Hello Everyone,
Welcome to our Second Wave as such – being our Western Guided/International Team – I’ll keep this blog post updated as they now progress on their summit bid.
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5pm – May 27th (Kathmandu Time)
A quick update to let you know we’ve heard from everyone and all safe and sound. Casey is back at Camp 2 with Niti & Mrika and will return to Base Camp tomorrow.
Guide Tommi is at the South Col with Chris & Ignacio – they’ll rest there tonight and drop down to Camp 2 or all the way through to Base Camp tomorrow. We’ll keep you updated. ____________________________________________
6:55am – May 27th (Kathmandu Time)
SUMMIT NEWS! Everyone in Second Wave have summited! Congratulations to:
Mrika Nikqi – Kosovo
Arianit Nikqi – Kosovo
Ignacio Montesinos – Argentina
Christopher Kulish – USA
CTSS Guides:
Guide Casey Grom – USA
Guide Tomas Ceppi – Argentina
Guide Parkash Sherpa – Nepal
CTSS Sherpa:
Phura Gyaljen Sherpa
Sonam Chhiring sherpa
Da Chhongba Sherpa
Nuru Jangbu Sherpa
Lhakpa Sherpa
Pema Sherpa
Kumar Khadka
They will now put their heads down and focus on a safe and steady descent. We will let you know when they return to the South Col.
Expedition Leader Mike Hamill on the Radio with CTSS Guide Casey Grom checking in with his team from the Summit of Everest – 26th May 2019
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6:40am – May 27th (Kathmandu Time)
SUMMIT NEWS! Climbers Igancio and Guide Tommi are on top of Everest right now… Congratulations!
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6:10am – May 27th (Kathmandu Time)
SUMMIT NEWS! Climbers Niti, Mrika are on the Summit of Everest right now with Prakash & Lhakpa… Congratulations! More to come…
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4:50am – May 27th (Kathmandu Time)
Great news from the upper mountain, the team are around the South Summit (where they do an oxygen change over) and are reporting no traffic, very little, if any, wind and perfect climbing conditions. All safe and progressing very well.
Guide Casey is with Niti & Mrika just above the South Summit on the Cornice Traverse heading toward the Hillary Step, Ignacio and Guide Tommi are on the South Summit currently, and Chris & Prakash Sherpa are just about to come up onto the South Summit now.
Every one moving strongly. Stay tuned!
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9pm – May 26th (Kathmandu Time)
Our Western Guided/International team are off and have left the South Col for the summit in good weather just after 9pm local time.
They are reporting no crowds and good climbing conditions.
The plan is to be on top after sunrise.
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11am – May 26th (Kathmandu Time)
Our Western Guided/International team are on their way up to the South Col as I type, they will be arriving imminently to rest up and recuperate before heading out tonight for the summit bid.
We are all eyes on the weather forecast down at Base Camp and it looks really positive with a totally uncrowded peak, a well-trodden route, lots of Sherpa support and oxygen not to mention a strong team.
We have told them to conserve radio battery in the cold, so remember no news is good news. I’ll keep you updated on their climb!
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May 25th
They are currently climbing the Lhotse Face and are halfway up to Camp 3 where they’ll stay tonight before moving to the South Col (Camp 4) tomorrow.
It’s a little windy on the face today but certainly some of the clearest weather we’ve seen the whole season. Their patience and persistence have put them in a great position with the record level crowds having dispersed and the route well and truly kicked in which will see them move quickly and therefore more safely.
They’re aiming for a summit on the 27th of May and will then drop quickly back down to Base Camp and be on their way home to you all.
Meanwhile, Speed Ascent Private Team Ed and Guide Tendi should be back in Base Camp within the hour in time for a celebratory feast!
Speaking of celebrations, a couple of records worth mentioning:
Congratulations to Fahad and Mariam who became the first Arabs to complete the Everest/Lhotse combo in one push, with Mariam becoming the first Moroccan to Lhtose Lhotse and Fahad becoming the first Qatari to do so.
She is also the first Moroccan and Arab to complete the Seven Summits within a year!
Big congratulations also to Wayne Morris who with his Everest summit has also joined the Seven Summits Club. Nice work!
Cheers
Caroline
