Paulo and Helena Coelho are seasoned climbers with strong principles and one obsession: To summit Everest without O2 or high altitude porters. This year they will try to reach their dream for the eighth time. Image of the married couple courtesy of Webventure (click to enlarge).
Vitor (left) summited Everest last year, while Rodrigo (right) turn around 50 meters away from the top. This year they are better prepared, and ready for a no O2 ascent. Image courtesy of Try On Go Outside Everest 2006 expedition (click to enlarge)
Ana Elisa summited Cho Oyu last year (in the image). This spring she has joined AC's team for a guided ascent from the South side. Image of Ana Elisa, courtesy of Webventure (click to enlarge).
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Everest 2006: The Brazilian game is on with two firsts at stake
Posted: Mar 30, 2006 11:00 am EST
(MountEverest.net) Two Brazilian teams are attempting Everest from its North side this spring: One of them was successful last year, but they want to reach the summit without O2 this time; the second is a married couple convinced the summit only pays off without gas or porters support, even if it takes their whole lives to achieve it - they will be trying for the eighth time.
Two teams, two milestones
There are two milestones waiting to be set. The first is a no O2 Brazilian ascent on Everest. The second, the first female summit of the mountain.
Helena Coelho, who will be climbing with her husband Paulo, could get the double hitter. But she's not the only Brazilian lady going for the Big E this season: Fellow Brazilian Ana Elisa Boscarioli, a member of the Adventure Consultants team, will be climbing the peak from Nepal.
Ana Elisa also has a bid for the summit but she's counting on supplementary O2.
Return to the summit
For Vitor Negrete and Rodrigo Raineri, this is not their first trip to Everest. On June 2, 2005, Vitor reached the summit but Rodrigo turned back just 50 meters shy from the top. The pair climbed with supplementary O2. This year, however, they hope to be the first Brazilians to reach the top of the world without gas.
Vitor and Rodrigo will be taking some emergency cylinders up to Camp 3 just in case.
Paulo and Helena: No O2 summit – or no summit at all
The second Brazilian team on the mountain is a married couple: Paulo and Helena Coelho. They are true Everest veterans. In fact, this will be their eighth attempt.
And while the duo has failed to summit many times, they've stuck to their climbing principles: To reach the summit without supplementary O2 or high altitude Sherpas.
Last year, unable to change their plane tickets, they were forced to return home two days before the weather finally improved. This year, Paulo and Helena hope for an earlier summit window.
The race for the first female ascent
Finally, Dr. (plastic surgeon to be accurate) Ana Elisa Boscarioli has joined the Adventure Consultants team for a guided expedition on Everest from the South col route.
Unlike Helena, Ana Elisa will count on bottled O2 and Sherpa support. With or without gas, either one could become the first Brazilian woman to ever summit Everest.
Until now, only four Brazilians have reached the summit of Everest. First were Mozart Catão and Waldemar Niclevicz in 1995. Mozart would die some time later.
Last year, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first Brazilian summit, Waldemar returned to the mountain teaming up with Irivan Gustavo Burda, and eventually summited from the Nepali side. At the same time, Vitor Negrete reached the top from Tibet. All these ascents were made with supplementary oxygen.
Victor and Rodrigo have summited Aconcagua many times. They were the first Brazilian team to reach its summit from the dangerous south face.
Paulo Coelho summited Cho Oyu in 2003 (w/o O2).
Ana Elisa summited Cho Oyu last year, with supplementary O2.
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