원정 개요

C1 at North Col
High point at just below 2nd Step.

Long time to occupy C2 because of big storms that ruined tents, but no gear lost - tents at ABC and at 7800m (tent put there by Sherpa) but not at North Col, where camps were very well protected from wind. 22 May summit party left C3 at 1:00 am NST: Fessler, Julien, Kobler, Krug, Meyer, M. Pasche, Olivier Pasche, Ulrich, Karma Sherpa**, Pemba Sherpa, Pemba (Tibetan), Mingma Sherpa and (name?) Sherpa - reached 6:30 am slightly below 2nd Step, now windy and cloudy. At 2nd Step 15 climbers in queue for Step, Kobler decided to retreat because worried about recurrance of 1996 disaster. Most who went on up came back with frostbite, snowblindness and 1 with broken leg (Pritt's team), so Kobler happy with decision. 2 members down to ABC. Now weather forecast was bad winds till end of month and most members too tired to try again.

Oxygen use: Summit party members and Sherpas climbing up from 7800m, sleeping at 8300m and summit attempt and back to 8300m (and sleeping).

Iten left expedition end April, never reached ABC, frightened and couldn't sleep.
Michel left 20 April homesick.
Wellig left end April with his client Iten.

This team, Brice's team and Chinese fixed almost entire route from 6700m.

** Iceland Trekking's Karma Gelja 18 July 2003:

On 22 May summit bid Sherpas and Tibetan were:
Mingma Sherpa to 8600m, Tashigaon, Makalu VDC
Nima Tamang to 8600m, Tapting, Solu
Pasang Sherpa to 8600m, Tashigaon
Pemba Tamang to 8500m, Taksindu
Pemba (Tibetan) to 8350m, then had to go down because of altitude sickness