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NOVA Climbers Reach the Summit!
May 23, 1997
by Lauren Aguirre
Our climbers reached the summit of Mt. Everest early this morning Everest time,
beginning with David Breashears at 6:50 am, and followed soon thereafter by Ed
Viesturs, David Carter, and Jangbu Sherpa. Here at Base Camp we were not able to
establish radio contact with Pete Athans, but he had been climbing with David
Breashears and is assumed to be safe. By 7:45 am, all the climbers were on their
way back down the mountain, heading toward the safety of Camp IV.
Their immediate concern was to get out of the wind and cold on the summit, and
down the Hillary Step, to avoid being trapped there by climbers from other
expeditions on their way up. Up to 50 people were hoping to reach the peak
tonight, taking advantage of what could be the last possible window for a summit
attempt this year. Our climbers expected that they would be back at Camp IV
within about five hours of their departure from the peak, with a short stop at
the South summit to continue with their neuro-behavioral testing.
While they were still on the summit, our physician at Base Camp, Dr. Howard
Donner, was able to speak in turn with David Breashears, David Carter, Jangbu
Sherpa and Ed Viesturs via radio and satellite phone for a historic live audio
feed to this Web site.
Check back for news tomorrow on our climbers' whereabouts.
June 10, 1997: Back Home (27)
May 25, 1997: Climbers Return to Base Camp (26)
May 24, 1997: Descending Toward Base Camp (25)
May 23 PM, 1997: NOVA Climbers Safely Off the Summit (24)
May 23 AM, 1997: NOVA Climbers Reach the Summit! (23)
Hear the archived live audio broadcast from the summit
Read the transcript of the broadcast from the summit
May 22, 1997: Bid for the Summit (22)
May 21, 1997: Helicopter Crashes at Everest Base Camp (21)
May 20, 1997: Moving On Up (20)
May 19, 1997: Poised at Camp II (19)
May 18, 1997: Departing for Camp II (18)
May 17, 1997: Dead Sherpa Found on Khumbu Glacier (17)
May 16, 1997: Jet Stream Winds Blast Camp II (16)
May 13, 1997: Receiving News from the North Side (15)
May 13, 1997: RealAudio Interview with David Breashears
May 11, 1997: Five Climbers Presumed Dead on the North Side (14)
May 10, 1997: The Waiting Game (13)
May 9, 1997: Pulmonary Edema Evacuation from Base Camp (12)
May 8, 1997: A Hasty Retreat to Base Camp (11)
May 7, 1997: Sherpa Falls To His Death On The Lhotse Face (10)
May 6, 1997: Spin: A Passenger to the Summit (9)
May 5, 1997: Delayed at Advance Base Camp (8)
May 4, 1997: NOVA Climbers Leave Base Camp for Their Summit Attempt (7)
May 1, 1997: NOVA Team Prepares for Summit Attempt (6)
April 26, 1997: Indonesian Expedition First to Summit in 1997 (5)
April 23, 1997: Expedition Leader Dies at Everest Base Camp (4)
April 22, 1997: Japanese Expedition Pulls Out (3)
April 16, 1997: Traffic Reports on Everest (2)
April 14, 1997: Rescue Season Begins (1)
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