Team Back At South Col After 100 Summit Success

NEWS IN FROM DAMIAN AT THE SOUTH COL

We are on top of the world with joy to have checked in with Damian from the S. Col. Tired but with huge smiles, the whole team have been back resting for a few hours, after a truly incredible summit night and dawn.

Damian Benegas (USA), Enrique Clausen (URUGUAY), Chedden Bote (NEPAL) and George Vouloumanos (CANADA) topped out at 0709 local time, 23 May 2019, followed by Jorge Luiz Decurgez (ARGENTINA), Rowena Lewthwaite (UK), Lopsang Sherpa IFMGA (NEPAL), Dawa Gyaljen Sherpa (NEPAL)and Khangdu Sherpa (NEPAL) at 0920.

We could not have done it without our amazing Sherpas who have not only encouraged endlessly but carried heavy spare oxygen bottles and drinks, and the rest of the team at the South Col (Pasang Bhote and Furu Sona Sherpa) and Camp 2 (Yubraj Rai) who carried close to 60 bottles of oxygen up (and soon down) the mountain this season in addition to tents, meals, sleeping bags, and stoves! As well as our base camp crew who literally work around the clock in addition to before and after the trip, spending three months in base camp! Shiva, Raju Rai, Gajar Rai and Urkha Rai, we can’t thank you enough.

HUGE CONGRATS too all and thanks for our support from our Nepali crew who work so so so hard and all our supporters friends and family around the world.

This year was a truly international expedition!

Namaste!

“Willie and Damian set the bar as high as the mountains they climb!”

“In my experience, few provide a more complete, safe and rewarding expedition experience than the Benegas Brothers. When it comes to expedition judgement, safety and climbing ethics, Willie and Damian set the bar as high as the mountains they climb. There’s a lot more to high altitude climbing expeditions than just getting to the top. Team dynamics, the opportunities to learn skills, making lifelong friends, enjoying new cultures and cuisine are some of the important elements of an expedition. In my experience, few provide a more complete, safe and rewarding expedition experience than the Benegas Brothers. When it comes to expedition judgement, safety and climbing ethics, Willie and Damian set the bar as high as the mountains they climb. My son Matt and I have 100% trust and confidence in Willie and Damian and when I’m not climbing with Matt, it’s reassuring to know he’s with the Benegas Brothers. ”

–Mike Moniz