Repeated efforts to reach Fischer were unsuccessful Saturday and Sunday. On Monday morning, Gau and Weathers were airlifted from the mountain by a Nepalese helicopter. They were retrieved from just above Camp I at approximately 19,100 feet. Pilots estimated that some 50 climbers were at the camp waiting to begin the climb down to base camp, or for a recovery team to help them down. In most years, the jet stream shifts off Everest in early May, typically resulting in a two-week period of relatively calm weather.
Temperatures are moderate and winds decrease.
The disaster followed a period of great celebration Friday afternoon when both Hall and Fischer successfully led their groups to the summit. It's unclear what caused Fischer to remain above high camp, although there is some speculation that he may have gone out to assist another expedition or may have been overcome with exhaustion from weeks of hauling equipment and leading clients up and down the mountain in preparation for the summit bid. Prior to leaving on this expedition, Fischer described the importance of returning from the summit to Camp IV before dark. The success of the two teams on Friday followed the death on Thursday of a climber from Gao's 13-member Taiwanese team. In an interview with Outside Online earlier this year, Fischer said he had been taking fewer risks in the Himalayas, hoping to maintain his climbing lifestyle for years to come.