Everest 2011 Now Underway

The time has come for climb number 3 of the 7 Summits for Alzheimer’s: Memories are Everything. I leave for Kathmandu and Everest in less than 24 hours.

The Reason

Let me talk about the climb but first remember that this is to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s. If you find my coverage of Everest over the years interesting, entertaining or useful please donate today. If you know someone with Alzheimer’s, please donate today. If you cherish your memories, please donate today. I am asking that you donate $0.01 per foot I climb or $196 for Everest.

Alzheimer’s is devastating and can hit anyone at any age. It is not an old person’s problem nor a part of normal aging. It is a disease like cancer or diabetes and there is no cure, effective method of early detection and ments only help with the symptoms. And the silent victims are the family caregivers.

A few startling facts recently updated:

• If your family member has Alzheimer’s there is no cure
• The cost to care for someone with Alzheimer’s is well over $5000 a month in a facility and much more if at home
• Every 70 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s
• More than 60 percent of family caregivers report high levels of stress because of the prolonged duration of caregiving and 33 percent report symptoms of depression.
• Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth leading cause of death for those 65 and older.

Follow the Climb

I will be sending dispatches posted on this Blog throughout the climb, weather and technology willing! You can also sign up for notification of new dispatches through the box in the right sidebar. Please become a fan on our Facebook page.

The Schedule

I am climbing with International Mountain Guides on their Sherpa lead “Classic” team. This is the high level schedule. You can see the daily schedule on the right sidebar of this page and on all Everest 2011 Blog posts. Remember this is estimated and 100% certain to change.

• March 26-29 travel to Kathmandu
• March 30-April 11 trek to base camp at 17,500’
• April 11-12 Everest Base Camp
• April 13-19 Acclimatization climbs on Lobuche
• April 20-23 Everest Base Camp
• April 24-May 7 Acclimatization climbs the Khumbu Icefall, Western Cwm and Lhotse Face
• May 12-18 Summit Push with summit on May 17th
• May 19-24 trek out, fly to Kathmandu
• May 25 Fly home

I will use the SPOT Locator to transmit my GPS coordinates throughout the expedition. Mostly it will be upon reaching a camp or village but I will upload my location every 10 minutes on the interesting sections such as the Khumbu Icefall, Western Cwm, Lhotse Face and of course through my summit push. Click on the Where’s Alan tab on this page.

Also, thanks to my supporters, Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program (AIP) of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Pfizer Inc.. Please visit our newly updated campaign website for more on the campaign at climb4ad.com.

Much, much ,more to come over April and May so please follow along and wish me luck!

Climb On!

Alan