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At a very windy South Col

May 22, 2007 By paul.adler 22 Comments

Climbing up the Geneva Spur today. Photo Attila Jelinko.
Climbing up the Geneva Spur today. Photo Attila Jelinko.
In our tent on the South Col, writing this update. Photo Attila Jelinko.
In our tent on the South Col, writing this update. Photo Attila Jelinko.
Paul's track from camp 2, up the Lhotse face to camp 3, then on up to camp 4 on the South Col. Image from Google Earth by Nick Grainger
Paul’s track from camp 2, up the Lhotse face to camp 3, then on up to camp 4 on the South Col. Image from Google Earth by Nick Grainger

Local time: 22 May 16:00
Location: Camp 4
Altitude: 7980m
Weather: Clear and sunny all day, but wind increasing throughout the afternoon. Now very windy.

Hi it’s Paul coming to you from C4. If you have heard the audio update, you’ll know that Attila and I had a lovely climb up to C4 – the weather was great, very warm, little wind, but once we got to the South Col it increased dramatically. I don’t think it’s just localized wind either, because when I look up at Everest, there is a massive plume coming off it.

The wind is too strong to go up in now, and our only hope is for it to die down a little. It’s a real shame. The new forecast has 12 knots of wind around the time we would leave, so hopefully this will eventuate.

If we make an attempt tonight, our Sherpas want to leave at 8pm, this is quite early, so I might push for later, especially if the wind is still blowing hard.

Your Messages
Thanks for all your messages – it’s a really great boost to receive them. Sorry there are no individual replies today.

Paul.

Paul interviewed on Channel Nine
Clear Skies but Very Windy

Filed Under: Everest 2007

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sara says

    May 22, 2007 at 6:56 am

    Sara (Maggie Island)

    Good luck Paul and Attilla. I am praying for calmer conditions. All my love.

    Reply
  2. Cas says

    May 22, 2007 at 7:01 am

    Hi
    Its all fingers crossed from now…all you guys need now is a bit of luck. With all of us wishing you lots, that should not be a problem.
    A very excited for you

    Cas :-0

    Fiona …we are also thinking of you thinking of Paul

    Reply
  3. sdansker says

    May 22, 2007 at 7:09 am

    A bit of humor:

    The subject God has been contacted and for a price has agreed to knock off the big blow tonight. Rest assured you will be able to take off & reach the summit. Paul, you look great in the photos. Have a good rest today. Hope we will all hear you’ve left soon.

    Reply
  4. Roger Crawford says

    May 22, 2007 at 7:17 am

    Hi Paul

    Heres hoping the wind settles to a comfortable and safe level. You will make the correct call when the time comes. Drink up, set the alarm, get those ear plugs in and try to get some sleep 🙂 yeah sure.

    Time for sleeping here in Sydney so I will catch up with you Wed am and see how tonight unfolded.

    Cheers
    Roger

    Reply
  5. damian garrard says

    May 22, 2007 at 7:17 am

    I hope the wind calms for you Paul. Look forward to seeing your line on google earth reach the top! Damian and Amber.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    May 22, 2007 at 7:31 am

    Paul, all the best for the next stage, good luck
    Joe

    Reply
  7. Wade says

    May 22, 2007 at 7:36 am

    Paul your preperation has been fantastic. When preparation meets opportunity those winds will be in your favour. Wishing you all the very best. Be safe, be smart and look forward to your next update.

    Wade

    Reply
  8. DDinkins says

    May 22, 2007 at 7:58 am

    I sure hope that the winds will calm down and the weather will cooperate for you for a couple more days. Try to get a little rest–if it’s possible. Your photos are absolutely awesome! Good luck from all of us here in North Carolina. We are closely following your progress.

    Best regards.

