Weblog & Podcasts

I just spoke with Romke from Prague who had just spoken briefly with Harry. Harry doing ok, but is devastated by the events that have transpired. He does feel that he made the right decisions at the right time. It was apparently Harry's call to turn Thomas back at 50m from the summit. Thomas wanted to go on, but Harry noted that Thomas's behaviors had become lethargic (don't ask me for details, this is all I know). For the rest I know what everyone knows who has read Abramov's reports regarding what happend on the way back down. Thomas's death came suddenly and unexpected. 

[  http://www.7summits-club.com/index.php3?id=27&idi=122&action=showfull ]

Rescue efforts for Lincoln Hall are still underway. I know what you know based on the information in these posts on 7summits and Everest news.

http://www.everestnews.com/everest2006/everestalive05262006.htm

http://www.7summits-club.com/index.php3?id=27&idi=124&action=showfull

Harry's plan is to be in base-camp tomorrow and to log-in with updates.

My deepest thoughts and sympathy goes out to all involved.

- Arnout

This is the latest news to date (from Abramov). I spoke with Romke by phone. He is in Prague and has no internet connection. I was instructed to start a new thread. Please update here as more news becomes available. No direct news from Harry as far as I know.

http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=3298

Harry just called to say that he, Thomas, Lincoln and three Sherpa's are about to start their summit push! They expect to leave within the next half hour. The weather is fantastic, the sky is clear and there is hardly any wind. I'm amazed by how well he sounded. He said all six can feel their health slowly deteriorating from being at 8300 meters, but unlike last year he sounded healthy, strong, ready for the ascent and determined to make a quick descent afterwards.

I copied as many support mesages to the team as I could, they are very happy to know you are all wishing him the best!

Harry sent the following message:

Now in C3, weather retardedly good, hopefully it'll stay this way tonight! Un abrazo de harry.

So that is very good news, tomorrow could be the big day! He also left the following waypoint:

GPSWPT Lat N 027 Deg 059'057.709" Lon E 086 Deg 055'055.014" Alt 08165m 08:50:21Z

which is actually very nice because it lets us google to where they really are. If you have google earth installed, opening the following link should take you there: Harry060524.kmz

Or you can have a look at this snapshot:

Harry called to leave us a short update. I'll try to add a link to the message, but here are the words that I can make out between his coughing. It sounds like there's someone coughing on the background, but that may be Harry too...

Hello everyone this is Harry calling from 7600 meters. The weather is beautiful, we just came up in four and a half hours from North Col. We're looking down now at ABC 1200 meters below, the views are amazing [...] it's very nice here. Now we're in camp 2, tomorrow we'll try to reach camp 3 at 8300 meters. If we're strong enough we'll continue to the summit the same night, 'we' is Thomas and I, [...] and 6 sherpas. It should be safe and easy to go up...

cough cough, click

http://sightoneverest.com/audio/everest-20060523.mp3