My apologies for the late alert regarding
the TV interview before the guys left on Sunday. The reason
is that their date of departure depended entirely on the weather
forecast and the prevailing conditions. The weather has been
erratic and it was difficult to decide if the good-weather
window would be long enough for a summit bid. They also had
to be sure they had rested enough from their acclimatisation
climbs.
You probably know by now that that poor
Mok has broken a rib and had pulled out of the summit bid.
He had suffered from violent coughing fits from the time he
arrived, due to cold-induced asthma, and this may have caused
the fracture. We are all very sadden by this but Mok very
generously volunteered to pull out. He won't be able to carry
the heavy rucksack for the long distances, and should anything
happen to him on the way, the entire team would have to come
down and the expedition would be over. He realised all this
and said it was better if he didn't put the expedition at
risk.
Rob and Edwin, disappointed as they were,
proceeded to re-adjust their equipment and food and fuel supplies.
As a two-man team, they will be able to move faster, but the
margin for error will be much smaller. Any mistake like a
slip or a fall will be more risky. But their determination
and morale remain high. Both are extremely strong climbers
and I am confident they will turn this development into an
advantage.
Anyway, yesterday (Saturday) they finally
decided on setting off today. After the TV interview in the
morning, and an early lunch, Robert and Edwin set off. The
tentative summit date is Thursday 16th, but again, it depends
on the weather. This is not an excuse. This season's weather
is so bad that to date, none of the climbers here at ABC has
summited. And our team is the only one doing it alpine style.
All the others, doing it in conventional style, have not managed
to summit yet.
Should the guys fail to summit, they will
return to ABC and wait for another window in the weather to
make a second bid. We have up to the end of May, which is
the end of the Spring climbing season, to climb the mountain.
A video-conference is being arranged in
the event of a successful summit bid, and representatives
from sponsors and the media will be invited. The date for
this is not firm as it depends on when the guys return to
ABC. A rough guess would be around a week from now. Tentatively,
this is being held at the premises of Singapore Pools which
has also kindly agreed to sponsor the costly satellite time
for the conference call. You will be contacted regarding arrangements.
Meanwhile, you may wish to consider including a congratulatory
message in the press kit. (A decision will be made later
regarding this should the guys fail to summit.)
Over the next few days, we at ABC
will be on tenderhooks. You will be kept posted of every development.
Do join us in our prays for their safety.
Lulin Reutens Base Camp Manager
Singapore Xixabangma Expedition 2002 13
May 2002, 8.30 am
