Mt. Everest Updates

May 25, 2006
From Jin Fei Bao in Kunming
Today, we got a good luck letter from James N. Tedisco of the Assembly of New York State. Frank has translated it and has sent it to Kunming Daily and City Times. We will see if the newspapers will publish it within one week.

This good luck letter comes at the right time, because tomorrow morning, at the Kunming Conference Hall, I will give a speech to about 1000 audience --- most of them are Kunming CPC officials, including Mr. Yang Chong Yong, the secretary of Kunming CPC, and Mr. Wang Wen Tao, the mayor of Kunming. My speech will be covered by all of Kunming's local media.

The theme of my speech is: "Kunming Spirit --- Witnessed by Everest"

In my speech, I will talk about how we climbed up the Mt. Everest, how we combined the climbing with the Kunming Spirit, how you organized a big cheering team in US for our climbing, etc.

May 24, 2006
From Jin Fei Bao in Kunming
Today, I have come back to my office. There are too many things in my hands need to be dealt with.

First, I thank you very much for your full support on my Mt. Everest Project. Your support has added an international color to my climbing, and my climbing has attracted the attentions of millions of Kunming citizens, so the Kunming city government is 100% satisfied with the result of this project.

Second, the Lincang city government has invited me to visit Lincang in next month, to talk about the Wa/Native American Culture Exchange Project, so I will fly to Lincang in June to talk with them.

Third, at the end of this year, I and Fei Biao will go to Africa, to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa.

Fourth, in the spring of next year, I and Fei Biao will go to Russia, to climb Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak of Europe.

Fifth, in July of next year, I and Fei Biao will go to Alaska, to climb Mt. Mckinley, the highest peak of America.

In one word, I and Fei Biao decide to climb the 7 highest peaks in 7 continents within the next 2 years, before the 2008 Olympic Games opened in Beijing on Aug.8 of 2008.

So, I will be very busy, but the good thing is that I don’t need to worry about the climbing cost any more, now, it is much easier to get the financial supports from local government and entrepreneurs than before, because our Mt. Everest Project is a very good beginning.

These days, when walking in the streets of Kunming city, I often was recognized by local citizens, they knew I was the man who has climbed to the top of the world. Wherever I go, they call me Mountain Climbing Hero. For me, the title of Hero is a great honor, and I know that you have a good share in this honor, without the solid support of you, your family members and your friends, I might not be able to reach the summit.

So, I will try to push forward the Wa/Native American Project, if succeed, I could visit US again soon, (before we go to Africa), and of course I miss my HOME in Albany.

May 22, 2006
From Frank Gau in Kunming
Jin brothers have come back to Kunming safely. They took a direct flight from Lhasa to Kunming on last Saturday (May 20), and arrived in Kunming at 2:00 pm. About 200 people --- including the leader of the Propaganda Department of Kunming CPC, 100 elementary school students, a 20-member military band, about 30 reporters and photographers, and about 10 family members of Jin brothers --- went to Kunming airport to meet them.

Jin looks very happy. He said that climbing Mt. Everest is only the first step of his great adventures, not the end of it. But I don't know what his next step will be. I think he needs some good rest at present.

May 17, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily showed your Indian Ladder hiking photo. Another photo is Li Jia hugging Fei Bao at Base Camp. Yesterday evening, 6 members of Jin's climbing team have all come back to the Base Camp safely. They had a beer party last night. Today, they will drive down to Tingri, or maybe to Shigatse. So they will come back to Lhasa tomorrow.

Today's paper also showed one photo of the New Zealand climber, who has no both legs, but has climbed to the top successfully. His climbing has been video-recorded by the National Geographic TV.

To see the Photos Click Here

May 16, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily reported that, yesterday, Jin brothers came down from 8300 m to 6500 m safely. Today, they will come down from 6500 m to the 5100 m Base Camp.

Jin said that 2 people died yesterday on the way from 8300 m to the summit, but Jin did not know which countries they are from.

The photo on the front page of the Kunming Daily shows, the Jin brothers holding the red banner of Kunming Spirit at the summit.

Jin brothers also showed the 2008 Olympic Flag and China's National Flag at the summit.

It is the first time in Olympic's 100 years history that one Olympic Flag has been showed at the top of the world.

Sunday, May 14, 10am (EST Saturday, May 13, 10pm)
From Frank Gau in Kunming
Yesterday, at 7:13 pm, Fei Bao sent a mobile phone short message to me, which said: "I arrived at the 8300 m camp at 4:00 pm, it is snowing now, there should be no problem to reach the summit at noon time tomorrow. Wish the best to all of you." So, he is still safe and in good condition, at this moment, he should be quite close to the top.

