[Click on the pictures to see larger versions with captions.]
What started as a cold, cloudy day has turned warm, at least at ABC, and has given up the first summits of the season.
At about 1 p.m., word got around camp that Phurba Tashi Sherpa and four of his top men had reached the summit. The Discovery film crew trained their massive Digi-Beta camera with its 560mm gyro-stabilized lens on the summit, and we watched some amazing action on a small TV monitor.
At 1.15 p.m (times are approximate), in between shifting clouds, we saw two Kazakh climbers, Maxut and Vassily, who we heard were trying to blitz Everest "alpine style" — climbing without supplemental oxygen and without fixing their own camps. They were inching their way up the slope above the Third Step, moving very slowly.
At about 1.30 p.m. we saw a red-suited climber — one of our Sherpas — standing on the summit. At 1.50 p.m. there was a dramatic encounter as three Sherpas bounded downhill and crossed paths with the still-climbing Kazakhs. Even though we were miles away, we could see the climbers exchanging pats on the back. The Kazakhs moved on toward the final rocky section, called The Dihedral, before the summit. Then the clouds blew in.
It's fair to assume the Kazakhs would need about another hour from the point we last saw them to reach the summit and that they'd still have enough time to get back down in the last light of day to their highest camp. It's also fair to assume that they are taking considerable risks at this point, but they're very experienced and know what they're getting into.
On this same day last year, Phurba Tashi Sherpa and his team also reached the summit. This is said to be (pending verification) the earliest date for summiting on Everest's north side. Last year, the summiting Sherpas hit the top in the afternoon and marched all the way down the mountain back to ABC by 9 p.m. for dinner. That's nothing less than amazing. And they'll probably be back here tonight at roughly the same time to plenty of admiration from this crew, and to massive plates of their favorite food, rice and dahlbat.
Signing off,
Greg Child
congratulations to phurba and his team its amazing to think how those guys do it im very pleased to here they all made it ok great pictures of them thanks for keeping us informed greg some really amazing blogs you are writing im checking everyday now. i cant wait for the next one
Posted by: matt hardy | April 30, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Congratulations to Phurba!!! The man is simply amazing. Well done sir. Best to all the guys and girls on this expedition. Good luck to all and be safe!
My family and I are watching and tracking your progress every day.
Best,
Jeff & Family
Posted by: Jeff Borden | April 30, 2007 at 06:26 PM
Super-Sherpas....Tigers of the Snow. The path has been paved. Good luck to all who follow. Be smart and be safe. God bless .
Posted by: marie | April 30, 2007 at 10:37 PM
Ah, this is magnificent news. Bravo Sherpas! There is a great and powerful energy on this climb. Stay safe and divinely inspired. Beautiful blogging...so inspiring and thrilling. We are all praying for you and sending you loving and positive energy!
Posted by: sasha | May 01, 2007 at 04:44 PM
Great job Phurba and men.
Greg the pictures are great. Tim...you know that you can do this. Rock on..and get your climb on!!! Elizabeth "the nurse" at sea level.
Posted by: Elizabeth RN "the nurse" | May 01, 2007 at 11:40 PM
i love your blog - please keep typing! and keep warm, too.
Posted by: new yorker | May 02, 2007 at 12:02 PM
ONE DAY I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE THE TRIP.
EVEN BECOME A SHERPA .
Posted by: SHAWHIGHLAND | October 31, 2007 at 05:22 PM
Congrats! Think the dvd is finally available in asia.
Posted by: corporate industrial architecture product photographers | May 04, 2009 at 12:52 AM