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Intense Sun at Camp I
Camp I - Wednesday, May 17, 2000

DISPATCHES

Prittie

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Hello Mountain Zone, this is Willi Prittie reporting from Camp I on Mount Everest, with the Alpine Ascents International Mount Everest program. We had a very good trip to I [Camp I]; our quickest time yet coming up here today. We left a little bit after 4:30 in the morning, to try to avoid the heat of the day in the Icefall. It's a bit safer that way; it's also a whole lot more comfortable if you're not in this solar furnace up here when the sun is up high. We felt very hot when we arrived here at Camp I, but we've been relaxing, rehydrating and preparing for our trip to Camp II here today.

Also, in the route through the Icefall we had an interesting meeting, if you will. Al Hanna, from our group, as well as Carlos, from Madrid, and Joe Wolf, from Hawaii — the three oldest people on the mountain — we actually got to stop and socialize just a bit near the top of the Icefall. That was a real high point for me, it's always an inspiration to see these guys up here climbing and doing a very good job of it, as well. Right now, as I speak, we're cooking dinner up here at Camp I and getting ready to settle down in the evening.

Other interesting thing we had happen here in the sun...it was incredibly intense and we actually were able to a watch a black plastic bag — outside at Camp I — melt in the sun. Never quite seen that before, but we were definitely glad when the clouds rolled in.

Well, that's about it from Camp I, up here where we're all having fun.

— Willi Prittie, Alpine Ascents Guide and MountainZone.com Correspondent

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