Sunday, May 14, 10:30 am (EST Saturday, May 13, 10:30pm)
From Frank Gau in Kunming
Great news from the Base Camp. Just now, the reporter at Base Camp called the reporter in Kunming, said that Fei Bao will be standing at the top of the world within 20 minutes.

Sunday, May 14, 3:18pm (EST Sunday, May 14, 3:18am)
From Li Jia, Jin Fei Bao's wife, at Everest Base Camp
I'm very very glad to give you a good message. FeiBao and FeiBiao have reached the top of Qomolangma (Everest) successfully at 11:05 in May 14th 2006. I want to share in our gladness with you in the first time. And thank your support.

May 15, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily reported that, yesterday,
at 11:40:16 am, Fei Biao reached the top,
at 12:55 pm, Fei Bao reached the top,

But, because they stayed at the top for several hours, so they did not have enough time to come down to the 6500 m camp as planned, so, they had to staying at the 8300 m camp last night.

At 23:08 pm last night, Fei Bao called Kunming Daily reporter in Kunming, and said that they were OK at the 8300 m camp (27,390 feet).

At this moment, they should be on their way from 8300 m to 6500 m.

Up to now, their photos have not been sent back to Kunming.

May 13, 2006
At 9:35 am this morning, Fei Bao sent a short text message from his mobile phone to my mobile phone, which said: "I am now climbing from 7600 m to 8300 m, I am happy to find out that there is mobile phone signal in such a high place, we will start out at 1:00 am tomorrow from 8300 m to the summit, and should reach the top before 2:00 pm tomorrow. Wish all of you good luck from high up here."

I am very happy to get this short message from Fei Bao, which means:

1. Jin reached 7600 m last night, not 7790 m as planned.
2. Jin is safe and in good condition now.
3. There is ordinary mobile phone signal high up there, so you can try to call him if you like.
4. He will have very short sleep (or maybe no sleep) tonight, since he will start out at midnight tonight to try the summit.

May 12, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily reported that, yesterday at 1:30 pm, Jin's climbing team (6 members) started out from the 6500 m camp, climbed up the 400-m-high icewall, reached the 7028 m camp safely at 7:20 pm. Everybody is in good condition. Today, they will climb up to 7790 m as planned.

May 11, 2006
The Kunming Daily announced that today is the day that Jin's team will start climbing up to the summit. The paper showed a photo of Fei Bao checking his oxygen mask before starting. The paper also said that, from today, Jin's climbing team will not contact anybody any more until they reach the top. The most possible time of reaching top is about 2:00 pm of this Sunday (May 14, Beijing time).

May 10, 2006
Snowing came to Mt. Everest as forecasted. So, Jin's team rest at the 6500 m camp today. But it looks like the snowing might be over tomorrow. So, they have decided to going up again from tomorrow afternoon. Today's Kunming Daily reported that, Jin's climbing team plan to:
1. climb from 6500 m to 7028 m on May 11.
2. climb from 7028 m to 7790 m on May 12.
3. climb from 7790 m to 8300 m on May 13.
4. climb from 8300 m to 8844 m on May 14, then come down to 6500 m.
So, if the weather is OK, they will reach the top on this coming sunday -- May 14.

Today's Kunming Daily also reported the two hikes you have organized, one is the Crane Mt. Hike, another is the Vrooman's Nose Mt. Hike, and showed 2 photos of your hiking group standing on the cliff top. The big black title is: We have climbed 1/29th of the way up Mt. Everest.

May 9, 2006

Yesterday, Fei Bao and Fei Biao climbed up to 7300 m, then came down to the 6500 m camp safely.

Today's Kunming Daily reported that, from today, it will start snowing in Mt. Everest, temperature will drop to about 20 celsius below zero, and the snowing will last for about 3 days.

So, Jin's team will stay at the 6500 m camp till the snowing is over, during this time, they will play cards and chess to kill time. When the weather turns good, they will climb up all the way to the top.

May 8, 2006

1. Li Jia and her mother arrived in the Base Camp on May 3.

2. Mr. Wang Shi, the chinese real estate tycoon, organized a support group with about 11 members - all of them are super rich entrepreneurs - arrived at the Base Camp on May 3, together with Li Jia and her mother.

3. Mr. Yang Chong Yong, the leader of Kunming CPC, called Fei Bao during the holiday to encouraging the climbing team, Jin answered the call and said that they will try to climb to the top on May 16.

