Everest 2003 North Side Expedition
Russian Adventure Team Dispatch 11

4/17/2003: News from  Russian Adventure Team  Everest expedition from Moscow under the leadership of Alexander Abramov.
Alexander Abramov reports from ABC, Everest North Side:

“April, 16. I am reporting to the howling of the snow-storm behind my tent. It seems like the nature confused this day with the 13th. Today everything goes as it was planned: three altitude Sherpas started for the North Col with a tent, three sleeping bags, etc. We are going to bring all the rest ourselves on April, 18.

Last night Dima Moskalev was coughing, and at 12 o’clock he and Yura Soifer started down for the BC. The rest of us took an acclimatization walk to the North Col, the route to which is already fixed. Two hours later on the descent the weather changed instantly. The real snowstorm started with strong wind (and it still goes on).

Igor Tsarev got into his tent and lighted a gas lamp to warm up. But the tent jumped because of the strong wind gust and the roof was caught on fire. Igor managed to throw the lamp out of the tent before it exploded. It’s OK, but the tent has a whole 1m per 1m, and Igor’s beard got burnt. Igor will move to Moscalev and Soifer’s tent for a while. The Sherpas returned from the North Col…”

4/18/2003: News from Russian Adventure Team Everest expedition from Moscow under the leadership of Alexander Abramov.

Alexander Abramov reports: "April, 17. I had very heated debates with the Sherpas, trying to bring home to them that if they are paid they should work. But we managed to come to terms. They have carried the loads up - and that is the most important thing.

The weather on the Col is superb. There is almost no wind. We pitched two " Salewa" tents for 6 people. Elagin has got quinsy, so he descended to Shigatse for cure. Soifer and Moscalev are working on their own schedule: yesterday they descended from ABC to BC. Today Mikhail Litinsky joined them - he left for BC. That situation is not bad - all this only contributes to everyone's Himalayan experience. Larin and Pashkov will go to the North Col tomorrow. So today there are the following members of our expedition who have pitch the tents and are spending night on the North Col: Abramov, Gudzhabidze, Pushkarev - tent #1; Kaymachnikov, Tsarev, Sergeev - tent #2. Everybody is feeling OK. The tents are up, the stoves are working, the lamps are not exploding any more. The only problem is to visit a Loo - though it is difficult to understand for those who are not high in the mountains. Good-bye."

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