American Team to attempt summit of Mt. Everest 2004 on Sunday/Monday: Mountain Madness Expedition 2004

Day 50:  May 15

This is Sarah Henley reporting from Everest Base Camp.  Around 11:00 am this morning Gary, Gene, Murray , and Willie arrived to Camp 3.  They are feeling good and are getting ready to go to sleep for the night.  Tonight they will be sleeping with oxygen to help conserve energy for the climb.  From now on they will be breathing oxygen for the duration of the climb or until they are descending past Camp 4 or Camp 3.  The weather has been stable for the past few days except for some afternoon clouds and variable wind.  These afternoon clouds and winds are very normal which is why people climb through the night and plan to summit in the morning hours before the weather comes in.  The forecast says this consistent weather will continue for a while which is good news for us.  Tomorrow the guys get up early in the morning to begin the first part of the climb to Camp 4.  They will then rest for the day before the big summit push. 

This morning at varying times some folks from each of the teams climbing got to the top of Mount Everest.  There were apparently some climbers who turned around because of different reasons some of which being wind, altitude and fatigue.

Here at Base Camp it is like a ghost town.  Those of us who are holding down the fort are trying to wait patiently, close to the radios, for any news we get from the climbers on the mountain. More to come later...

 

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