Push For the Summit

May 26: UPDATE: 10:15 am: Shaunna Forced to Abandon Her Summit Push
Due to extreme cold and high winds, Shaunna and her team of Sherpas were forced to abandon their climb to the summit today. She spent an amazing three days in the “Death Zone” waiting for a break in the weather. However, the elements were not on her side. Nevertheless, her perseverance and determination to hang on as long as possible at Camp IV in order to make her summit push is truly amazing. CONGRATULATIONS SHAUNNA ON A TREMENDOUS EFFORT! READ the latest journal entry (May 26) from Base Camp by clicking on the Journal Entries link.

May 25: UPDATE: 5:15 pm: Shaunna Has Delayed Her Summit Push Until Tonight
Shaunna has delayed her climb to the summit until tonight. At midnight, the decision was made to suspend the earlier summit attempt. However, they have secured more oxygen from a descending team. As a result, Shaunna will be making a summit attempt tonight instead. Due to fatigue, Andrew descended to Camp II late yesterday. SEE details below
READ the latest journal entry from Everest by clicking on the Journal Entries link.

May 25: UPDATE: 2:50 pm: Shaunna and Andrew Waiting at Camp IV
Shaunna and Andrew are currently stuck at Camp IV. Snow and wind has prevented them from climbing to the Summit. They will remain at Camp IV for another 1 - 2 hours and wait for a clearing in weather. If the weather clears, they will attempt to summit. If the inclement weather remains, Shaunna and Andrew will abandon their summit push and return to Base Camp.
Stay Tuned! Details will be posted as soon as they are made available.
SEE more details below Visit: Tracking the Climb and click on the Journal Entries link to read the full story about Shaunna and Andrew's summit.

May 25: UPDATE: Shaunna is Making Her Summit Push! Andrew Lock is close behind.
Transmissions from Everest have been fewer due to weather conditions. They have been experiencing snowy and icy conditions. Shaunna Burke is going strong. She has reached Camp IV and is currently attempting her summit push. Andrew left on May 22 to climb the summit a second time -- this time, without oxygen. Ben Webster was forced to turn back. After 12 days of directing activity from Camp II (approx 24 000 ft) the high altitude has taken its toll. He is now resting at Base Camp. SEE more details below
Visit: Tracking the Climb and click on the Journal Entries link to read the full story about Shaunna and Andrew's summit.

May 19: UPDATE: Shaunna and Ben's Summit Push
Ben and Shaunna are still planning to make their push for the summit. However, they have pushed their summit day ahead due to concerns about the weather. The new tentative date for their summit push is May 23. However, they require another weather report in order to confirm this date. SEE more details below

May 18: Shaunna and Ben's Summit Push
Ben and Shaunna will be leaving Camp II on May 19. They will climb to Camp III on the 20th, move to Camp IV on the 21st, and go for the Summit on May 22. SEE more details below.

THEY MADE IT !!!: Sunday May 16: 10:15 am
Hector Ponce de Leon and Andrew Lock made it to the Summit of Everest early this morning.

Andrew arrived at the summit as scheduled -- approximately 9:30 am. Hector left Camp IV at 3:00 am and summitted just after Andrew -- an amazing ascent to the top of Everest with camera equipment! The team is extremely excited about their acheivement. See details in summary chart below. Visit: Tracking the Climb and click on the Journal Entries link to read the full story about Andrew and Hector's summit.

May 15
Plans to summit on Sunday May 16 are still ago. Andrew and Hector are resting at Camp IV for their summit push.
See details below. Visit: Tracking the Climb and click on the Journal Entries link to read today's journal article.

Read "Best Wishes" messages for the Everest 2004 Team from Expeditions Followers

May 11
Ben Webster phoned in on May 11 to discuss the tentative plan for the summit push. The team agreed that Hector Ponce de Leon and Andrew Lock will make the first summit attempt while Ben and Shaunna will provide support. It is hoped that Hector and Andrew will be positioned to make the final push on Sunday May 16.

Following their return, Ben and Shaunna will attempt to summit around May 19 or 20, provided there is a window of opportunity in terms of weather. Weather conditions can be quite variable at the summit. Calmer winds are necessary in order to make a safe ascent to the summit.

See what the weather conditions are like on Mt. Everest

GPS Data: The Everest 2004 team is continuing to have difficulty registering data with the GPS units. Technicians on Everest will continue to troubleshoot. More details will be provided as they are made available.