    Reply
  9. John and Mary Adler says

    May 22, 2007 at 8:02 am

    We will be watching all night and will be at Nick’s in the morning.
    All our thoughts are with you-there is a special treat waiting for you at Base Camp when you get back down.
    lots of love
    Dad and Mare
    xxx

    Reply
  10. John and Mary Adler says

    May 22, 2007 at 8:03 am

    You sounded great on the Channel 9 news tonight!
    lol
    Dad and Mare
    xx

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    May 22, 2007 at 8:06 am

    Best of luck! We hope the weather gods are kind and the climbing is terrific. We will be thinking of you and Fiona tonight.
    Love
    Jo & Leo

    Reply
  12. Jacqui H says

    May 22, 2007 at 8:16 am

    Paul and Attila, wishing you both all of my best wishes for the impending hours ahead. Wishing you strength in body and character. Unfortunately mother nature is one of the few things to which we can only monitor – I hope she’s friendly to you both. Congratulations on getting to where you are now!
    Hey Fiona, any fingernails left? What an anxious time for you and I’m thinking of you. Love, Jacqueline x

    Reply
  13. superherri99 says

    May 22, 2007 at 8:21 am

    The climb to C4 must have been great. Now let’s hope the weather does the right thing and calms down. Best wishes for a successful and safe climb to the top.
    Neil & Marg

    Reply
  14. MC says

    May 22, 2007 at 8:26 am

    Well, Paul and Attila

    Echoing everyone’s wishes, good luck with the winds. I hope they will get down to the 12 knots that are predicted or even lower. Sending all my positive thoughts to you guys…

    MC

    p.s. Great photos at the Geneva Spur and the South Col!

    Reply
  15. superherri99 says

    May 22, 2007 at 8:26 am

    Fiona, we know it will not be much fun at BC at the moment so just letting you know we are thinking of you too.
    Lots of love,
    Mum & Dad xxoo

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    May 22, 2007 at 8:31 am

    Hello Paul,

    I whant to wish you the best of luck for your summit attempt. I really hope everything goes well.

    Eric,
    Canada

    Reply
  17. Pumori says

    May 22, 2007 at 9:18 am

    I’m hoping for calm winds and stable weather for the next couple of days, and calm nerves for Fiona. I want to see you two become the first(?) married couple to summit Everest in two separate years! I’ll be without a computer for the next 12 hours, so I’ll just have to keep sending positive energy your way. Good luck and stay safe!

    Shanda

    I don’t know what Nick did to your Web site, but it looks great…just different.

    Reply
  18. Gabriella says

    May 22, 2007 at 9:34 am

    May the force be with you all the way….From Gabe

    Reply
  19. xpostie says

    May 22, 2007 at 10:04 am

    Good Morning Paul and Team: Sure hope the winds will die down . God Speed. Frank in Happy valley Labrador. 11:06am

    Reply
  20. Cam1 says

    May 22, 2007 at 10:06 am

    Paul,

    Here’s hoping for good weather for your push to the summit.
    Climb safely and use good judgement.

    Cam and family

    Reply
  21. Gavin says

    May 22, 2007 at 10:53 am

    hey guys,
    i’m wishing you all the best for the next 24 hours…i hope the wind calms down and you can go up tonight. i’ll be following your progress closely.

    best wishes
    Gavin

    Reply
  22. Anonymous says

    May 22, 2007 at 5:42 pm

    Go Paul and Attila

    Just a few hours before the sun comes up over you standing on the tallest point on Earth. We are all very excited for you and have our fingers crossed that this time everything works out well.

    We hope that when you read this (at Camp 4 on the way down) you have a huge sense of achievement (and, we expect, a small amount of relief). We are incredibly proud of you.

    Our thoughts over the next few hours are with you and Fiona.

    Love

    DP, Maddi, Zac, Sienna and Jed

    Reply

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Paul’s Everest Climb 2007

In 2007, Paul returned to climb Mt Everest after missing out on reaching the summit by 100 metres the previous year. In 2006, Paul and Fiona both climbed together and although Fiona successfully summited, problems with Paul's oxygen system forced him to turn around. On 23 May 2007, exactly a year to the day later, he reached the summit. This is the daily blog from this climb.
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