Daily Dispatches
Satellite phone updates from the 1998 American Everest Expedition
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Mencin

Just Below the South Summit
Monday, May 18, 1998 — 6:30pm PST
Tuesday, May 19, 1998 — 7:15am Nepal Time

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Hillary Step and preceding traverse viewed from the South Summit
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(photo: Burleson/ Alpine Ascents)

Mountain Zone, this is Dave Mencin again. The sun has come up here now, and it's turning out to be an incredibly beautiful day. No wind so far and no clouds. Beautiful blue sky and pretty dang balmy for here.

Just got a report from the climbers — indirectly through Wally — they're on the other side of the mountain a little bit, so it's hard to get radio transmissions. They are very close to the South Summit (28,700') and the time here is 7:15am NPT. They are moving very fast and potentially could be on that summit within the hour. When they get to the South Summit, we'll hopefully have radio contact with them.

Like I said, just an incredible summit day. Incredible. Everybody is very happy. It's a good day; there's not many big teams up there — small, strong teams that seem to be working well.

Eric is out front actually with the Sherpas fixing rope, and Greg and Charles are right behind. Wally has reached the Geneva Spur and is on the South Col. Here's a little transcript of us finding out they were close to the South Summit: [mostly inaudible radio conversation].

— David Mencin, Expedition Scientist

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