원정 개요

Cross said he left C2 for the top on 26 September at 10:00 pm (NST) and was on the summit at 9:27 am of the 27th. He saw Everest and Makalu. He returned to C2 at 3:00 pm for the night. He was back in ABC on the 28th.

From Cho Oyu, he went to Xixabangma and pitched his ABC on 2 October. He rested there and then on the 5th, while he was headed for the ridge, he met the experienced Australian climber Andrew Lock, who was coming off the mountain. Lock told Cross about deep, unstable snow and avalanching higher up, and Cross decided to make no attempt to climb Xixabangma.


Cleo Weidlich - 11 October 2009

Cleo Weidlich, who was on Cho Oyu at the same time as Cross, on 11 October volunteered her thoughts about his climbing. She said they had arrived together at BC, and on their way to ABC, he slowed down. They were together in C1, where "he was helpless," had no strength and had to be helped. He stayed in C1 three nights and four days, then went back to ABC on the 18th. He was very weak. On the 21st he went up to C1 "with Tibetan boys to help him" carry his load. He climbed to the site for C2 and retreated to ABC on the 23rd. She concluded, "He should never be on a mountain without a Sherpa."