EVEREST LIVE
Friday, May 25, 2001
From: Maurice Peret
A View from the Khumbu
They have done it!
History has been made today. The members of the National Federation of the Blind-Allegra 2001 Everest expedition now hold not just one or two but four world records for reaching the top of Planet Earth's highest peak. This morning by 10:45 a.m. 11 of 13 expedition team climbers and 8 Sherpas had reached the summit of Mt. Everest (29,035 feet above sea level). At 8:15 a.m. Sherman Bull, age 64, became the oldest man to accomplish this extraordinary human feat. Approximately one and a half hours later he was joined by his son Bradford Bull, securing for them another world record as the first father-and-son team to summit in the same expedition. At 10:00 a.m. Erik Weihenmayer, whom the entire world has been watching, was the first blind man to "Touch the Top of the World," as he says in the title of his recently published autobiographical book.
This unique and talented team of 19 climbers also became the largest team of summiters to reach the top in a single day. P.V. Scaturro turned back because of flu-like symptoms unrelated to altitude. Steve Gipe decided to remain at Camp 4. The events of the past 24 hours could not have been more dramatic. Clouds were visible racing up the Khumbu towards the mountain as the climbers were summiting, threatening bad weather for their long journey back to camp 4. As Kami Tenzing Sherpa reminded them, "Your summit has not been completed until you have returned safely to the South Col." During their descent the weather relinquished its cold and stormy grip on the mountain, allowing clear and pleasant conditions for the climbers. By 4:00 p.m. today each of the climbers was accounted for at Camp 4.
This incredibly complex and involved expedition would not have been possible without the carefully detailed planning during the past two years of every aspect of the big event by the following people:
Pasquale V. Scaturro, National Federation of the Blind-Allegra 2001 Everest expedition Leader; Kami Tenzing Sherpa, Climbing Sirdar and Manager; Ed Weihenmayer, Erik's father, who pulled together the necessary people and forces for success; and Barbara Pierce, Project Coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind and President of its Ohio affiliate.
Climbing Sherpas Lhakpa Tshering Sherpa, Chhuldim Nuru Sherpa, Ang Passang Sherpa, Ang Kami Sherpa, Lhakpa Tshering Sherpa, Pemba Choti Sherpa, Purba Bote, and Ang Sona Sherpa displayed the superhuman strength, hard work, endurance, and dedication to service for which these people of the Khumbu region of Nepal are legendary.
The now world-famous mountain climbers Eric Alexander, Luis Benitez, Brad Bull, Sherman Bull, Jeff Evans, Steve Gipe, Didrik Johnck, Chris Morris, Michael O'Donell, Pasquale Scaturro, and Erik Weihenmayer have demonstrated the most collective focus, cohesiveness, and outstanding human athletic ability of any team ever on this grand mountain.
In addition to their proven expert climbing skills, Michael Brown and Charley Mace have captured the entire saga on high-definition film for a documentary entitled "Vision of Everest" with the capable and professional cooperation of Kim Johnson, BC Production Manager and Camera Woman.
BC Kitchen staff members Kancha Sherpa; Man Kumar Sherpa; Mingma Sherpa; Passang Sherpa; and Tenzing Sherpa, Cook Sirdar, insured the comfort, nourishment, and well-being of all of us up here. Without their conscientious and devoted service this wilderness environment would have been uninhabitable.
The NFB Base Camp team assisted to insure that the expedition and the news about it functioned smoothly, like a well oiled machine. Kevin Cherilla, BC Manager; Reba Bull, BC Manager and Baker, providing us with a taste from home; Maurice Peret, NFB BC Communications; and Kim Johnson, BC Production Manager and Camera Woman, put in long hours on their duties, and then some. Zachary German is the research assistant for the Brown University study on effects of high altitude on speech patterns and cognition but performed double and triple duty seeing to our communications, hardware, and solar-power needs for our laptop computers and satellite telephone and saw to it that enough power remained in the evenings for watching DVD movies. Other members of the research team included Jason Dimmig and Jonathan McDonagh, both of whom are entering their medical residencies, and Professor Phil Lieberman of Brown University and his wife Marcia Lieberman. Jonathan Chester and Matthew Sanner provided still photos and a line of communication to the world, letting everyone know of this outstanding chapter in history. With all of their crucial contributions this enormous event powerfully expressed the very mission of the expedition, which resulted in ultimate and fantastic success.
Special mention is due to Chhiring Sona Sherpa for trekking up and down to Base Camp accompanying Adam and Sarah Scaturro, son and daughter of Pasquale. Adam, who is quadriplegic, showed terrific athletic ability by having made the trip, including the climb up Kala Pattar.
I have neglected to mention many more people like Karen Nolan, who provided much appreciated medical treatment in addition to conducting a study of her own, and Gavin Atwood, who served patiently as my guide on the trek up to base camp. This was merely for reasons of space and memory and not a reflection of their genuine impact on the expedition as a whole.
In the very spirit of the National Federation of the Blind-Allegra 2001b Everest expedition's mission it is noteworthy enough to mention that in addition to Erik Weihenmayer, world-class adventurer and mountaineer, Dan Rossi, acrobatic sky diver and Himalayan trekker, Maurice Peret, NFB BC Communications manager, Brian Buhrow, https://2001everest.com Webmaster, and Barbara Pierce, project coordinator for the NFB and NFB of Ohio president, are all blind. Like their sighted peers they performed their duties as equal members of the team, emulating the climbing team. We hope our example will be reproduced throughout our society in reducing the over-70-percent unemployment rate among working-age blind people and the decreasing rate of Braille literacy among blind children. The blind men and women of the National Federation of the Blind have shared Erik's dream and continue to work with him to inspire the world and illustrate the heights we can reach when given the chance.
The results of our united efforts on Mt. Everest speak for themselves: in the minds of millions around the world, we have changed what it means to be blind.
From the Khumbu, Nepal, at Mt. Everest NFB Base Camp this has been Maurice Peret reporting.