September 28, 2010
Cho Oyu
IMG leader Mike Hamill reports from ABC that all members and Sherpas are now down, and the equipment has all been carried down. They are packing up and leaving on the 30th, and expecting to be back to Kathmandu on the 1st. Mike gave some more details on the turnaround decision. It sounds like the Sherpa fixing crew kicked off yet another avalanche up high, above the Yellow Band, and several of them were carried some distance. There were some minor injuries but it sounds like everyone is OK.  There is just too much snow this year, it has been a very persistent monsoon season. This was the 22nd Cho Oyu expedition that IMG has done, and only the second time we have not made the top. We want to make the top as much as anybody, and we’ll try super hard to be successful, but most important is the safety of our team members. Sometimes the mountain just says no! It is just great to know everyone is safe and sound and on their way home now.
Eric Simonson