Everest South Side Expedition
Miura Japanese Everest 2003 Expedition

Team Miura Safely Returns to South Col: 2003/5/22 Nepal Time : 7:25pm (10:40pmJapan Time)

All members of Miura team have finally returned to C4 (7900m) at South Col. The following are further comment received

from South Col via Radil to BC. Yuichiro Miura: "Ever since I skied down the Everest 33 years ago, I promised to myself that I would one day stand at the summit of Mt. Everest. During these years, I have skied down the World's Seven Summits, and at the age of 70, I was finally able to stand on the summit of the world after training for 5 years, moreover was able to make the world record of being the oldest man to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. I learned that humans can achieve any dream as long as they continue to challenge and not give up. This time challenge is also very special for me and am very happy, as I was able to climb with my
second son Gota, Mr. Noriyuki Muraguchi the best climber and the best alpine photographer, and the best team of Sherpas."

Gota Miura "Although I am outrageously exhausted, I've never felt so fabulous and wonderful in my life."

The previous update is below...

Update 13 May 22nd 2003: Dear EverestNews.com,

MIURA EVEREST 2003 EXPEDITION

REACHES THE WORLD’S HIGHEST SUMMIT: MT. EVEREST (8848m)

-THE OLDEST MAN TO CONQUER MT. EVEREST PLUS 2 WORLD RECORDS ACHIEVED-

At 12:10pm(Nepal Time), May 22nd, 2003, the summit conquered

(Japan Time: At 3:25pm, May 22nd, 2003)

Report by satellite phone from the summit.

An eminent pro-skier Yuichiro Miura internationally known as “The man who Skied down Everest” and for skiing down the World’s Seven Summits (Age 70, Pro-Skier, Principal of Clark Memorial International High School), his second son Gota Miura (Age 33, Pro-Skier, Japanese Free-style Ski (Mogul) Olympian for Nagano Winter Olympic Games), and Noriyuki Muraguchi (Age 46, Alpine Photographer) have succeeded in conquering the world’s highest summit Mt. Everest (8848m) today at 12:10pm (Nepal Time). As Yuichiro renewed the record of the Oldest Man to Reach Mt. Everest at Age 70 and 222 days (born Oct/12, 1932) by more than 5 years of age, the Miura Expedition has achieved 2 other World Records - Yuichiro & Gota marking the First Japanese Father-and-Son Summit; and Muraguchi marking the Highest Number of Conquering Mt. Everest as a Japanese National (3 times: 1998, 2000, & 2003) – a total of 3 Records were made. Yuichiro Miura arrived in Kathmandu on March 20th, and joined Gota and Muraguchi to set up the base camp at the base of Mt. Everest (5300m), established on April 6th. The team spent about 40 days to set up the higher camps and for acclimatization. The Miura Expedition consisted of a total of 3 Japanese climbers and 22 supporting crew; 11 climbing Sherpas under the direction of Mr. Lhakpa Tenzing Sherpa (Sirdar), 5 members from Japan including Yuichiro’s first son Yuta (Yuta Miura, Kazuya Igarashi, Masaru Otaki, Hironori Fujishima, Yoko Yokota) at the base camp and 5 other local members recruited on site for other supporting activities.

 Although the challenge for the summit began on May 11th, the expedition was intervened by gusts of wind blowing more than 30 m per second, forcing the team to remain at Camp2 (6500m) for 5 days. Although the attempt to the summit resumed on the 17th, the team was again stopped by strong winds and heavy fog, coercing them to stay at Camp 4 (7900m) for 2 days, and at Camp 5 (8400m) for another 2 days. After spending 4 days at super high altitude, the Miura team’s incredible endurance had won over the capricious Everest weather, and the summit was conquered on the 22nd in a fabulous condition.

 The Year 2003 marks the 50th Anniversary since the first summit by Sir Edmund Hilary in 1953, and there are more than 40 expeditions around the world challenging the Mt. Everest to celebrate this occasion. The Miura Expedition has taken the Southeast Ridge route with 22 other registered international expeditions (total of 199 climbing permissions), and today was the first day for climbers to reach the summit from this route this season. The Sherpas who supported the Miuras and reached the summit together are: Ngatemba Sherpa (40, Climbing Sirdar), Nurubu Sherpa (35), Chhewang Nima Sherpa (37), Fur Gaylzen Sherpa (28), Penba Nurubu Sherpa (23), and Nima Norbu Sherpa (23).

 Comments radioed from the summit:

Yuichiro Miura: “I am finally standing on the highest place on Earth, Mt. Everest- the dream I have always yearned for have finally come true. This was made possible by the tremendous help by our supporters. There are many things that I want to say now, but will first get myself down to South Col. Thank you to all who have supported us.”

Gota Miura: “I could see Tibet and Nepal and the world very well from up here! I am so happy that I want to hug everyone in the world!! THANK YOU!!”

 The summit team is scheduled to be back at the base camp by May 24th.

 The team is scheduled to return to Japan on June 2nd.

Dispatches