EVEREST LIVE
April 28, 2001
From: George Basch
A Visiting Trekker
Dr. Steve examines Mike O' upon his return to Camp IV after summiting. -Photo by C. Mace
Erik and Brad descend through the Yellow Band. -Photo by C. Mace
Steve and Michael descend the Lhotse Face for the last time. -Photo by C. Mace
The team decends into the Western Cwm.-Photo by C. Mace
All of the climbers came down safely on the 27th.
It was their last trip through the Ice Fall, which had shifted one more time, just to make things interesting.
They were met by the entire Base Camp staff at the bottom of the icefall, with rockin' music, Coke's and Beer, and ton's of hug's, laughs, smiles and tears.
Team Leader PV Scaturro toasted the entire team at dinner as "the best group of climbers and the finest expedition ever put together on this mountain"
The Sherpa support climbers have brought down the last of the double and triple loads off the mountain, cleaning everything from Camp's 4, 3, 2 and 1.
When the team got down we learned more details about their impressive ascent on the 24th/25th. Our contact from Base Camp had been fragmentary, and they were busy climbing; not giving "news reports".
The storm that they climbed through on the Balcony and above was fierce. One climber said it was the nastiest he had ever been in, and Sherm Bull energized the team by saying "this is Mount Everest - if you want good weather go to Central Park in June".
As they pushed up through the storm they found that the fixed ropes had been buried, and Brad Bull and Jeff Evans each spent an exhausting hour at the front of the line of climbers digging out the ropes so that the rest of the team could move up safely.
We're glad that they are all back, safe and healthy.