 Mt. Everest journal entry:
May 2, 2009
Avalanche
“I write about what worries me, so I will
write about this. 9:15 a.m. May 2, 2009.
A massive avalanche hits the Khumbu Icefall,
as I am sitting in my tent. I look out when
I hear the noise, to see a massive wall of
snow descend and cover the falls. People
who have been climbing are trapped and
certainly scared. Very sobering. It takes
many minutes for the snow dust to settle.
From our viewpoint, we see a team of 6
(later to be identified as the Croatian
women’s climbing team), who are trapped in
the Icefall. We get word that a Sherpa is
missing and two others are partially buried.
The “sat” phones are humming, trying to
direct others to the half buried victims.
We are stunned, as we hear voices confirming
that the route has been compromised, and one
Sherpa has been lost. Our own guides,
clients, and Sherpas are safe, but our
hearts are injured and scared. Do not let
fear in. We are dusted here at base camp,
by the snow that rolls past from a mile
away. The Icefall “doctors” head out and
replace several ladders. It is our turn
tomorrow. God keep us safe.”
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