Everest 2008: Lincoln Hall Rescuer Andrew Brash’s Latest Dispatch

This is an expedition I have not touched much on, but one that has drawn a bit of media attention. In 2008, Andrew Brash has returned to Mt. Everest. Most of you should recognize his name. Back in 2006, Brash, along with Dan Mazur and Myles Osborne helped make one of the most famous rescues in Everest history. That of Lincoln Hall.

Andrew Brash has returned for the first time since those tragic events. He is currently making (almost) daily dispatches from his own website. Andrew is currently climbing with the SummitClimb team. His latest dispatch came on May 9th with a pretty good report of how everyone received the information that Nepal had officially called off all restrictions on Everest after the Chinese made a successful Olympic Torch Summit.

“As we walked into camp a huge crowd became visible. To
the Nepali’s credit, they were immediately holding a meeting with
Liaison Officers, Army, Police and Expedition Leaders to discuss the
new reality. Restrictions on climbers were lifted then and there. Army
and Liason Officers were ecstatic with thoughts of getting home. No one
has enjoyed what we’ve had to go through, but by and large people have
behaved well.

I am pretty sure everyone in camp gave a big sigh of relief, and then reality sank in. It was time to climb! Andrew does suggest that his SummitClimb team is looking for a possible summit bid around May 19th or 20th, with summit day being the 23rd or 24th. Looks like that is the week that the majority of climbers are mentioning at this point.

Andrew Bash also makes a pretty honest assessment of what he and his team have to look forward to over the coming two weeks:

“It is a huge relief that we can now get on with
climbing the mountain. Now all we have to deal with are the usual
Everestey things like teams giving each other bogus weather reports,
fixed line crowding, rumours and fibs about who’s going for the top and
when (of course you can bank on the dates above…), and of course
deciding when you’re going to try and drag your own sorry butt through
all of it. I am damn excited that the opportunity has opened up though
- here we go!

Sounds like some great fun. We all know that usually the first team to summit Everest gets quite a bit of publicity each year. Unfortunately, climbing Everest should not be looked upon as a race, but in recent years, that has been what it amounts to as expedition teams try to garner a bit more attention and credibility, which then translates into dollars and clients. I guess as long as everyone climbs safe, these guys can play whatever tricks they want beforehand, but when it gets down to it, it is all business.

I have also been hearing that a beautiful rainbow sprang up over Everest right after the Chinese summited with the torch on Wednesday. Andrew has a nice photo of the rainbow, but not over Everest, over Dhaulagiri instead. Was hoping Alan Arnette had captured it on film, but haven’t seen a post. Anyone see any photos of this yet? Was just curious. Would have made for a beautiful photo opportunity.