Tom Whittaker reached the Summit of Mt. Everest on Wednesday, May 27th, 1998. For the latest on the climb, see his report below.

NEWS FLASH!!! Tom Whittaker's Everest Climb and the CWHOG All Abilities Trek to Basecamp will be featured on a one hour CBS documentary - don't miss "Public Eye with Brian Gumbel", Wednesday evening, August 12th, 1998. Check your local TV listings for the exact time.

Everest Challenge '98 Updates As of February 1, 1997... 1/25/97 - World Launch of Everest Challenge '98 at the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show in Lake City, Utah. 1/30/97 - Permit issued from Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, Nepal for the South Col Route.$70,000 to be paid by April 1, 1997. 2/15/97 - Permit purchased by Prescott College on behalf of Everest Challenge.

As of September 15, 1997...

Eric Howard joins the Everest Challenge '98 team as our Marketing and Communications Director. Coming from The Grand Canyon Trust, Eric brings ten years of experience in fund raising, marketing, event promotion and media public relations experience. He has worked extensively with the BBC, NBC and PBS, as well with radio a print media.

Mary Jo Kirk, a Prescott, Arizona based graphic designer and accomplished photographer, is fast becoming Northern Arizona's leading graphic artist.She has agreed to join our team and create the look and feel that Everest Challenge '98 needs when approaching corporate partners.

Great Escapes, USA - Steve Matous has put the resources of his trekking agency at our disposal, assuring the highest quality of logistical support for the expedition. His team of climbing Sherpa are considered to be one of the strongest in the business, their most experienced member having summited five times, their least experienced, once.

The Climbing Team welcomes Angela Hawse as the second woman of our five member team. Her ten years of high altitude experience includes three Himalayan expeditions in addition to guiding on Denali and in South America. Angela will also direct our Environmental Restoration Project.

SPONSORS

The North Face, Inc. Our proposal to The North Face is under review for 1998 consideration. According a representative of The North Face, "it is not a question of wether we will fund Everest Challenge '98, the question is at what level we come in!"

Crazy Creek Products, Inc. Rob Hart was Everest Challenge's first sponsor, and as such, holds special place in our heart. He is sending Crazy Creek Chairs for both the All Abilities Trek to Everest Base Camp and climbing team members. We do, however, have a major complaint with the product; they are too damn comfortable! There is some concern that we will spend all our time sitting in Crazy Creek Chairs at Base Camp rather than climbing the mountain.

Flex-Foot, Inc. Van Phillips, the inventor of Flex-Foot, developed a prototype for me to go to Everest in 1989. Working with Dale Perkins at Rehab Systems, Twin Falls, Idaho, I took a Flex-Foot to 27,500' on Everest's North Face. These feet don't just make summiting a possibility, they actually make the climb fun! I am pleased to say that the old team is back together... Keep your eye on the summit!

Pride Industries, Inc.This is the parent company of YUBA Snowshoes. Pride uses a high percentage of people with disabilities to perform many services in a competitive marketplace. The mission of Pride Industries is to empower people with disabilities and help integrate them into the social and economic fabric of their communities.We couldn't hope for a better fit and look forward to assisting them to showcase their important work.