EVEREST LIVE

May 26, 2001

From: Kevin Cherilla
Base Camp Manager
NFB 2001 Everest Expedition

ERIK WEIHENMAYER'S WORDS FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD

For over a year I thought about hearing the following words from Erik Weihenmayer wheh he stood on top of the world. I told my wife a month before we left that I had a really good feeling about the success of Erik and the team. I just never knew it would be this incredible!

As the hours went by and the anticipation was building for all of us in Base Camp, I stepped outside around 8:00 AM and spent some time alone thinking about Erik standing on top of the world and what I was going to say to him. It brought tears to my eyes to know that Erik was going to prove once again to all the critics what someone can do when they put their heart and soul and mind and body, 100% into accomplishing a specific goal.

It was one of the most incredible moments of my life when Erik's voice crackled across the radio at 10:00 AM to tell us that he was on the summit of Mt. Everest, along with other members of our team. Together we cried and I told him, "I love you, you are the greatest athlete in the world, don't spend much time up there, and make it down safely." Then I called his wife Ellen, who was at their home in Golden, CO with a small group of friends, and she screamed loud enough to break the neighbors' windows! We spent a few minutes on the phone and then I called Erik's father Ed, who was at his home in Amelia Island, FL, with a house full of friends and reporters. The entire house erupted into excitement and joy as the word was spread.

Since there were only 10 of us in the communications tent at Base Camp to hear the words of Erik from the top of the world, we would like to share them with the entire world for you to hear. Enjoy!

Make yourself a great day.

Kevin