Contents [Ski Everest Home] Front page for the Skiing Everest Cybercast [UPDATES] Climbers call from Everest on a sat-phone [The North Side] Climbing guide Eric Simonson describes the Northeast Ridge Route [Meet the Team] The 1997 Everest Ski Expedition members [EVEREST '97] Rich multimedia cybercast from Everest [Sponsors] Companies that supported this effort The Everest Bookstore Click on a book for details and ordering info from The Mountain Zone Bookstore. "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer An epic, first-hand account of the 1996 tragedy. "Everest" by Walt Unsworth Thorough compilation of historic climbs, triumph and tragedy. "Everest Map" by Brad Washburn National Geographic centennial map, Washburn's Everest map and more. "Everest: The West Ridge" by Tom Hornbein The pioneering ascent by Unsoeld and Hornbein. [The Mountain Zone] More stories from The Mountain Zone			Updates From Everest Click here to get the FREE Real Audio Player to hear sat-phone calls. Calonica Completely, Indescribably Beautiful Friday, September 12, 1997 (Everest North Face advance base camp, Tibet) [Click to hear the sat-phone call.] Transcript: Hi guys, this is Craig Calonica. It is Friday, September 12, 8:15 pm, up at advance base camp at 21,500ft. Unfortunately, yesterday we didn't have any of our little gadgets to get our batteries on our sat-phone and all that stuff working so we were without power except when I called you in the morning. Updates: Jean Troillet, Stephan Shaffter, another friend of theirs, Michelle, and a few Sherpas [including] Opa Sherpa who has summited twelve times already — I believe that number is right, I'm pretty sure it is. They are leaving tonight — this morning — at 2 am up to camp II at 7800 meters, sleep during the day, and continue on towards the summit, hopefully reaching it sometime in the morning of the next day. And Jean has a snowboard with him: the boy's going to make turns all the way from the top and is definitely in good condition to do so. So it's a very good possibility that the first snow-sport decent is about ready to take place. Other lines: Everyone on the Korean team, I believe, is so upset is that they're going to cancel and go back home. That was the latest news this afternoon when we got up to base camp. That's too bad — they're all set up here ready to go and it was just too hard for them to handle. The rest of the teams are all here: the Colombians, there's a large Catalan team, and two guys who are from Catzalan: Gordy and Carlos both have skis and snowboards and seem to be fairly decent climbers. So I'm hoping it will be fun to go up there and make some turns with the boys if that so happens. Our timing is all about the same so I wouldn't doubt it. We're all sitting here, beautiful night. Just a little more than half moon. It's just lit up the whole North Face ridge with the pinnacles and just glimmering and shining. This place is like heaven, just gorgeous. It's just completely, indescribably beautiful. That's all for now from Craig Calonica at advance base camp, on the east Rhongbuk glacier and underneath the North Col. Goodbye to everyone. — Craig Calonica, Expedition Leader PREVIOUS UPDATE | UPDATES HOME | NEXT UPDATE

[Home] [Updates] [The Route] [The Team]