EVEREST LIVE: NFB Everest Camp Two

Tuesday, May 15, 2001

From: P.V. Scaturro

Expedition Leader
NFB 2001 Everest Expedition

SUMMIT ATTEMPT THWARTED BY HIMALAYAN STORM!

At 3:00 AM this morning yet another fierce Himalayan snowstorm accompanied by intense thunder and lightening blew into the Western Cwm. The thunder was so powerful it triggered numerous avalanches from the heavy snow on the Lhotse Face. This avalanche danger in addition to the total white out conditions forced us to postpone our 5:00 AM departure to camp three at 24,000 ft. This is yet another aggravating weather setback to our summit bid. No other team has been able to move higher then the South Col. A member of the Canadian expedition came down from the South Col and informed us the snow was waist deep in areas and all the fixed ropes were totally buried. In a nutshell, the snow and avalanche conditions are just too treacherous to advance upward. The weather forecast that we were hoping would give us a good weather window has turned against us. Two smaller low-pressure zones that were to the north of Everest have now turned and we have been informed that there should be a major pressure zone over Mt. Everest through this Sunday, May 20th. The weather window has slammed shut for now. Most of the team has been at camp two for five days and we feel that waiting at 22,000 ft. for another four days is just too long and counter productive. Assuming no weather improvements tonight, we will all return to base camp tomorrow. Today, Chris Morris and Mike O'Donnell returned to base camp safe and sound. We have always known that it would take a lot of physical effort and patience to summit Everest. We have put forth the physical effort and, in many ways, the patience part is proving to be more difficult. As we watch the days of May slip by, we are reminded the spring permit for Everest ends May 31st. If we are to summit it is to happen in the next two weeks!