'Conan Summits Everest'

Great news from Everest where the Adventure Peaks web site reports that OUTDOORSmagic member and half of the first ever OM wedded couple, Conan Harrod summited Everest this morning.

From the web site:

'Conan Harrod and Scott McNaughton made the summit along with Sonnum Sherpa, Mingma Sherpa also summited along with Stu, Rob and James. Patricia reached the base of the second step at around 8600m before turning round, feeling she was moving too slowly to make the summit and return safely, good decison and very well done.

'Stu, Rob, James, Patricia, Mingma Sherpa and Nuru Sherpa are all back at top camp. Conan, Scott and Sonum Sherpa are now below the first step and will soon reach top camp. It is the group's intention to drop down to 7800m today from where they will give us another call.'

Of course the job's only half done until Conan and his team are back at base camp and safe, but our tentative congratulations to Conan and wife Lindsay.

Meanwhile, Adventure Peaks is also reporting that 'Rob Gauntlet and James Hooper become the youngest British Climbers to summit Everest at the age of 19 years and 7 days and 19 years and 21 days'.

More at www.everest-2006.com.

Meanwhile on the West Ridge of the mountain, the British army team is reporting that the Summit Team has now left Base Camp and is making its way up to Camp 1 from where it will progress up the route before reaching the base of the summit pyramid and making a summit bid, probably at the weekend.

The Army On Everest web site is one of the best expedition sites we've seen. Ideal for a bit of office diversion, not that we'd ever do that... We particularly recommend the blogs section for firsthand impressions of the mountain and the excellent Google Earth tour of the route. You can now also follow the expedition's progress on Sky News.

More at www.armyoneverest.mod.uk.