Everest 2002 Expedition Report  April 18th, 2002

Hanging out at base right now, everyone is recovering from our last trip up high. We are planning to leave tomorrow for our third acclimatization trip. Tomorrow night we’ll be at Camp 1, then the next day move on to Camp 2 for 3 or 4 nights. We are hoping to make a day trip up to Camp 3, climbing the lower part of the Lhotse face. We should be back at base camp on the 23rd or 24th.

12 expedition leaders and high altitude Sirdars (Sherpas) participated in yesterday’s meeting to determine the best way to share the job of fixing ropes to the South Col which all the groups will use. A fair plan was laid out; so starting on the 19th or 20th, the route from Camp 2 to Camp 3 will be going in. When we were last in Camp 2, you could still see some of the route from last year’s traverse above Camp 3 to the Geneva Spur. Of course the ropes up there are probably in bad shape.

Lots of activity at Basecamp while back this round. Several different high altitude tests going, laundry, sorting food, re-setting tents that are always melting out. It’s so warm here that small rivers are forming on top of the ice. Large boulders are sliding around, so care has to be taken to put tents in safe places. Several very large avalanches have come down, one yesterday very close to the lower route through the icefall--always exciting!

Today’s weather is great at Basecamp; although it’s blowing well over 100mph up high right now. A possible front is forecast to come through on the 20th. We’ll see what happens with that. Forecasts are useful, although not something to necessarily plan a schedule around on the lower mountain.

Plan to send another update while up high this time. So off early tomorrow, through the icefall again!

Scott Woolums
Adventures International Inc.

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