MountainZone.com



Alpine Ascents International

MORE EVEREST



NEPAL TIME:
 Home > South Col Dispatch Index > April 30 Dispatch

Pandemonium Ruled
Base Camp -Tuesday, April 30, 2002
News:
Fatal Accident on the Lhotse Face

Tejas
Tejas
DISPATCHES
previousnext

Hey Cybernauts, wild, woolly winds whipped through Camp early this morning. Puja flag poles were blown down throughout Base Camp and our comm tent nearly went airborne.

"...word came down the mountain this morning of an accident which took the life of a fellow climber..."
A wandering yak was seen festooned with prayer flags dangling from his horns. Pandemonium ruled. Luis and I lassoed the comm shelter with a climbing rope and snubbed it off to some really large boulders. The Sherpas went into action and reinforced our flagpole Iwo Jima-style. I wish we could have gotten a picture of that, yet it really wasn't possible in 30-knot winds.

Believe me all this sitting around is not what it's cracked up to be. Steady boy, steady. Patience is a virtue. Well at least some good comes to those who wait. We were able to fly out our sick friend on a chopper after the winds finally abated this morning. The good doctor, our own Bryce Brown, gives him an excellent chance for survival now that he is on the way to civilization.

On a very sad note, word came down the mountain this morning of an accident which took the life of a fellow climber. We all feel this loss deeply. More details will certainly surface in the days to come but let it suffice to say we are greatly saddened to lose a kindred spirit.

Sincerely,

Vern Tejas, Alpine Ascents International Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent

email a friend