From Scott at Base Camp:
It has been a bit since last update. Radio communication with the team up on the mountain has not been very good since the summit call. Thank you for all the congratulations. They have been passed on to the team members. All Americans are fine, and are coming down from Camp 2 today (due into Base Camp around late afternoon). Kusang and Kan Cha came down from Camp 3 yesterday, while Kikami headed up to Camp 2 to help out. Kusang and Kan Cha looked great, though tired. They are incredible men (strong, knowledgeable, very friendly, and much much more)! So are ours, too, though I suspect they are a bit more tired than our Sherpas. They have heavy loads to carry from Camp 2, so we are preparing Base Camp with plenty of warm food and drink for them when they come in (cameras will be ready, too).
Here is the summit announcement we sent to Kathmandu this a.m. for posting in the English newspaper:
"AMERICANS AND NEPALESE SUMMIT MANASLU -- Five American climbers and two Nepalese climbing Sherpas summited Mt. Manaslu (8,163 meters) on May 13, 2002 at approximately 11:45 a.m. The Team, lead by Tom Fitzsimmons of Olympia, WA, reached the summit shortly after three weeks of arriving in Basecamp via the standard North East Ridge route. Reaching the summit for the Americans were Mr. Tom Fitzsimmons (52), Mr. Dan Percival (59), Mr. Jerome Delvin II (46), Mr. Brian Sato (38), and Mr. Mike McGuffin (36) all of Washington State, while Nepalese summitters were Mr. Kusang Dorchi Sherpa (Makalu, age 43) and Mr. Dhanjit Tamang (Makalu, age 45). All enjoyed clear weather, fabulous views, and a safe descent. The expedition was arranged and supported by Everest Trekking (P) Ltd. of Kathmandu, Nepal."