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You have my sincerest wishes for a safe and successful climb to
the top of the world. Eager for receipt of Dispatch #6. From:
EKapitulik@theprogramathletics.com [mailto:ekapitulik@theprogramathletics.com] Teammates, I
have spent the last eight days staring at a wind and snow swept Chomolungma
from Everest Base Camp (BC). High winds and severe cold have made a summit
attempt impossible. That is about to change… After
studying the most recent weather forecasts for the Everest Region, my climbing
partners and I have decided to leave BC on Sunday morning, May 16th
to attempt our final assault on Mt. Everest. We will depart BC early and
hike to Interim Camp (IC) at 18,000’. After an early breakfast on
Monday morning, we will continue to hike up the East Rongbuk Glacier to
Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at 21,000’. The plan is to spend two or
three days at ABC before continuing our climb to The North Col/ Camp 1 at
23,500’ on Wednesday, May 19th or Thursday, May 20th.
Departing
Camp 1 to Camp 2 represents our commitment to a summit attempt so we will be
checking weather frequently after arriving to see how conditions are improving/
deteriorating at higher altitudes. Right now, although the weather looks
good, it is still very unpredictable. Should we decide to continue, it
will be an approximate 6- 8 hour hike to Camp 2 (25,250’) where we will
spend the night prior to departing for Camp 3 at 27,000’. During
our 6 hour hike to Camp 3 the following day, we will cross into “The
Death Zone,” the altitude where our bodies lose the ability to regenerate
and slowly begin to die. Upon reaching Camp 3, we will eat and rest as
much as possible for a few hours before departing for the summit of Mt. Everest
at 29,028’ (approx Sunday, May 23rd). After
a successful summit, we will head as far back down the mountain as possible
based on our own physical and mental condition, time and weather.
Although the primary goal is to get back down out of The Death Zone, I would
like to return as far as Camp 1 where I will spend the night prior to returning
to ABC and BC. I
hope to be able to email you a photo from the top of the world in 8- 12
days. I can’t promise that I will be able to do so, but I do
promise that I have prepared my body for the challenge I am about to subject
it. Further, I promise that I will try my best… Regards, Eric _____________________________ Eric Kapitulik,
C.E.O. & Founder The
Program, LLC 100
Newport Ave Ext Quincy, MA.
02171 Phone:
(617) 933- 7306 Fax:
(866) 722- 8091 |