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Loading up the yaks.
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Forty-Eight Yaks
by Liesl Clark
May 21, 1999
I'm sitting with my laptop amidst a whirlwind of tents coming
down, like balloons deflating after a festive party. The wind
adds to the atmosphere, blowing in from all directions, as yak
herders stand holding bells for barter while watching our
frenzied packing. Forty-eight yaks lie in the gray sand facing
the wind in each direction. A Chinese truck arrives, ready to
be filled with the gear that has kept us here for two months.
Last night, 48 yaks carried over 6,000
pounds of our gear down
from Advance Base Camp. What was once a small sea of orange
tents is now gray moraine, just jagged rocks and ice for the
remaining expeditions to trip over on their way to the
North Col.
We are all thankful that
Conrad Anker
and
Dave Hahn
returned safely from their summit attempt, with the help of
Jake Norton
and
Tap Richards, who met them on their way down from the summit at the top
of the
Yellow Band
at 7:45 p.m. with oxygen, tea, water and food.
Andy Politz
and Thom Pollard, who went out on a search attempt from Camp
VI were fruitless in finding Andrew Irvine or the
camera. But their search took them past George Mallory again. "We
spent about an hour and a half at the site, finishing what we
were unable to finish on the first visit. Primarily, we were
looking for the camera with the aid of the metal detector,"
said Pollard today while packing his duffel.
We will hold a press conference at the Yak and Yeti hotel in
Kathmandu on the morning of May 25 to describe the findings of
the expedition for the media. At that time, some artifacts
will be displayed both at the press conference and on this Web
site. Check back early next week to see what was found with
Mallory.
Unanswered Questions (May 25, 1999)
Forty-Eight Yaks (May 21, 1999)
On Top of the World (May 17, 1999)
Summit Team Moves Higher (May 16, 1999)
Still at Camp V (May 15, 1999)
Snow Bound (May 14, 1999)
Outsmarting the Weather (May 13, 1999)
Last Trip Up (May 12, 1999)
Up to ABC/The Rescue (May 11, 1999)
The Image of Mallory (May 8, 1999)
In Extremis (May 7, 1999)
Pieces of the Puzzle (May 6, 1999)
Dearest George (May 5, 1999)
Mallory's Discoverers Return (May 4, 1999)
Mallory Reported Found (May 3, 1999)
Waiting in Silence (May 1, 1999)
Up to the Search Site (April 30, 1999)
To the North Col (April 29, 1999)
Waiting out the Wind (April 28, 1999)
Search About to Begin (April 25, 1999)
Pitching a 1933 Tent (April 23, 1999)
Early Camp Found at 21,750 Feet on Everest (April 20,
1999)
Up to Base Camp (April 23, 1999)
Photo: Liesl Clark
Members of the press: click here for NOVA/PBS ONLINE "Lost
on Everest"
media relations contacts.
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