With the Everest season in full swing, many people ask what it takes to climb the highest mountain in the world.
It comes down to a few areas: skills, experience, fitness and commitment.
Oct 142009
Fall is a difficult time to climb Everest. This year there were only two teams – one on each side. Both gave it their all and both have now left the mountain without a summit attempt. Heavy snowfall and high winds were the primary issues.
Sep 272009
Setting hard goals and working towards them often defines part of human existence. Two of my friends did just that this week. Jim Davidson summited Cho Oyu and John Little his first 14er. I am so proud of both of my friends. In Jim’s blog he wrote: “I began to wonder what climbing to such great heights would be like, how one got to go on such an adventure, and, dare I say it, if even I might be able to go someday. A dream was born.”
Sep 252009
Looks like Cho Oyu is being nice this season with over 30 climbers already on the summit and down safely. IMG reports their team put 7 climbers and 5 Sherpa on top yesterday and Jagged Globe has 12 members on top with Sherpa support. Also a Maltese team had 3 summits. I am especially proud for my friend, Jim Davidson, with this being his first 8000m climb. You can read the details on Jim’s blog.
More summits are expected from Adventure Consultants, Alpine Ascents, Amical, Mountain Madness and Summit Climb over the next few days. The weather looks good through the 27th.
The Fall 2009 Himalayan season continues with teams on Cho Oyu, Manaslu, Shishapangma and Everest. It is still early in most team’s acclimatization schedules. For example, IMG’s Cho Oyu team has spent only one night at Camp 1 and Altitude Junkies have just reached base camp on Manaslu. I believe there are only two teams on Everest is Fall, a Basque and an Indo Tibetan Border Police team who is attempting to ski down from the summit.
Aug 312009
In spring it is Everest, in the fall it is Cho Oyu serving as the most popular 8000m climbs. With unrest in Tibet and their own Olympic torch agenda, the Chinese restricted access the past two years but 2009 is back to normal with over 10 expeditions.
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