원정 개요

C2 not slept in (place to rest & drink)
C3 next to Kazakh body (also not slept in).

Left supplies and tent at C2 at 7500m on 21 April but not occupied, used for resting only. Long times in BC after this because of strong winds at highest altitudes. Joao and Pascal tried for top on 4th May: to C2, spent few hours at C2 and down during night when winds had dropped; down to ABC and 5th to BC where was fresh food.

Next summit bid: 15th both from BC to ABC with Hubert and Sherpa (Hubert turned back before C2) which Joao and Pascal kept on up: 16 Joao to North Col and Pascal stayed in ABC and up early from ABC and joined Joao at Col 7:00 am. Left together from North Col at 8:00 am 17th and climbed to C2, made drinks there. Joao left C2 with tent and oxygen at 2:30 pm and Pascal left 4:30 pm (he wanted to spend little time at altitude but Joao wanted time to pitch C3 in daylight). Joao arrived at C3 6:00 pm and Pascal at 8:00 pm. Joao and Pascal left C3 together at midnight and reached summit: Joao at 1:30-2:00 pm then spent about 2 hours looking for tripod and taking photo; Pascal joined Joao about 3:30 pm. Started down together and reached 2nd Step, now getting dark and Joao and Debrouwer had left head camps in a bag below. Joao went ahead, Pascal would catch up with him while Joao rested/dozed. This happened several times but one time Pascal did not come. Joao woke up and down alone to C3 at 7:00 am 19 May. Joao tried to go up to search for Pascal but not strong enough and had to turn down. Now so confused by altitude, had only wool gloves and fingers badly frostbitten now during day of 19th. Came to North Col during evening 8:00 pm of 19th, very slow semi-conscious and reached ABC on 20th. Pascal was shaken by Polish Sherpas below 1st Step but did not react and Sherpas left him. Mondinelli Sherpas saw Pascal fall 19th May from 8300-8400m and body not seen later.

Garcia and Debrouwer did all the high climbing of the team. Alain Hubert, independent Belgian, climbed with them sometimes; other members were "useless."

Mondinelli - 26 May: Pascal seen on 19 May at 2:30 pm falling after taking 4 steps at 8400m halfway between C3 and First Step - fell as Mondinelli, Miss Pasaban and 3 Sherpas had started towards him to help him, but when they saw him fall, did not continue towards him any longer because didn't know how far he fell.

Brice - 9 June 99: Debrouwer and Garcia certainly were not strong enough climbers to attempt successfuly the sort of ascent they did make with such disastrous results - and they made the entire program for the expedition just for their own plans. Brice confirms their summit date was 18 May.