TOP OF THE WORLD MA!
Posted on 05/26/2006 5:53:45 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
Everest rescue underway for Australian
Email Print Normal font Large font May 26, 2006 - 11:10AM
Advertisement AdvertisementA dramatic rescue operation is underway in the hope of saving the life of an Australian climber given up for dead on Mount Everest.
Lincoln Hall, 50, and one of Australia's leading climbers, was reported by a Russian expedition leader to have died on Thursday while descending from the summit of the world's highest mountain.
Friends in Australia mourned Hall after Russian Alexander Abramov declared on Everest news websites that the climber's death "was verified", and was probably due to cerebral edema.
However, the reports were thrown into confusion on Friday by a new website posting by Australian climber and Everest summiteer Duncan Chessell, who said a climber had found Hall alive and set in train a rescue operation.
"Lincoln Hall is still alive," Chessell said on a DCXP/Project Himalaya team website in a report headlined "Lincoln Hall still alive after one night out".
Chessell said he had been told by radio that Hall, of Blackheath west of Sydney, was being helped down the mountain by Russian team Sherpas and had been gaining in strength.
"This is perhaps the most dramatic rescue on the mountain," Chessell said on the website.
Quoting from the radio call, Chessell, currently in Australia, said: "Lincoln is down to the first step with the Russian Sherpa team assisting him.
"It is very difficult going but with every step down he gains strength and a chance to live, Jamie (McGuinness) is heading up to the North Col now and we are all hoping Lincoln Hall gets down OK.
"Good luck Lincoln."
Chessell, speaking from Adelaide, said he had heard nothing more since posting the message and it was still not known for certain if Hall was dead or alive.
"If he's alive he's high up and in serious danger," he told AAP.
Hall's wife Barbara Scanlan and their two sons, Dylan, 17, and Dorje, 15, are waiting for more news of the dramatic turn of events.
Chessell's website entry said Hall had been returning from the summit with two Sherpas when he lost energy and became weak at about 8,700 metres.
"Initially coherent, Hall had quickly developed cerebral edema and began to hallucinate and refused to move down the rope."
The two Sherpas helped Hall until their oxygen supplies were exhausted and they developed snow blindness.
They were then ordered by expedition leader Abramov to leave and save their own lives. Exhausted, they made it down the mountain on Friday.
However, climber Dan Mazur had found Hall still alive and gave him hot tea and oxygen.
"Alex Abramov immediately dispatched a team of 12 Sherpas to re-ascend with fresh oxygen and a stretcher," Chessell said.
Hall was descending Everest after finally fulfilling his ambition to scale the world's highest peak.
He had failed in 1984 when part of the first Australian team to climb the mountain.
This time, he was part of an expedition with 15-year-old Sydney boy Christopher Harris, who was trying to become the youngest person to climb Everest.
While Harris failed in his attempt, turning back because of respiratory problems, Hall decided to make another push to reach the top, said long-time friend Simon Balderstone.
Mr Balderstone said Hall reached the summit on Thursday, accompanied by a group of Sherpas.
The mounteverest.net website reported that, using a portable radio, Hall joyfully informed friends and team members that he had reached the top about 9am (1300 AEST).
But as Hall descended he began to move slowly, lost his coordination, and could not continue down the mountain independently.
Mr Balderstone said while Hall reported to members of Harris' team that he was "heading strongly down" he got into trouble.
"Some time after that he became ill and was resisting attempts to keep going. He wasn't making complete sense. He got a little better before he deteriorated and died at about 8,600 metres," Mr Balderstone said.
Mr Balderstone hailed Hall as a "world-class, legendary climber" who would not have taken risks.
Fourteen climbers have died trying to climb Everest this season.
One was Briton David Sharp, 34, who died on Everest last week after being passed by up to 40 climbers, and controversy has raged about whether they did enough to help him.
Hoo boy. I guess this one will go 600 posts too.
There was a Surgeon from Texas that was on a special on Everest. He lost all fingers and toes due to frostbite. But he conquered Everest! I repeat, I don't get it.
""Dawa from Arun Treks also gave oxygen to David and tried to help him move, repeatedly, for perhaps an hour. But he could not get David to stand alone or even stand resting on his shoulders, and crying, Dawa had to leave him too. Even with two Sherpas it was not going to be possible to get David down the tricky sections below."
"Dawa, who did not summit because of giving his oxygen to David, told this to me less than 24 hours later when I met him on the fixed ropes. He was close to tears even then." "
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1636848/posts?page=486#486
I've been to almost 10,000 feet on Rainier. Walked on a glacier.
Good enuff for me! Still got my fingers and toes.
Last week David Sharp, this week Lincoln Hall.
Well, at least this article is rather definitive on his status:
"A dramatic rescue operation is underway"
"climber's death 'was verified',"
"Lincoln Hall still alive after one night out"
"it was still not known for certain if Hall was dead or alive."
I hope they get the guy out - I've heard that 'tie' goes to the mountain.
It doesn't make sense to me either. Why would someone destroy his career just to climb a mountain?
TOP OF THE WORLD MA!
I thought the previous article said nine climbers had died so far this year???
Mr. Sharp was among eight persons who have died on Everest this year, including another member of his group, a Brazilian.
He also lost his nose and his ears.
BUT HE CONQUERED EVEREST!!! YIPEEE!!!
And I'm sure he hopes to someday become the first fingerless, toeless, noseless, earless man to climb Mt. Everest.
I hope this guy survives, but I've never been one to lose sleep over the loss of people who deliberately put themselves in harm's way just for the hell of it.
So if I climb down in a volcano and find myself in grave danger, will they put together a massive rescue effort?
>>>There was a Surgeon from Texas that was on a special on Everest. He lost all fingers and toes due to frostbite. But he conquered Everest! I repeat, I don't get it.>>>
So he can't practice the profession that took 12 years to achieve, but he can cling to "Conquering Everest"?
I don't get it either.
"There was a Surgeon from Texas that was on a special on Everest. He lost all fingers and toes due to frostbite. But he conquered Everest! I repeat, I don't get it."
I don't get it either. Especially considering how often rescuers risk their lives to perpetually pluck these people off that mountain.
The very act of climbing a mountain such as Everest indicates a desire to conquer, overcome, and excel. It is defined not by groups, but by individuals, such as "Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzig Norgay".
If they are going to engage in an act that gives them such personal glory, they must be willing to accept whatever comes along with it, including the possibility of catastrophic defeat, or else what does it mean?
I say this having crewed on a four-man transatlantic sailing trip on a 42-foot sailboat where we all recognized that, for most of the time, we were beyond the reach of quick rescue from any Coast Guard. The joy of it was knowing that we were responsible for ourselves. Without risk, how can there be glory? It's fine to engage in self-absorbed exploits, as long as you remain self-absorbed when you get into trouble and don't expect to be rescued by the very people you have neglected on the way.
By the way, I'm sure at least some of them had parents who were married. Do not insult bastards this way ;^)
Agreed, however I do lose sleep over those that expect others to bail them out after they've deliberately put themselves in harm's way and things don't go according to their brilliant plan.
My mother climbed Rainier in the early 60's. Tried and failed once, tried again and made it to the top. It was a moment she remained proud of till she died.
I see what you're saying. I don't know why I find that post so funny but I do. I'd like to hunt dangerous game in Africa some day so I guess it's kind of the same thing. Maybe I just have a dislike for those I've met who are into rock climbing and such. It's kind of like they have huge egos about the legends they are, only in their own minds. When hey, the America needs more heroes, how about you do something for the country hotshot?
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