Bob Hoffman

Team Moves to Camp 3! May 23, 2003: The team moves to Camp 3!! The window of good weather is now but a peephole, but nonetheless, the team braves forward. The weather for the 26th looks moderately acceptable - and the team has decided to go for it! So they move into position for the final push up the mountain! Meanwhile many teams are in the process of making the same decision. Although a few have decided enough's enough and have celebrated the end of their climb, the 26th will probably prove a popular day, making for a potentially crowded mountain. A view of Camp 3 from the Lhotse Face at 24,000 feet.

Unfortunately, Dan and Chuck have run out of time and have returned to Base Camp due to work obligations. The weather just hasn't been cooperative this year to say the least! -Bob Hoffman

Dispatches