News: Second Summit Team Starts Up
Eric Simonson - Basecamp
Tue, May 08, 2001 1:00AM

After the rescue epic of the Chinese glaciology grad students from Lanzhou University in Gansu Province, everyone was pretty beat. We got the news this morning from our Liaison Officer that he had heard that the patient had survived the 12 hour drive to the hospital in Shigatse, which was great news. Seriously, we were not sure if he was going to live, given the apparent extent of his brain injury. After a rest day yesterday, we rallyed today and sent Dave, Andy, and John out the door.

The weather is great today and we are amazed that no other expeditions are going for the summit. Our team has fixed every inch of the route so far, all the way up to the ridge crest, with over 4000 meters of beautiful PMI static 7mm kernmantle rope. If the weather stays good, that will probably change soon, as many other expeditions are now getting into position to move high.

Last night we had the pleasure to talk to my IMG partner Phil Ershler on the VHF base station radio on the occasion of his 50th birthday. Phil is a good friend and mentor to all of us on our North Side team. We caught him at Everest South Side Basecamp where he is leading an expedition along with guide Greg Wilson, comprised of Phil's wife Sue, Charlie Peck, and John Wechter. It was great to talk to them and we wished them our best for their upcoming summit attempt.

We are looking forward to the arrival tomorrow of our second trekking group, and the fresh vegetables, mail, and magazines that we hope they are bringing. Tonight they should be at Rongbuk Monastery. They have been walking for four days now from Tingri (they flew to Lhasa and rode in jeeps to Tingri).

Best wishes from Rongbuk!

Eric Simonson, Expedition Leader

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