Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - November 8, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press wednesday november 8, 2006 adventure a7 conquering Everest former City doctor finally realizes his own dream to reach the Summit by Jason Bell a former Winnipeg Ger finally got his Chance to shoot for the top of the worlds tallest Mountain ? and he made it count. Bryce Brown an emergency room doctor reached the Summit of mount Everest at exactly 10 20 . On oct. 18 As part of the Berg adventures expedition out of can More Alta. He was among a group of 14 climbers and Sherpa guides to make it up the Nepal Side of the Himalayan giant which stands 8,850 metres High. He a believed to be the first Winnipeg Ger to reach the worlds highest Peak. Brown had been on the Side of Everest three times before. In 2000 and 2002, Brown was an expedition doctor stationed at base Camp at an Elevation of about 5,340 metres. And in 2004, he led a research team to base Camp to study the effects of High Alti tude sickness. On his fourth assignment however he had a permit from the Nepal govern ment to climb ? and he made his dream come True. Finally oct. 18, we stood on top said Brown in an email tuesday to the free press. A total of five westerners and nine Sherpa All stood on top together that morning amongst Clear Blue their timing he wrote was impeccable. Up until that Day. Everest was plagued with High winds on the Summit and since the 18th, it had been snowing and Windy up High. So we picked our Summit Day perfectly and Brown reached the Summit with his Sherpa climbing partner Ming a Ongel. The Sherpa people of Nepal Are highly regarded As experts in mountaineering and have Good physical endurance and resilience to High altitudes. Brown praised Ongel noting i was honoured to climb with Brown still trekking for a few More weeks in Nepal before assuming a med ical Post in Thunder Bay was the Only Canadian on the team. He joined guide Dave Hahn Rob deslauriers and his wife kit and Jimmy Chin All american climbers. The Berg expedition was the first group since 2000 to reach the Summit of Everest from the Nepal Side in the fall season. Just two teams including a Small korean expedition were on the Moun Tain in october. Unlike the Spring pre Monsoon sea son when hundreds of climbers attempt the Mountain from both sides we elected to climb in the fall and have the Mountain All to ourselves Brown wrote. We enjoyed the biggest Mountain in the world with none of the crowds you read about in the More than 3,000 people have reached Everest a Summit since new zealand Mountaineer sir Edmund Hillary first conquered it with his Sherpa guide on May 29, 1953. There have been More than 200 deaths As Well and the vast majority of those bodies were left behind. Browns adventure was not without its challenges although the group managed to avoid disaster. The fall season is not usually attempted due to a Shorter season colder less predictable weather and More Snow which Means More Avalanche risk in the Mountain he wrote. During the descent Brown ran out of fresh oxygen bottles but did to have to go without. Some of our Strong Sherpa team passed their own oxygen Over to those members in need and went without Back to the next Camp for resupply he noted. We could not have succeeded without their unselfish dedication and commitment to this Brown grew up camping and fishing in Northwestern Ontario and began ice and Rock climbing about 15 years ago. He successfully climbed the highest Peak in North America mount Mckin Ley 6,194 m in Alaska in 1999. He also attempted mount Logan 5,959 m in the Yukon in 2003 with three friends from Winnipeg but the group want Able to reach the Summit. Garth Irwin who was on that expedition was thrilled to hear his buddy had conquered Everest. Bryce was a base Camp doctor but i knew he wanted to be a climber said Irwin. I a really Happy to hear he made it. Its fantastic. He a a fabulous Guy and a Strong climber. He a a Good Guy to have on your team because he a got that medical Back ground. He stitched up my head on mount Logan when i got hit by a falling rock.?. Bryce Brown was among a group of 14 climbers and Sherpa guides to make it up the Nepal Side of the Himalayan giant on oct. 18. He a believed to be the first Winnipeg Ger to reach the Summit of Everest ;