4. Jin's team rested for about one week at the Base Camp. Then they decided to climb all the way to the top, starting on May 5.

5. Jin's climbing team moved from the 5100 m Base Camp to the 5800 m camp on May 5.

6. Jin's climbing team moved from the 5800 m camp to the 6500 m camp on May 6.

7. Jin's climbing team moved from the 6500 m camp to the 7028 m camp on May 7.

At 10:10 pm, Jin called a Kunming Daily reporter (Ms. Xie Xiao Yan) by satellite phone, and told her that: "I am at 7028 m camp, feel good, there are about 10 plus climbing teams camping here, I can see about 60 tents, if the weather keeps good like this, we will try to climb to the top on May 14."

8. Today, May 8, Jin's team will climb up to 7500 m, then come down to the 6500 m camp, where they will rest for about 1-2 days. Then they will go all the way to the top.

Li Jia and her mother did not go up with Jin's team, they still stay at the Base Camp.

Mr. Wang Shi decided to climb a 7000 m high peak called Xiang Dong Feng, which is near Mt. Everest, to show his support for Jin's climbing.

Today's Kunming Daily showed 2 photos, the upper one is the 7028 m camp, the lower one is Fei Bao at the 6500 m camp.

April 30, 2006
This morning, Li Jia and her mother have left Kunming for Lhasa.

Li Jia told me that, Jin's climbing team has finished its one-week rest at Tingri and has already come back to the Base Camp.

We will have 7 days Labor Day holiday from May 1 to 7. During the holiday time, please check the latest climbing information at http://www.km8844.cn/

April 28, 2006
Yesterday's Kunming Daily reported that Li Jia will fly to Lhasa on this Sunday, with a big photo of Li Jia and Fei Bao taken in their home before Fei Bao left Kunming to Tibet.

In the center of the Front Page, showed a big photo of the boy holding the Kunming Daily. This photo also was shown on the Sport Page, but much smaller.

April 26, 2006
This morning, Li Jia told me that she can not wait any more, she decided to take her mother to Tibet to meet Fei Bao. She has already bought air tickets, to fly from Kunming to Lhasa on this Sunday (Apr.30), then they will take a jeep to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest, where they will kiss and hug Fei Bao, then they will stay at the Base Camp till the end of Jin's climbing. Which means, Li Jia and her mother will stay in Base Camp for about one month, watch Fei Bao climbing up and down. Li Jia might also climb up to ABC (6500 m) to cook for Fei Bao. What a deep-in-love couple !! ------ This is also part of the teamwork !!!

Today's Kunming Daily showed the photos of the 7028 m camp for the first time, these photos were taken by Fei Biao.

Kunming Daily's reporter, Mr. Zhou Dian Wei, has come back to Kunming from the Base Camp. He was interviewed by Yunnan TVand summarized his 20 days Base Camp life as 5 words: dry, cold, dirty, tired, fool. (fool means brain react slowly in such a high altitude).

April 23, 2006
Jin's climbing team (5 members together, including a young lady) came down to the Base Camp at 5100 m. So, they are all safe now. Their first phase of body training has finished. They will go down to Tingri (4100 m) to have some good rest in the 2 star Mt. Everest Hotel.

April 22, 2006
Because weather turned bad, so Fei Biao did not continue going up from 7028 m to 7790 m as planned

April 21, 2006
The weather was very good, so Jin's team climbed up from ABC (6500 m), Fei Biao and 3 other climbers reached the 7028 m camp successfully, but Fei Bao felt very tired on the way, so he turned back alone to 6500 m camp.

April 20, 2006
Because the fresh snow on the ground is too thick, so Jin brothers are still staying in their tents at the 6500 m camp, waiting for the chance to continue going up to 7028 m as they planned before. Today's City Times also said that, Jin brothers are melting the 1000-year-old ice as water to cooking the famous Puer Tea in their tent, which is a typical example of knowing how to enjoy life at such a high place. At the 6500 m camp, the temperature at daytime was 18 celsius below zero, at night was 28 celsius below zero, so it's really cold up there.

