Apa has returned. Here's a story on his arrival.

Dawa has not sent a status report on Apa.

But Apa called his son, Tenzing, in Utah and reported that he was already in Namche on his way to Kathmandu where he will get what has become a hero's weclome

-- Brett

Read the story on Apa's historic climb here.

I will update Apa's position as soon as possible. He will likely stay at Camp 4 on the way down due to the large number of people on the route.

-- Brett

I just got off the radio with Apa. He has just broken his own world record to stand on the top of Mt. Everest for the 19th time.
Over the crackling radio, in a breathless voice he told me: "I am at the top and am looking at all the prayer flags...I have just satisfied the deities and placed the Bhumpa on the summit...I am the last of our group to get to the top today as I was delayed at the Hillary Step because there are so many people here. I arrived here at 8am and have been here for 30 minutes... Its very cold so I am now heading down." He told us that he has been taking pictures at the top.
Pertemba and I congratualted him and wished him a safe climb back down.

Dawa Steven Sherpa

[Editor's Note. Apa has stayed behind a bit to let a traffic jam clear. He is still headed up.]
While we wait for the news of Apa's summit, I would like to tell you about some of our climbers who had the misfortune of having to cancel their summit efforts.
Three days ago, on his summit push, Henry Voigt, one of our strongest members, fell and hurt his head at Camp 2. He suffered a concussion, was unconcisous and suffered violent fits. This was the very same day Apa left Base Camp on his summit push. En route to Camp 2, Apa, Naga Dorje (Eco Everest Sirdar) and our other Sherpas brought Henry down in a stretcher from the Western cwm. Eco Everest Sherpas resting at base camp and I met up with them at the top of the ice fall where we took over the rescue effort. The rescue took most of the day and it's a great relief that it has not hadany apparent effect on the teams energy to reach the summit.
Jesse Easterling was mis-prescribed overdoses of dexamethasone by his doctor back home. The doctors here at the Everest Base Camp Clinic diagnosed the side effects as being so serious that he needed to fly back out to Kathmandu within 24hours.
 Both Henry and Jesse flew back to Kathmandu and are doing very well now.

Daw Steven Sherpa

    Krushnaa, Gyalu and Pasang Temba on Summit. Apa is coming with Nic and Phurba. Number 19 is almost there.The anticipation and the excitement is overbearing.

Dawa Steven Sherpa