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Climbing Everest is all about timing. And a few climbers are proving that they can sneak in a few summits after the masses have left. On the North, the second team from SummitClimb summited 19 in what was termed ‘high winds’. Part of their team was Leifur Orn Svavarsson, reported to be the first Icelander to summit from the North. On the South, Manish kumar Deka of Assam, India summited with his Sherpas. They were climbing with Arun. Senior Battle In the ongoing battle for records, 81 year-old Nepali, Min Bahadur Sherchan, is reported at Base Camp. I have from continue reading

The Sherpas are reported to be fixing the line between the South Col and the Balcony today, Thursday May 9 Nepal time. Apparently David Tait, with Himex, is going with the Sherpas and made this cryptic Tweet: Im at c4 – going summit tonight. Hopstile as everg This was his plan all along but had backed off due to an injury, weather and politics. He would summit early Friday, May 10. David Lianno is also on his summit push currently at C2 looking to summit on May 11, Nepal time. Eric Simonson, IMG, provided this detailed update with: IMG leaders continue reading

After yesterday’s huge dump of snow near Camp 1, the trail has been broken by the Sherpas and climbers allowing movement between camps. Avalanches are being reported as the snow settles but nothing out of the ordinary For most Everest climbers, this is the time when they internalize the work, and fun, of climbing. Each morning, they awake not fully knowing what lies ahead that day. And when they are in the middle of the day, they are unsure of tomorrow. This uncertainty brings exhilaration and anxiety.   Climbers Moving Alpine Ascents reports they moved from C1 to C2 and continue reading

The death of Icefall Doctor, Mingma Sherpa, is still echoing throughout the climbing community. Anytime there is a death, it shakes the Sherpas and climbers to their core. It causes everyone to consider their goals, to think deeply about why they are there. For some it is a job, for others it is a dream; but for all it is a risk. Everest is often dismissed as an “easy walk-up” but the sad reality is that every year people die. It is part of high altitude mountaineering. When a Sherpa dies, the implications are wide. The novice climbers reconsiders their continue reading

Just a quick update today as teams are still on the trek to Everest Base Camp. Many of the updates are about what they are seeing, and feeling along the way. However, this may be the strangest collection of updates I have ever posted! I’m seeing several reports of stomach issues the past few days. This is fairly common as Westerners adjust their systems to the local food. Most climbers will get things sorted by the time they arrive at Base Camp. Steve Whittington gave us this insight: I was suffering from a G.I. bacteria that has worked it’s way continue reading