원정 개요

Abenojar, Tshering and Pasang Dorji left C3 at about 9:30 pm (NST) of May 14. Abenojar and Tshering reached to summit at 8:45 am on May 15, spent about 15 on the summit. The team saw lots of prayer flags on the summit. Abenojar said there were 6-7 people on the summit ahead of him and many people behind him. He could not recognize other people. At the summit Tshering took his picture from different sides and camera stopped functioning. Tshering also helped to lower a woman of Arun Trek at Second Step (the woman must be the Turkish woman who became unconscious as told by Turkish Expedition). Abenojar and Tshering descended together First and Second Step. Tshering got eye sight problem; he left for C2 telling Dale to descend slowly. Abenojar reached C3 at about 3 pm and stayed in his tent without sleeping bag, no stoves without food till the morning of 16th. At night there was snowfall and inside tent temperature estimated at -50 degrees. At about 8700m he lost his right glove while taking a chocolate. It was very difficult to descend using left glove on the right hand. He left C3 (the time could not recall as he did not have a watch) snow condition was 2 feet deep and difficult to walk. After about fifteen minutes walking Abenojar saw a man descending who was on main rope and two Sherpas of 7 Summits Club, going up. Abenojar asked for their help to descend him as he got frostbitten toe and very tired. Sherpa helped him to harness and clipped on to main rope. He reached C2 around 11:30 am, rested for a while and went down to C1 (North Col).

The team returned to Kathmandu on May 22 and may leave in first week of June.

Sherpas:
Chhiring Jangbu Sherpa, 1/18/77, Lokhim-9, Solu
summited Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Sishapangma, Everest from both sides once
Pasang Dorji Sherpa, Makalu, Walung, 26/9/81

(TMA Certificate shows the height of Everest as 8844.43). His certificate gives him summit success based on what Abenojar told the LO.


Email from James Ben Mallen

Subject: Dale Abenojar's Claim on summiting Everest

Dale Abenojar's character and achievements here in the Philippines is very much doubtful because many have witnessed his failing in climbing one of the country's major mountain and I have personally witnessed his lack of endurance in climbing a less than 1000 meter.

We have heard of your "exclusieve" interview with one of our broadcast network claiming such, but still we have doubts because of the practice of broadcast networks of sensationalizing news and information.


Dear Mr. Mallen,

This is in reply to your e-mail to <himalayandatabase.com).

During the last week or two, I have had numerous phone calls from Filipino media about Dale Abenojar on the summit of Everest. My answer every time (most were taped) has been: He gave me two photos of a person on the top, and one of these clearly shows Makalu (but not Lhotse) in the background, which means that it was shot by someone at the summit of Everest from the north side.

The face of this person cannot be clearly seen because it is in shadow and mostly covered by an oxygen mask. However, while I was talking with Mr. Abenojar at his hotel, a Canadian climber whom I have met several times in recent years and who was on the north side of Everest this spring but not on the top, joined us and looked at the two photos; he said the pattern and colors of the person's down clothes were the same as those on Mr. Abenojar's clothes.

I have not specifically stated that Mr. Abenojar was on the summit. To the question whether I confirm that he was the first Filipino to reach the top, I have said that I have no idea who amongst them got there first.

Sincerely yours,
Elizabeth Hawley