TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2008
Rest Day at Camp IV
Today the team rested at Camp IV. They spent the day eating, napping and hanging out. If the weather is good tomorrow the team plans to climb to high camp at around 17,000 feet. There is a high wind advisory for Friday with winds potentially up to 60 mph. If this is the case, the team may attempt to summit on Thursday before the weather turns. They were expecting to get a weather update within the hour. However, if the weather does not cooperate, they will be staying at 14,000 to ride it out. Wes said he can see clouds blowing up from lower on the mountain. The guides are really motivated to get the team as high up the mountain as possible. Wes said there was a rescue today. A Spanish woman had summited yesterday but did not get back to 17,000 until 3:00 a.m. The rangers had to lower her down from 17,000 first in a basket and then skied her down in a sled to Medical Camp. They weren't able to airlift her out today but she will be flown off the mountain tomorrow. It sounds like she has severe frostbite on her hands and may lose her fingers. All of Wes' team is doing well. They had one very minor injury. Jerry cut his finger with a knife and Wes had to dermabond (surgical crazy glue) it together. He said Jerry's finger will be fine and he is doing well. Wes also talked to one of the volunteer medics at Medical Camp named Paul. He gave Wes a tour of Medical Camp. He suggested Wes come back as a volunteer medic next year. Wes said he feels great and is ready to move higher. Let's all hope the weather cooperates and the team is able to move to 17,000 tomorrow.
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