Jamie Clarke’s Expedition Hanesbrands Everest Dispatch
May 17, 2010 – Summit Success
At 8:40 am this morning the radio call came in to our communications tent at Base Camp. Jamie Clarke and his team had reached the summit of Everest!
The emotion amongst all of us here at Base Camp was at first muted, but then powerful as we realized that a dream that was 31 months old, and that had involved the dedication and sacrifice of many people at Hanesbrands and with Jamie Clarke and his family had been realized. Jamie Clarke’s “Everest” – the top of the world had been reached.
Here is a recap of how this remarkable Mount Everest summit day unfolded.
May 16th, 9:00 PM– A radio call came from the South Col: Kami, our lead climbing Sherpa, reported that climbers were already leaving for the summit and that Jamie and Scott we already putting their boots on. The 17th would be the day! The summit climbing team would consist of Jamie, Scott, Kami, Pemba Dorje and Namgyel. Aarita would remain at the South Col in support. His job would be to remain rested in case he needed to go up to help, and to have plenty of water melted and food prepared when the climbers return to the Col.
As soon as Ang Tshering, our Base Camp manager, learned that the climb was a go, he went out to light the pooja fire at the team’s “Champion” chorten. This fire will burn throughout the climb to bless the climbers.
10:00 PM– Jamie and Scott begin climbing. They comment that there are already many, many headlamps visible above them on the “Triangular Face” as they set out.
May 17, 1:30 AM– After climbing 3 ½ hours above the South Col, Jamie calls us on the radio. He reports that he is just below the “Balcony” which is where the Triangular Face meets the South East Ridge of Everest. The elevation is 28,000 ft. Jamie is still talking about climbing in a “traffic jam”. We can tell that he is enjoying the climb however, while gasping for air in the cold night wind he describes the scene he is seeing to us, “starry sky, milky way, lights of Tangboche Monastery far below.” It is amazing to think that Jamie and Scott can look down on this sacred and scenic spot where so many trekkers pause to view Everest. The tiny lights of the monastery are far away, but they know the spot very well.
3:55 AM– Jamie, Scott, Kami, Ang Namgyel and Pemba Dorje are finally above the Balcony. They managed to pass 20 other climbers who had stopped to change out oxygen bottles at the Balcony, but they report to us that at least 20 more are ahead of them on the way to the South Summit.
5:50 AM– The guys call us to report that they are just below the South Summit. They plan to move quickly past the South Summit so that they can pass even more of today’s summit climbers.
7:30 AM– Success with the passing maneuver at 28, 800 feet! They guys are out on the steep traverse toward the summit now and Jamie reports that they can see the Hillary Step. This vertical rock section will be strenuous, but once this final difficulty is passed, the summit is in reach!
8:00 AM– Kami reports over the radio that Jamie is nearly over the Hillary Step.
8:40 AM– Summit! As he makes his final steps to the top, Jamie calls on the radio and we can hear his labored, but purposeful breathing. This is it, the months of training, planning, climbing, dreaming are culminating at the top of the world.
10:00 AM– After one hour and 20 minutes on the top, Jamie and his team start down. They have been shooting video, using their sat phone to send their message of success to the Hanesbrands community, to their families and to the world. Jamie described to us with great emotion about how he scanned the world’s most expansive horizon and marveled at his good fortune. As the team begins their descent back over the Hillary Step and on down the South East Ridge, the clouds begin to surround them and they are soon climbing down through a white out.
2:00 PM– The radio call that give us all a sense of relief and a final sense of accomplishment about today come in: Jamie and the team have all returned safely to the team's tents at the South Col.
What an exciting and successful day. The photos below show some of the scenes here at Base Camp as Jamie, Scott and the Sherpas carried out their remarkable 16 hour round trip climb to the top of the world.
When the word came from the South Col at 9:00 PM that the team was going to begin their summit attempt, Ang Tshering said, “Now it is time to make pooja.”
Wally and Charlie camped inside the communications tent so that they would be ready for the news that might come over the radio during the night.
After 8:00 AM as Jamie was describing his final steps to the summit, Charlie was excitedly hanging on every word.
As usual, Stephanie was hard at work taking notes as the radio calls came in.
8:40 am, when the call came in that Jamie had reached to top, there was celebration, hugs and cheers in the comm’s tent.
The first person who came over to congratulate our team was the “Icefall Doctor”, Ang Nima.
Our long time favorite yak driver and dear friend, Nim Phuti, was second to congratulate the team. Nim Phuti’s husband, Lakpa, was on the first Canadian ascent of Everest in 1982.
Early morning on a clear beautiful day at Base Camp. The support team cheers for Jamie’s success on Everest.