Everest South Side Expedition
Tarragona Everest 2003

5-16-03: Getting ready for the attack

Yesterday, it was another calm day and we spent paying attention to meteorology.  During the afternoon we had two video conferences with two schools in Tarragona, the Mare Nostrum and Saavedra, without problems and with fun for both parties.  We are done with the video conferences but not with schools, because when we are back from Nepal we will visit them all and we will talk face to face with all the students who wish it.  Also yesterday, our teammate Jacob, trying no to lose his shape, left to climb Pocalde, 5,860 m., his second Himalaya summit.  We have good news today!  It looks like the weather is improving and on the 19th and 20th the Sherpas will install the fixed lines.  So all our expeditioneers who are at Base Camp will put on their boots tomorrow and will climb to Camp 2 where the rest of the expedition is waiting for them, waiting to attack the summit on the 21st.  At the same time, the tech preparations have started this afternoon along with Tv3 to make the live video and sound links for the definitive day.

5-18-03: Towards the top of the world

Three of our Tarragona expeditioneers left yesterday, early in the morning, towards camp two, with the intention of attacking the summit on the night of the 19th.  As the day advanced, the weather forecasts delayed the attack one day, so it could be the night between the 20th and the 21st.  During the afternoon, the last climber left at base was interviewed live by Tv3 and explained Cataluņa their intentions and the status of the expedition.  This last expeditioneer left today to Camp 2 and in these moments they are all reunited, preparing the strategy for the decisive day. As for the physical and psychological shape, it is good and we only have to wait for the winds and the gods to be on our side.

5-18-03: Female climbers

Today, Pili and the Doctor wanted to calm their nerves a little, so they went to the Khumbu Fall and used crampons and piolets for a little ice climbing, enjoying the spectacular view of the Fall.

Translated from Spanish by Jorge Rivera

Dispatches