5/16/2007 11:59:42 PM -- Questions posed by the Salt Lake Tribune and answered by the SuperSherpas early Thursday in Nepal and late Wednesday in Utah:
   
    Can you provide more details about the climb itself?
    The SuperSherpas team had planned on leaving on the night on the 15th at 9 p.m., but were delayed by preparing the cameras for the documentary and making sure the equipment would not freeze. Usually a Western team will leave around 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. depending on weather conditions. Our team had set off for the summit at 10:30 p.m. We had two members not feeling well at our camp, like many others. They were suffering from stomach problems. These two Sherpas are very tough and gave their all to continue the summit push and film the all-Sherpa documentary.
     
    How was the weather?
   Apa and Lhakpa - The weather was so very cold and the snow was blowing and the winds were pretty strong. Our tents were fully covered as we left. Lhkapa said the weather was pretty bad and they all kept pushing and pushing as they made it to the Balcony. Once above the Balcony the weather became better with less snow and less wind. It was very hard. 
    
   Did it take longer than expected?
   We had two cameramen filming: Dawa Sherpa and Pemba Ringee Sherpa. They both were not feeling well due to stomach problems. The team stuck together and made sure that they were all safe. Dawa ended up having to stay on the South summit. The weather was cold and windy but he continued his shooting. When he was done the rest of the team continued the push to the summit.
    
   Did the team end up helping set ropes with Mountain Madness?
   The SuperSherpas carried extra ropes to provide for the fixed lines. There were specific Sherpas that were hired to fix the ropes. They were the ones who fixed the ropes. 
    
   Are Dawa and Pemba OK now?
    Our team, like others in camp, experienced stomach problems due to bacteria in the water supplies. Dawa is doing well and on his way down from Camp 2 today. Pemba Ringee is one the strongest members of this team and his fight to continue for the summit and film the team was super-human. Pemba, like others in base camp, was affected by the bacteria as well. Pemba continued to make it to the summit and film the SuperSherpas documentary as his first priority even though his health was deteriorating. His thoughts were for the success of his team. He was so exhausted by the filming and being sick that he was forced to stop at Camp 4 on his way down to rest. He is on his way down from the South Col today and will rest at Camp 2 tonight with Ongchoo, our Camp 2 cook.
   
    Did the team have a hard time coming back down with all the people heading up? 
    No, there were only three teams that made it to the summit on the 16th. Beginning today there is a mad rush to start as all the teams have been making their summit move.
   
    And now the question everyone wants to ask: Do either Apa or Lhakpa plan on returning to Everest for another attempt?
    
    Apa and Lhakpa answer: One will never know. We will have to see what happens in the future. The mountain will always be there. 

5/16/2007 10:28:31 PM -- There has been little word, but a lot of sleep, at base camp and Camp 2. The climbing team is expected to make it to base camp sometime in the next 10 or so hours. We will post pictures from the summit as soon a we can. Stay tuned....
    Brett Prettyman, The Salt Lake Tribune

5/16/2007 11:37:28 AM -- Update on Dr. Scott McIntosh
    Dr. Scott McIntosh, who conducted medical testing on Apa and Lhakpa for the TOSH speciality hospital in Utah, finished his testing with the SuperSherpas team at Camp 4. He was on the Mountain Madness permit so he could get a chance at reaching the summit. The SuperSherpas are an all-Sherpa team sponsored by the Nepali government. Scott had made previous plans to continue to the summit with the Mountain Madness team. We feel it best for Mountain Madness to comment on their climbers as we would not want to misinform anyone. Only Mountain Madness is privy to the exact status of its members. We can state from reliable second hand information that Scott did summit with the Mountain Madness team and then went to Camp 4 to rest. All indications are that he is in excellent condition. Again, it is proper to get this information directly from the Mountain Madness team.
    SuperSherpas base camp