NZ team abandon Everest attempt

In one of the worst seasons in recent times, a New Zealand expedition has abandoned its attempt on Mt Everest but yesterday other teams had pushed on to the top.

Around three dozen climbers successfully made it to Everest's 8848m summit from the south (Nepal) side yesterday morning NZT. Other climbers were leaving or were preparing to do so, frustrated by vicious winds that have hampered attempts during a season that officially ends today.

After two months of waiting for better weather, the Wanaka-based Adventure Consultants team, led by Kiwi Mike Roberts, made the decision to turn for home two days ago in what team member Luis Benitez called a "heartbreaking" decision.

He said climbers pushing on for the summit were taking too big a risk and ignoring weather reports.

Adventure Consultants director Guy Cotter, who took the company over after the deaths of founders Rob Hall and Gary Ball on Everest in 1996, said pulling out was the sensible decision.

"The whole thing for us is, you have to draw the line somewhere and good luck to everyone else," he said.

The weather had been "unprecedented" this spring, he said, with winds up to 200km/h creating extremely dangerous conditions.

Cotter, who has twice stood on the summit of Everest, said he had been going to Everest since 1992 but this season's gales were unprecedented. The late arrival of the monsoon had meant the furious jetstream winds had not been pushed further north as was usually the case during May.

Since the summit was conquered in 1953, more than 1400 climbers have scaled the mountain, 30 of those New Zealanders. About 180 people have died.