SUMMIT PUSH UPDATE: Tuesday May 25		STATUS
Wednesday May 12	5:00 am: Everest 2004 climbing team will leave Base Camp - Hector Ponce De Leon and Andrew Lock, with their Sherpas Ang Gelu and Mingma, will reach Camp II - Ben and Shaunna will try to reach Camp II at the same time. However, since they will be guiding the camera crew, they may not reach Camp II on May 12. If this is the case, they will spend the night at Camp I.	- Hector and Andrew arrived at Camp II, on schedule -Ben and Shaunna also arrived at Camp II and will be remaining there, as planned -Ben is in regular contact with Hector and Andrew via radio
Thursday May 13	- Hector and Andrew will reach Camp III	- Hector and Andrew arrived at Camp III and will rest in preparation for the Summit push.
Friday May 14	- Hector and Andrew will reach Camp IV. It is likely that 3 or 4 summit teams from other expeditions will also be at Camp IV preparing for their summit pushes.	- Hector and Andrew will leave for Camp IV Saturday morning, as scheduled. - Weather conditions look good for May 15 and 16 - Planned summit for May 16 is still the plan - However, bottlenecking may be a problem as many other climbing teams may wish to take advantage of the good weather ahead this weekend make their own pushes for the summit -Late evening on May 15, Hector, Andrew and Ben will determine whether to proceed with the push to the summit
Saturday May 15	- Hector and Andrew will rest at Camp IV for the push to the Summit on early Sunday morning	- Hector and Andrew reached Camp IV. They are now resting for their final summit push tomorrow -Andrew will leave Camp IV tonight at 10:00 pm - a little bit earlier than originally planned. - Hector will leave between 3:00 am and 4:00 am (Sunday May 16) - Andrew and Hector plan to descend to Camp II on Sunday by late afternoon or early evening. - However, due to the number of teams that will be on the ridge, the descent may take longer. Spending the night on Camp III would be an option since their oxygen supply is sufficient. - Ben Webster is in constant contact with the team via radio, monitoring the ascent to the top.
Sunday May 16	- PLANNED SUMMIT DAY - Early morning push for the summit , with Sherpas Ang Gelu and Mingma. - 1:00 am: Andrew will leave early in the morning, at approximately Nepal Time. - 4:00 am: Hector will leave later at in order to capture the first ascent on film.	THEY MADE IT!! -Andrew left Camp IV on schedule at 10:00 pm and arrived at the summit at 9:30 am. -Hector left Camp IV at 3:00 am and summitted just after Andrew -- an amazing ascent up to the top of Everest with camera equipment! -Both Hector and Andrew have descended to Camp II and will rest there before descending to Base Camp. -Ben Webster has been awake for an exhausting 48 hours directing activity on the summit. He will be staying at Camp II for the night directing filming Sherpas up the summit. They will be capturing footage of other climbing teams as they summit. -Following this, Ben will return to Base Camp and rest for one day in preparation for a summit push with Shaunna. They will attempt to take advantage of the good weather conditions at Everest. -STAY TUNED to hear more details about Shaunna and Ben's push for the summit.
Wednesday May 19	SHAUNNA AND BEN'S PUSH FOR THE SUMMIT - Shaunna and Ben will attempt their summit push over the next few days -Shauna, Ben and 4 Climbing Sherpas were going to leave Camp II on Wednesday May 19 Revised Plan: Postpone leaving until May 21 due to forecast of snow.	- Ben and Shaunna have decided NOT to leave Camp II on May 19. - The weather forecast is calling for some significant snowfall. -Ben and Shaunna are waiting for the next weather forecast to confirm their new summit plan. -As it stands, the revised push to the summit plan is: - May 21: Leave Camp II and reach Camp III - May 22: Reach the South Col and climb to Camp IV - May 23: Climb to the summit, if the weather is clear
Thursday May 20	-Ben and Shaunna were going to climb to Camp III -Revised Plan: Stay at Camp II for the day -Leave Camp II and reach Camp III on May 21	Ben and Shaunna are resting at Camp II
Friday May 21	-Ben and Shaunna were going to climb to Camp IV - Revised Plan: Leave Camp II and reach Camp III	Ben and Shaunna are waiting for a break in weather in order to depart.
Saturday May 22	-Ben and Shaunna were going to summit on May 22 - Revised Plan: Climb to the South Col and to Camp IV	- Ben and Shaunna are waiting for a break in weather in order to depart. - Andrew Lock left to catch up with Shaunna and Ben.
Sunday May 23	TENTATIVE SUMMIT DAY -If weather is clear, Ben and Shaunna will push for the summit -Otherwise, may push to the summit on May 24 - three sherpas will capture their ascent on film	- Ben and Shaunna made their way to the Lhotse face. - Andrew Lock reached Camp II - Ben Webster decided not to summit. After 12 exhausting days of directing activity from Camp II, Ben was concerned about his level of fatigue.
Monday May 24	ALTERNATE SUMMIT DAY	- Shaunna is heading to Camp IV -Shaunna will leave for the Summit in the evening
Tuesday May 25	SHAUNNA'S NEW SUMMIT DAY	-at midnight, Shaunna delayed her summit push. She will attempt to summit later this evening. -Andrew Lock descended to Camp II late yesterday and returned to Base Camp today. -Shaunna and her team of Sherpas were forced to abandon their push for the Summit due to high winds and cold temperatures.