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Hello Mountain Zone. This is Eric Simonson, and today I'm happy to report that on April 19th, that would have been yesterday our time, Camp V was established at 7,800 meters by eight Sherpas and Tap Richards and Conrad Anker. They were able to carry several tents, as well as nets to hold the tents down, as well as some oxygen and fixed rope and establish the camp. Then they descended to the North Col, and today, the 20th, the Sherpas are going to carry again and get some more supplies into that campsite.

The route is now fixed all the way to Camp V, and today we have established on the climbing route, approximately 2500 meters of fixed rope, so going on 8000' of fixed rope, to take the route first to Camp IV on the North Col and then up the North Ridge to Camp V. Everything is going well. And once Camp V is established with a second carry, the Sherpas are going to descend to Base Camp for a rest, which is well deserved. All the climbers will be coming down as well. Hopefully, over the next couple of days, we'll have everybody back together at Base Camp for a rest prior to the final big push putting in Camp VI and going high on the mountain for summit and search efforts.

I'd also like to report the trekking group reached ABC two days ago and has now descended to Base Camp and is getting ready to leave. So everything is going well in that regard as well. So far so good, here at Mt. Everest, everybody's staying healthy. Knock on wood, if they weather keeps treating us well, we hope to continue our great progress on the mountain. That's it for now. Talk to you later. Goodbye.

—Eric Simonson, Expedition Leader

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