Everest 2003: EVEREST SPEED EXPEDITION®

Update

May 23– Manuela Di Centa, Olympic medallist, journalist, today mountaneer, reached the summit of Everest at 11.55 am local time to become Italy’s first woman to the top.

Skyrunner champion Fabio Meraldi was forced to abandon his attempt to ascend and descend the mountain in 24 hours without oxygen. He intends to repeat the attempt over the next few days before the monsoon sets in.

After a period of several weeks’ acclimatisation at Base Camp, 5,900m, and at the intermediate camps between 6,500m and 7,400m, Manuela reached Camp IV at the South Col at 7,950m yesterday afternoon where she rested for some hours. She then left at 11pm and reached the summit at 11.55 am today.

On her way down to the South Col, the first communication. Before dark she will descend to Camp III at 7,400m.

Her achievement is even more extraordinary as the Nordic skiing champion had no previous experience of high altitude mountaineering. Over the last few months she trained with fellow Italian Fabio Meraldi, a mountain guide and high altitude runner, for his ascent and descent record attempt on Everest.

Foto copyright Di Centa

Dispatches

Pictures copyright Italy Everest Speed Expedition