Mt Everest 2004: Amputee Sherpa Summits Mt Everest !

I am thrilled to report that the EVEREST: Friendship Beyond Borders Expedition has arrived at the summit of Mount Everest as of 7:55 AM Nepal time Sunday May 16th (7:10 PM Pacitic time 5/15)!

I received a phone call from Team Leader Tom McMillan that he was standing on the summit with Climbing Sirdar Nima Tashi Sherpa and Climbing Sherpa Pem Dorjee Sherpa. Just a few steps away were Climbing Team member Nawang Sherpa and Climbing Sherpa Nima Gombu Sherpa (his tenth Summit of Everest !!!!). 

All team members are well and the weather on the summit is good. Tom will call in later with more details of their summit push.

Older Update below

Update: 5/14/2004 Tom called in by satellite phone (quickly, to conserve the batteries for further updates in the coming days) to let us know they are currently at Camp 3. They wisely decided to remain at Camp 2 an extra day to allow the high winds to subside. Tom says he and Nawang are feeling "incredibly strong at this altitude". They are now planning to stand on the summit on Sunday the 16th. The weather forecasts indicate even more good weather in the coming days.

Update 5/12/2004: Team members Nawang Sherpa, Tom McMillan, Nima Tashi, Nima Gombu, and Pem Dorjee are on their way to the summit! 

Tom called from Camp 2 about 12:15 am Pacific Daylight Time (about 1pm in Nepal) Wednesday to let us know that they have begun their summit bid. They are pacing themselves to arrive on the summit on May 15th or 16th to take advantage of a favorable "weather window" with only light winds on the upper part of the mountain those days.

He reported that all team members were feeling strong and are eager to get to the top. A couple of very strong expeditions are ahead of them, which will make the snow conditions easier for our team (if there is new snow, the first teams will break trail for the others).

Editorial Note: You might recall Nima Gombu Sherpa, who is a 9 time Everest summiter. He was there in 1996, bringing Gau Ming-Ho down. He has summited Everest in 93, 94, 96, 98, 99, 2000, 01, 02 and 03.

Dispatches

 

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