Dispatches

May 20: Final Challenge
The last trip through the Khumbu icefall proves to be the worst, as an ice collapse leaves one guide dangling for his life. As Midge puts it: "The mountain is saying get out of here; the season is over."

May 19: After the Storm
After spending a wind-battered night in nylon tents at 26,000 feet while breathing supplemental oxygen, the women, their guides and Sherpas left the South Col.

May 18: Summit Bid Abandoned
The women made it close to the summit, but illness and changing weather convinced the team to abandon their attempt to summit Mount Everest and descend to safety.

May 16: Record Day
At least 54 climbers reach the summit—the most ever on a single day. Having waited out the inevitable traffic jam, the women's team goes into high gear now, as it faces a daunting weather forecast of high winds and moisture.

May 15: "Remain Focused"
A crisp, cold morning pulled the climbers from their tents at 6:20 a.m. to begin another slog up the Western Cwm. But this time they moved efficiently and found — to some surprise — that acclimatization really does work. Movement is much easier.

May 14: Summit Bid Begins
As first light mixed with wet snow and fog, the five women climbers and their three guides left base camp this morning with their eyes on the summit, at least five days away and nearly two vertical miles above them.

May 13: Aiming High
At 5 a.m. Tuesday, the five climbers and their three guides plan to leave base camp to begin a five-day attempt to climb to the highest point on Earth.

May 11: Mother's Day Present
As she waits to leave for a summit bid, Jody gets a present hand-delivered to base camp just in time for Mother's Day. It's video of her young son showing off his first crawl.

May 8: Waiting Game
More than a dozen teams who have spent the past month practicing and preparing and waiting for a chance to stand on the world's tallest chunk of earth now jockey for position to make a summit bid.