April 19, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily reported that, yesterday, it started to snow in Mt. Everest, so, Jin's team rested at the 6500 camp, all of them felt a little headache, but they still kept good spirit, played cards or read books or listened to MP3 music inside their big tent. Today, they should still rest at the 6500 camp (ABC). But because the heavy snowing, the transportation between the Base Camp (5100 m) and the Advanced Base Camp (6500 m) has been forced to a stop, so, Jin's team will be running out of food within 2 days. The same problem is facing other climbing teams at ABC.Till last night, the snow at BC has piled up to 25 cm, the temperature is 10 celsius below zero. The temperature at ABC could reach 20 celsius below zero at night. The good news is: the snowing might be over today or tomorrow, and Jin's satellite phone and his radio equipment are still working well, so Jin can keep in touch with BC and with Kunming. At present, there are about 100 people (including US team) staying at the ABC, which is about 30 kms away from BC.

April 18, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily reported that, yesterday, because of bad weather, Jin's climbing team had not reached 7028 m as they planned, they reached only 6800 m, then came down to stay at the 6500 m camp. Today, they plan to rest at the 6500 m camp. Tomorrow, they will try to climb up to 7028 m again.

April 17, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily reported that,

on Apr.14, Jin brothers climbed up to camping at 5800 m.
on Apr.15, they climbed up to camping at 6500 m.
on Apr.16, they rest at the 6500 m camp.

Today, Apr.17, they will climb up to 7028 m, but they will come back to stay at the 6500 m camp tonight. Up to now, everything is going well. Fei Bao is feeling good. Last night, the temperature inside Fei Bao's tent was 18 celsius below zero, but at daytime, it can reach 15.

April 14, 2006
Yesterday, Jin brothers stayed at the Base Camp, and visited other climbing teams.

Today, after lunch, Jin brothers have left Base Camp, now, they are climbing up, tonight, they will camp at 5900 m, tomorrow, they will continue climb up and camp at 6500 m.

So, from today, they will go up 4 steps in 4 days. Then they will come down.

On today's Kunming Daily, you can see, the one long long yellow tent is the camp of Russia, the blue tent looks like a house is the working studio of National Geographic TV team.

Jin said, last night, the bright full moon was shining over the Mt. Everest, the scenery is too beautiful to forget.

April 13, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily reported that, yesterday afternoon, Jin brothers hiked 3 hours/15 kms from Base Camp to the Robuk Glacier (5400 m), then hiked 2 hours back to Base Camp. This was their usual body training. They felt not tired after the hiking, and still kept high spirit.

Yesterday, the famous National Geographic TV Channel reporting team (from US) arrived at the Base Camp, they came to report the famous New Zealand climber, Mr. Michael, who had lost both his legs when climbing Mt. Cook in New Zealand many year ago, now, he is wearing a pair of artificial limbs, and walking on the rocks at the Base Camp as usual climbers. Mr. Michael will climb to the top of the world with his artificial limbs, and the National Geographic will record his climbing by video all the way to the top.

One photo on today's Kunming Daily shows that Jin is talking to Michael at Base Camp. Another photo shows Jin is hiking to the Robuk Glacier. The photo with a yak said temperature was only 4 celsius at 6:42 pm yesterday, it was windy and cloudy.

April 11, 2006
Yesterday, because it was snowing and windy, so Jin did not climb up to the Camp at 5900 m as he planned before, instead, they stayed at Base Camp and played cards in their living room---the big tent looks like a football.

April 10, 2006
At present, there are together 10 climbing teams at the Base Camp. They are from: US, Russia, Mongolia, South Korean, Malaysia, Turkey, Italy, UK, Japan, and China. So, the Base Camp looks like a mini United Nations. Each team raised their national flag.

Up to now, Jin's team is the only team from China. So, in fact, Jin's team is representing China.

In the past 3 days, Jin brothers have been doing body training at the Base Camp. They visited the Robuk Monastery---the highest monastery in the world---and paid their respect to the God of Mountain. They also burned incense and prayed for your whole family.

Some reporters from Kunming have felt serious altitude sickness and have been transported from Base Camp (5100 m) down to Tingri (4100 m), including the reporter from Kunming Daily.

Jin brothers are feeling very well. They climbed up to a lake (about 5300 m) and skated on the iced surface of the lake. They also visited the "Cleaning Mt. Everest" monument which they set up 10 years ago.

They enjoyed the life at Base Camp very much. The food is very good. They have 3 buffet meals each day, each meal includes 4 dishes and 1 soup, each meal has at least 2 kinds of fresh vegetables and fruits. They also drink the famous Yunnan Puer Tea each afternoon. So, their life is in fact much better than our life here in Kunming.

The weather has been very good since they arrived at the Base Camp. Every day is sunny, with only short time snowings, the temperature is from -5 to 22 celsius, so, it is as warm as Kunming in the daytime.

