PORT TOWNSEND — As Leif Whittaker and the rest of his team make the final preparations for an ascent to the summit of Mount Everest later this month, his parents are tracking his progress from their home.
“They are just waiting for a break in the weather,” said Dianne Roberts, Leif’s mother, from her Port Townsend home.
“I think they are a little bored right now, passing the time playing Scrabble and poker,” at a base camp at 17,575 feet.
Whittaker, 25, is following in the footsteps of his father, Jim Whittaker, the first American to scale the 29,029-foot peak, who reached the summit in 1963.
The team hopes to reach the top by next Sunday at the earliest, about a week after its original goal of May 15.
Once at the top, Whittaker will nearly immediately begin the descent.
“You don’t want to stay up there very long,” his father said. “Once you get up there, the idea is to get back down.”
Due to advances in technology, his son’s ability to communicate during his climb is quite different from his father’s expedition, or the 1978 climb his parents made of K2, the world’s second-highest peak.
He has a camera crew, the ability to blog and a satellite phone.
Mother’s Day call
The latter allowed him to call Roberts on Mother’s Day.
She expected the call.
“I was obviously thrilled,” she said. “But he always has been a thoughtful young man.”
Aside from the occasional call home, Whittaker is staying in touch through blog.firstascent.com and with shorter daily messages on www.rmiguides.com/dispatches/everest10.php#top.
“Right now, our forecast is pointing towards a possible window some time in the May 23rd to 27th range, guide team member Seth Waterfall posted Saturday on the latter website.
“Today, there is a lull in the winds up high and a few teams are possibly going for the summit today. We wish them the best of luck.”
But, Waterfall added: “The better bet for us is to wait for more stable conditions to greater ensure that we can summit safely.
“So for now we’re still in a holding pattern.
“But we’ve got plenty of good food and we’re enjoying our time here at Basecamp before we head back up the mountain.”
Roberts and her husband expect to be in Columbus, Ohio when their son makes it to the top.
“I think he’s ready,” she said. “Waiting is very difficult for him.”
________
Jefferson County reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.