원정 개요

High point at First Step.

Miletic and Gheorghe Dijmarescu left ABC to go top 14 May while other members were resting in Shigatse. Zoran 15 May to C2 (only members to sleep in C2), 16 May C3 and starting towards top on 17th. Gheorghe got to top, Zoran was behind them and from 2nd Step Gheorghe saw Zoran on 1st Step. When Gheorghe returned to C3 found Zoran's backpack and sleeping bag not there, which meant Zoran had continued down below C3. Zoran's body found in Japan C2 tent on 21 May with his sleeping bag and crampons outside tent; on him were his boots and cooking pot on his head (he was sitting with head forward and down). Body found by Sherpa from big Japanese expedition. Cause of death entirely unknown. Body simply moved out of tent by this (Dimitrov's) expedition Sherpa on 23 May and left near it.

Rest of expedition returned to BC 14 May and from 16 to 20 May various members up to ABC. 22 May 4 members and 2 Sherpas to C1 (Katsarov turned back after 1 hour stop from ABC because altitude sickness). Dimitrov stayed in ABC for 2 nights. 24 May Sherpas in C2 reported tent destroyed by wind but cache of gear still there. Team wanted to use oxygen in ascent but stayed in C1 another night and Dimitrov up to C1 to find out what's going on. Met Loredo coming down from C1 and one Sherpa coming down (pneumonia). At C1 other Sherpa also sinks and gets pneumonia next day. So no Sherpa support for summit bid. 25 May Skripko down to ABC, 26th Carro down, and Pflugradt down to ABC 27th and climb finished.

Russell Brice, Ev North leader - 3 June '02

On 18 May, Brice's member Yamada and Sherpa with Yamada saw tracks in snow of someone having been sliding on his bottom, starting at about 8400m down the snowslope slanting slightly westward, past the camp at 8300m and past Mallory's body under the snow to about 8100m or 8000m. There they could see him stand up and fall down immediately. Dimitrov and Skripko made no effort to find him. 6 days later Japanese expedition led by Higuchi found him dead in their C2 tent.

More information about final days of Miletic in Gheorghe Dijmarescu's report to Internet's EverestNews.com in Dijmarescu file.