Jin's spirit is very high, he said: "there is no problem for us to climb to the top if the weather keeps good".

April 5:
Yesterday, Jin brothers arrived in Shigatse at 7:30 pm, this morning, they visited the magnificent Tashilunpo Monastery, after lunch, they left Shigatse for Tingri. Tonight, they will stay in the 2 star Mt. Everest Hotel in Tingri. Yesterday afternoon, Ms. Zhang Hong Ping, the head of the Propaganda Department of Kunming CPC, called Fei Bao to send her best wishes to the climbing team.

April 4:
Today's Kunming Daily said that Jin's climbing team has separated into 2 teams.The pioneer team left Lhasa for Shigatse on Apr.2, left Shigatse for Tingri on Apr.3. Today, the pioneer team should have reached the Base Camp of Mt. Everest. They will set up the base camp for Jin brothers in advance. The second team includes Jin brothers and several reporters. They leave Lhasa for Shigatse in this afternoon at 2:30 pm, should reach Shigatse at about 7:00 pm.

April 3:
The climbing team started from their Advanced Base Camp (5200 m) at 7:00 am on Mar.31/Friday, Fei Biao reached the top at 10:40 am, Fei Bao reached the top at 11:20 am. Then, they stopped at the top for about 10 minutes to taking photos, because wind was too strong, they decided to get down, on the way down a 300-m-long 45-degree snow slope, Fei Bao slipped and slid down the slope for about 80 meters, then he dug his ice axe into the snow to stop himself from sliding further down. Everybody at the spot was surprised by this unexpected drop.

They returned to the ABC at 1:00 pm, after a delicious lunch (which includes lamb, garlic fried with pork, cabbage, tomato with egg soup), then continue went down to the Base Camp at 4600 m, then drove about 4 hours back to Lhasa on the same day.

March 31, 2006
Today's Kunming Daily published the letter from the mayor, titled as "Greeting Letter from the Mayor of the Hometown of Edison".

Last night, Fei Bao camped at the 5200m-high Advanced Camp of Qizi Peak which is about 100 kilometers northwest of Lhasa. This morning, he and Fei Biao will climb to the top (6208 m), then come all the way down to Base Camp (4600 m) beside the temple.

March 29

We have just arrived at the base camp of Qizi Peak which is 4,600 meters above sea level. Now the temperature is about 6 celsius and there is some snow on the ground. At night it will probably be below zero. What surprised us most is a Buddhism temple near our campsite and there are 107 nuns (female monks) and some of them are really beautiful. It seems we have come to the right place! Tomorrow we will start to climb the Qize Peak to begin our conditioning for the Mt. Everest climb." We feel the spiit of Kunming and the spirit of U.S. is with us. Our Kunming Newspaper today showed a map of the U.S. with Cheering Team flags in five States.

March 26, 2006

Our farewell banquet was a great success ! We invited only 120 people, but in fact more than 300 people showed up, so it's really crowded. Some Kunming citizens voluntarily came to say good luck to me.

Ms. Cheng Le, the Vice leader of Propaganda Department of Kunming CPC, said in the banquet: "Our activity not only got the full support of Kunming people, but also got the extensive support from across the Pacific Ocean, which is the first time that our activity has got attention in US, which is really better than we expected, we have the confidence to make this activity the most successful one we have ever launched."

So, I feel that your support to us is not only the support to me and my brother, it is in fact the support to so many Kunming citizens. Kunming Spirit will finally inspire the whole city.

Up to now, we have got 38 good luck emails from our US cheering team, which we cherished very much, because we regard these letters as our spirit food. When we face challenges, difficulties, dangers and adversities on our way to the top of the world, we will remember that besides the base camp located at 5100 m high, we have two extra base camps, one in Kunming, another in US, which will provide us much more backup support; and besides the food we take in our bags, we have two extra spirit food, one is the warm words in your letters which I regard as US Spirit, another is our Kunming Spirit.

So, in each step I climbing up, US Spirit is inspiring Kunming Spirit, and Kunming Spirit is inspiring US Spirit, both spirits resonate in my heart, that is why I have the full confidence to overcome all odds to reach the top.

Gregg, please forward this letter to our US cheering team members, to thank them all for their quick support. Now I will rush to the airport, so I don't have time to reply their letters one by one.

I will come back safely, and I will visit US again, to tell you face to face what I have seen standing at the top of the world. Then, I will write a book about this climbing, to tell people the true secret of my success -- teamwork ! Yes, teams do work !!

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