May 27 2002 - By telephone from ABC

On the 24th May at 23:30hrs, Shinji Tamura and Phurba Tashi Sherpa departed camp 4 at 8300m under a full moon. Six hours and fifteen minutes later, they summited Mt. Everest at 05:45 on May 25th. During the descent, they assisted clearing camps 4, 3 & 2 with a very strong Shinji descending to ABC by nightfall.
Camp 1 is being cleared today, Monday 27th.

This is the second time in one week that Phurba Tashi Sherpa has summited Mt. Everest

Sue Harper and two other members of the third North Col team have reached the Col at 7000m and returned to ABC.

The Mountain will be cleared down to Basecamp by late tomorrow with arrival in Kathmandu still planned for 2nd June.