EVEREST LIVE

Sunday, May 20, 2001

From: P.V. Scaturro
Expedition Leader
NFB 2001 Everest Expedition

5:15 PM Nepal Time, NFB Everest Base Camp

This morning at 5:30 AM, the remaining nine climbers left base camp for Camp 2. Chris Morris and P.V. arrived before 10:00 a.m. Mike Brown, Eric Alexander, Didrik Johnck, Charley Mace, Luis Benitez, Mike O'Donnell and Brad Bull all arrived before noon. It was a beautiful clear morning as the temperatures soared to 109 degrees in the Western Cwm between camps 1 and 2. Currently the entire team is resting at camp 2, weighing our weather options and formulating our summit plans. We are all focused on the summit preparations.

Currently every team still trying to summit is at Camp 2, approximately 100 climbers. With only 10 days left in the climbing season, one of our biggest challenges is trying to find a summit window that doesn't have potentially dangerous crowded conditions above camp four, especially at the Hillary Step. Our summit attempt is still planned for May 24th or 25th depending on the number of teams going for the summit on a particular day.

We will continue to remain at Camp 2 weighing our options. From here, we are in a good position to stage our summit attempt. A safe summit is our first priority.

We would like to congratulate two American climbers, Terry LaFrance from Albany, New York and Mike Otis from Phoenix, AZ. Along with four Sherpa, they summited Everest from the north side yesterday. The students at Osborn Middle School in Phoenix, AZ had the privilege of meeting Mike Otis and Erik Weihenmayer before we left for our expedition. Kevin Cherilla, our base camp manager, is a teacher at Osborn Middle School.