Daily Dispatches [CLICK FOR INDEX] Climber Eric Simonson The Push to ABC
 Sun, April 4, 1999 — Base Camp, Rongbuk Glacier
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Satellite phones for Everest provided by MVS/USA

Hello, this is Eric Simonson calling from Base Camp wishing everyone a happy Easter. I have an update for you on our progress to date. Our yak train left the day before yesterday for ABC, and it was composed of 42 yaks, 39 of them carrying loads approximately 100 pounds per yak split on each side 50/50. And then, three additional yaks carrying bales of hay for yak food. Since there's no opportunity for grazing up at these altitudes, the yak food has to go up with the yaks.

Just Below ABC They spent the first night at Intermediate Camp, which is about 19,000 feet, and yesterday, pushed on in to Advanced Base Camp. In the first group, going into Base Camp with the yaks, were six of our sherpas lead by Pa Nuru and Ang Pasang, and including Jake Norton and Conrad Anker. The yaks, after dropping the loads at ABC, headed back down to Intermediate Camp, where they spent last night, and we expect to see them back down here at Base Camp some time later today.

Additional members who spent two nights at Intermediate Camp include Tap Richards and Thom Pollard who, along with Dave Hahn, will be heading into ABC today. So, hopefully by tonight, we will have five members and six sherpas at ABC.

ABC Right now, the ABC crew is working on establishing that camp, which includes setting up our big Weatherport Tent which is quite complicated. It has an inside framework of metal poles, and there must be close to 50 or 60 poles all total, which have to be connected before the skin is pulled tight across it. And they will be working to nail this down to provide an absolutely bombproof center for us at ABC.

Simonson, Feng, and Pemba The rest of the crew here at Base Camp is doing well, and we expect to send most of the remaining climbers up in another day or two with our second yak train, into ABC. So, that's the lowdown from Rongbuk.

The weather has been very windy and stormy the last couple days, but today, is doing a lot better and we're optimistic that we'll have ABC set up by tonight. Talk to you later. Bye.

—Eric Simonson, Expedition Leader
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