A lot of movement on both sides of Everest. Teams have spent the night at camps 1 and 2 on the south and are now at ABC on the North. The Indian Pune team and the WMS gang have a few nice Icefall pictures. You can almost hear the heavy breathing! Fixing Rope The Sherpas continue to do the heavy lifting, literally and figuratively as a mind-boggling amount of rope is used to fix the south side route: 6.2 miles or 32,808 feet or 10,00 meters! They use a nylon  kernmantle static rope design. The Sherpas are now fixing the continue reading

As expected several teams spent the night at Camp 1. This was their first full climb through the Icefall, across the ladders and on the fixed ropes for an extended period. For most climbers, it would have taken 4 to 6 hours, some longer and a few didn’t make it. But this is all part of the process of acclimatization and they will get more comfortable as the season progresses. Once again, Adventure Consultants give us a good overview: After much anticipation, acclimatization and training the main team completed their first trip from BC to C1 in the early hours continue reading

Monday morning at Everest Base Camp! Just like at home, climbers are busy doing what climbers do on Everest as the trekkers become climbers. Base camp is a bee hive of activity. I would guess there are forty or more teams established at EBC-South each with their sprawling compound of tents. The rock and ice trails meander throughout the camps creating roads, cul de sacs, intersections and traffic jams – especially when a yak train comes through! Icefall Laybrath As expected teams are making their first climbs into the Khumbu Icefall. Usually, they go to the first ladder or perhaps continue reading

Teams continue to settle into their base camps. On the south the usual routine is rise at 7:59, breakfast at 8, lunch at 12 or 1, dinner at 6 and bed at 7! In these early days, the main objective is to adjust to the high altitude of 17,500′. But another goal is to check everyone out on their crampon and fixed ropes techniques. While it may seem strange to go to Everest and still be asked to “prove” yourself on some aspects of climbing technique, it is an excellent idea. There are few places on the planet that “normal” continue reading

Everest climbers are all  over the Khumbu today, some are training on short ladders in base camp, others actually went into the Icefall, usually to the first ladders, to get a feel for what’s to come. And other are just resting. Island Peak Acclimatization First up a great report from Kristin Kobler along with some excellent pictures from their Island peak (Imja Tse) acclimatization climb. I love it when a 20,305′/6189m mountain is just the warm up! Base Camp Updates And a good overview of the Himex Base Camp from Greg Paul plus more nice pictures: We are two hours continue reading

The season is fully underway with teams on both sides of Everest at the base camps (EBC). Adventure Peaks reports: 10th April : Chris called today to say that the team have reached base camp they have just had a fantastic welcome lunch and all the team are in great spirits and feeling well. They are in awe of the amazing view presented to them at base camp of Everest’s North Face. They will hve a rest day tomorrow before starting their acclimatisation around base camp Remember to see the location of all the teams on the location matrix. I continue reading