re: 7.8 Earthquake in Nepal; 1800+ dead; Avalanche Kills 17+ on Everest

quote:

---

Jacob called in this morning from Everest Base Camp, we had a challenging time communicating with a poor satellite phone connection, but we were able to talk over the course of 3 phone calls. Things are happening at basecamp, starting at dawn, helicopters were able to begin evacuating the most critically injured from EBC as of now 7 evacuation flights have come in and out of EBC. There are 17 critically injured that the doctors and everyone at base camp watched over last night, and as weather has improved today they are hoping to be able to fly all out today. Over 20 people are reported dead at base camp currently with many more still missing. Teams at Camp 1 and Camp 2 seem to be OK, but anxious to get down to base camp. There have been only a couple of Sherpa who have descended through the icefall since the earthquake. There are many climbers missing still, and they expect to find more victims at basecamp and in the icefall before this is all through. The Sherpa who descended through the icefall were able to hear some voices of trapped climbers on their way down. Jacob and a guide from IMG (sorry I didn’t get the name due to bad reception) are going to attempt to go up into the icefall this morning to see if they can help anyone, and to assess what gear they may need to help establish a route for the more than 100 climbers who are above the icefall in Camp 1 and Camp 2. Jacob said that the “Icefall Doctors” have left the mountain, so the rescue is up to the remaining climbers.

Scott H. is in Lukla and will return to Kathmandu as soon as they are able to fly, and return home.

David and Alisha Germer from our EBC trek/Island Peak climb are in Pokhara and trying to return to Kathmandu by bus today and return home soon.

---