Hopes of the Irish Everest Expedition 2003 making it to the summit of the highest mountain in the world today were looking slim last night when bad weather closed in on Everest. Grania Willis reports from Everest Base Camp.
The four remaining members of the Irish team - leader Pat Falvey, deputy leader Mick Murphy, Ger McDonnell and Hannah Shields, who is hoping to be the first Irish woman to reach the summit - were on target for a summit attempt last night, but the bad weather may delay all the teams.
Also on the northern side of the mountain, the Northern Irish expedition led by Armagh-born Richard Dougan was hoping to make its final push last night, amid quips about a "united Ireland" on the 29,035-foot plateau today if the weather is right.
The Northern Irish climbers are following the North Ridge route, successfully climbed by Irish Everest expedition leader and Belfast architect Dawson Stelfox on May 27th, 1993.
Two years after the Stelfox ascent, Pat Falvey became the second Irishman to climb the North Ridge route. Mr Falvey, a professional adventurer, hopes to become the first Irishman to climb from both the north and south sides.
There are around 120 climbers, including sherpas, at Camp IV, the last camp before attempting the summit. The sherpas were to rope up the final sections to the summit last night.
There have been no summiteers so far this year, the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing Norgay's successful bid.
Ms Patricia McGuirk from Beaufort, Co Kerry, plans to make an ascent tomorrow with a British-led commercial expedition.