원정 개요

Did no climbing because trekking agent, Santa Subba of Kailash Himalayan Treks, never paid HMG for permit. Agent "robbed us," charged thousands of dollars for unnecessary elaborate icefall route of their own, overcharged for more bottles of oxygen than produced, etc, etc. Have a Nepali lawyer to retrieve funds paid to agent and will stay in KTM as long as it takes to reach a settlement. Want to return for Everest ascent next year.

Ministry of Tourism - 1 Oct 1997 - no permit issued because no royalty paid.

19 Oct - team representative offered to pay $30,000 before summit guaranteed more later.

(Mrs Mendez and another member prayed at BC on 23 Sept says German journalist who interviewed Mr and Mrs today, 5 Oct 1997 - they confirmed to her they did no climbing because no permit - have now received refund from agent).


Inaki Ochoa, Spanish Lhotse leader - 19 Oct 1997

Mexican team belonged to some Christian sect which is very well financed by titles from its membership. They explained that their good was to take the devil away from the summit of Everest that God could come to Nepal and people of Nepal, Hindus and Buddhists, could be evangelized, They wrote with an ice axe on seracs near BC "Jesus lives," and made and altar in ice beside BC and prayed there every day. It took them six hours to travel from Gorak Shep to BC (trip of an hour or less normally) because they fell on their knees frequently to pray. On this way to BC, there is a big hole and they said this was the gateway to hell and they prayed to God to close it. They tried to pay less than the the $70,000 fee; said they had excellent Mexican connections with important people in Nepal. When that didn't produce a permit, they said they had realized at BC that BC was as good as the summit for their purpose.

24 Oct 1997 - trekking agent, Santa Subba of Kailash Himalayan Treks - Mexican leader made connected effort to get entire royalty waived: saw Secretary of Tourism Ministry and Minister of Tourism and argued that fee should not be charged because team would pray for peace in world and peace for Nepal people; if these prayers not conducted atop Everest, disasters would strike Nepal. Officials did not agree to waive fee. Then she offered a blank cheque which she signed, saying no money in account. This expedition paid no bills in KTM: no hotel bills, agent's fees and expenses.

17 Nov 1997 - Subba said Mendez paid about half of his bills.