Only 2 Permits Given to Traverse Everest

The China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) says it has given only two permits for the traverse of Everest. One is to an American climber and the second to the Philippine all-women team.

CTMA says there were other requests but it turned them down. This is one of the reasons why it is imposing an additional $3000 traverse fee per climber.

For the three women of the Philippine team, this means an additional $9000. But expedition leader Art Valdez says it may well be worth it. If the team succeeds, the members will be the first ever women to traverse Everest.

Valdez says the additional fee is a small price to put the Philippines in the climbing history books.

Reach for the Summit

ON MOUNT EVEREST'S NORTH SIDE BASE CAMP...4 UNITED STATES CITIZENS WERE ARRESTED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES AS THEY PROTESTED LAST THURSDAY THE PLANNED 2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY ROUTE PASSING THROUGH MOUNT EVEREST...AND CALLED FOR TIBET'S INDEPENDENCE.

SHORTLY AFTER....KAZAKHSTAN CLIMBING TEAM MAXUT AND VASSILY MOUNTED THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO SUMMIT EVEREST THIS SEASON....

BUT RETREATED BACK DOWN TO ADVANCED BASE CAMP WHEN FACED BY BITTER WEATHER CONDITIONS.

OUR OWN 2007 KAYA NG PINAY EVEREST EXPEDITION HAS PROBLEMS OF ITS OWN...

AS TWO SUPPORT CAMPS SET UP ON BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH BASE CAMPS.

A 3,000 U-S DOLLAR ADDITIONAL CHARGE WAS SLAPPED ON THE GROUP BY THE CHINESE TIBET MOUNTAINEERING ASSOCIATION...FOR THE HISTORIC TRAVERSE PUSH.

The following is a transcript of my live report in Studio 23's News Central:

JOINING US LIVE FOR UPDATES FROM NYALAN, TIBET IS STUDIO 23 CORRESPONDENT VINCE RODRIGUEZ....

WHO TELLS US THE GIRLS HAVE SET THE DATE FOR THEIR SUMMIT ATTEMPT. VINCE?

Tricia Chiongbian: Hi Vince!

Vince Rodriguez: Hi Trish.

The Kaya ng Pinay Everest Team is done recuperating at the Chinese Base Camp tomorrow morning, May 1, the team will again go up to Advanced Base Camp which is at 6,400 meters which will be the launchpad for their climb to the summit of Mount Everest. From the Advanced Base Camp, the women will take 3 days to swing up and down the mountain and then rest again for a few more days. Then, on May 8, if conditions are good, the women will attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. If everything goes according to plan, the women will wave the Philippine flag on the summit of Everest on May 11 so that is the target the team is working on.

Earlier, we also reported that one of the team members Noelle Wenceslao suffered from altitude sickness - this is normal even for seasoned climbers. After going down to Chinese Base Camp which is the only remedy for altitude sickness, she is now feeling well and is ready to go back up to abc. According to Dr. Ted Esguerra, because of Noelle's physique, she is much more, she is chunkier than the two other girls, so she has a lot more oxygen and that is why she is slower in acclimatizing. But now, the doctor is giving her the green light to go up and reach the summit of Mount Everest together with the two other girls hopefully on May 11. Trish?

Tricia C: Vince, can you clarify also the issue on the additional fees by the CTMA, is that $3,000 each of the climbers?

Vince: Ok, the Chinese Tibet Mountaineering Association imposed an additional $3,000 fee we still do not know whether this is for the team or per person. That fee is called a traverse fee, as the women will be crossing from tibet to nepal. Co-expedition leader Art Valdez flew to Lhasa yesterday, the capital of Tibet, to meet with the association and ask for reconsideration for the imposition of the new fees. Valdez is arguing that you know they're midway through the expedition and they didn't know that the fees would be charged so it was unexpected. But according to the CTMA, the fees were imposed by Beijing so they cannot do anything about it. Although the CTMA is committing that it will help in whatever way to make sure that the 3 women reach everest and come down safely. So they will do anything - they will help in any way they can. Trish.

Trish: Ok, thank you very much for the update, Vince. And we'll be praying for the three girls on their summit next week. And we'll be hearing more of the updates from you, I'm sure.

No Consideration on Tibet Traverse Fees

Here is an update from co-expedition leader Art Valdez who is in Lhasa:

I met with China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) this morning to seek clarification on the new $3000 fee for traversing Everest. CTMA explained that this is very recent, coming mid-April, which is why we were only informed April 18 while our expedition is already ongoing.

Mr. Tso Mo, CTMA vice secretary general, clarified that he cannot do anything as much as he would want to help because this guideline came from Beijing. He did promise that CTMA will assist in whatever way to help ensure success and safety of the three Filipina climbers.

Art Valdez

Border Crossing

We are now in China. Stepping across the Nepal-Tibet border sends you two hours into the future as Tibet follows Beijing time.

We were quite nervous at customs as we had received several warnings to hide all our communications equipment. That's because China is strict in implementing fees for these equipment. But thanks to the arrangements made by our trekking agency, Thamserku, we got through without any problems.

We will now be driving to base camp. Just got word from co-expedition leader that he is now in Lhasa. We will rendezvous in four days then proceed to CBC. Will update when we hear from the team.

Business As Usual

Just wanted to clarify that those visiting Nepal have nothing to fear. The protest action was limited to a very small area, for only a few hours, and ended peacefully. Everything is back to Normal, for now.

The Everest Team in Tibet reports that everyone is in good health. They are just resting and recovering in Chinese Base Camp.

The Nepal side support group is already in Namche Bazaar. One member of the team complained of AMS symptoms but is now feeling better. Everest Summiter Leo Oracion is with them and will take care of the arrangements on the mountain to welcome the three girls.

ABS-CBN's Abner Mercado and Wilbert dela Cruz are in Kathmandu preparing their gear and making arrangements to follow to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. They're in great condition and raring to go.

Expedition Co-Leader Art Valdez flies to Lhasa tomorrow to negotiate with the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA). Let's hope the CTMA agrees to lower the traverse fees for the three women.

We will be taking a road trip tomorrow to the Nepal-Tibet border, and on to the Base Camp from there. We expect to meet up with Art in 3 days, and the Philippine Team in a week. The next update could be in a few days as we may not have communication. Will try my best to keep everyone posted.