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Dispatch: Camp 3 Within Reach Advanced Base Camp, China - Saturday, July 29, 2000
Another day of great weather! I think Mother Nature is making up for the three week storm. We currently have Camp 2 in place and are working our way up to Camp 3 with the International and Japanese Teams. Camp 2 is relatively spacious and currently has ten tents up, six of which are ours. According to a very pleased Jeff Alzner, yesterday's efforts may have gotten them within three hours of Camp 3, but he then stated that it's hard to tell what they may encouter ahead. As I scan the mountain today, they look like they are getting very close and may have it in position by late tomorrow or the next day. All the climbers have been on the mountain for the past two days and are working hard on taking advantage of the fortuitous weather. I am in contact with Jeff Alzner every morning and evening to find out where everyone is on the mountain, what the plan is, and if there are any problems or requests. From ABC, we get a good overview of where people are. They look like ants, even with binoculars, but we can get a head count. We had a little excitement last night because Jeff Alzner radioed that three of our climbers were coming down to ABC (Ivan Ramirez, John Heilprin, Jeff Rhoades) and that John was feeling really lousy and we should watch his descent from Camp 2. He was sick from a combination of dehydration and AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Wisely, John chose to go down in case his condition worsened and he wouldn't be able to get down under his own power. Jeff Rhoades came down just ahead of John and kept an eye on his progress, as well as those of us at ABC. We could see the three headlamps work their way down, and could report back to Jeff Alzner at Camp 2 that all was well on the slopes. John felt much better by Camp 1 and he and Ivan remained there for the night, while a tired Jeff Rhoades continued to ABC, arriving around 3:30am. Today, John Heilprin and Ivan Ramirez arrived at ABC in the late morning, ready for a good meal and a long nap. Mike Bearzi and Jay Seiger are returning from Camp 2 because they have been up there for three nights and it's time for a little R and R at ABC. Ziggy Emme is currently on his way back to Camp 2 after retrieving two ropes from the cache. Jeff Alzner, Paul Teare, Gill James, Wayne Wallace, Heidi Howkins, Shawn O'Fallon and Greg Ritchie are also remaining at Camp 2 tonight. — Ginger Russell, MountainZone.com Correspondent |
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