Himex organized several teams to climb Everest during the 2006 climbing season expedition. The first team was guided by mountain climber and guide Bill Crouse. At about 01:00 on 14 May, Crouse's expedition team passed by Sharp during their own ascent. They passed at a location on the common North route by a spot known as the Exit Cracks. When Crouse's team descended, they saw Sharp again at the base of the Third Step around 11:00. By the time Crouse's expedition had descended to the Second Step, more than one hour later, they looked back to see that Sharp was above the Third Step, but was climbing very slowly and had only moved about .