Everest 2012: Weekend Update April 1

Well the first significant week of Everest 2012 is competed with no serious issues. The Nepalese are issuing climbing permits as expected and the flights to Lukla are running on schedule, which is unexpected 🙂

We have many reports from climbers and trekkers of arriving safely in Kathmandu, stuff with their luggage and are now on the trek to Everest Base Camp. The trek will take between 7 and 10 days depending on the operator. While it is “only” 30 miles, it is the altitude that makes for the slow going.

Teams arrive in Lukla at 9400’ and finish at Everest Base camp at 17,500’. The general rule of thumb for acclimatizing is to gain about 1000’ a day, which almost no one does that little, to allow the body to adjust to the thinner air.

Today, most teams are in Namche at 11,300 taking a rest day to make the altitude adjustment. I like what Eric Simonson said about Namche’s Saturday market:

Yesterday was the Saturday market in Namche and the Hybrid team got a chance to take in the scene. All the local traders, people from surrounding villages, and Tibetans from Tingri (with loads of Chinese goods brought via Nangpa La by yak) all congregate on a small patch of terraces right smack in the middle of town (which is already tightly packed and bustling). The result is complete bedlam for a few hours.

We already have one report of illness. Ian Ridley posts on his blog about that “queasy” feeling that quickly developed into a fever. This is fairly common. With a little rest and some antibiotics he should be fine. It is good to get sick early and not the day before your summit push! Ian met with Lama Geshe for their blessing, more on this in a future post, but posted this message from the dear Lama:

Give up all intentions to harm others from your heart And do your to benefit them all If each and everyone feels the universal responsibility to do so, We will all enjoy the feast of peace.

If you ever wonder who are on these climbs, Bandar Al-Faisal posted his 8 person team make-up on his blog as follows:

The nationalities represented are the U.S, Saudi Arabia and Finland … We have a Real Estate Developer, doctor, two lawyers, a guide and owner of a climbing company, a Park’s director, a telecoms executive who lives in Dubai, a banker, a financial advisor and a Director at a large technology company.

Another interesting climber is one from my own Colorado, Jon Kedrowski who has spent the night on each of our 54 14,000 foot mountain summits, aka 14ers.

Over on the North, teams are starting to gather in Kathmandu and most will make the long drive to Everest Base Camp, North including crossing the Friendship Bridge between Zhangmu, Tibet and Sindhupalchok, Nepal – a place you do not want to linger. Altitude Junkies, climbing from the north this year,  has started posting updates on their site. Phil Crampton made an interesting comment on on his 2012 team:

With this Everest expedition included our team have fifty-one expeditions to 8,000-meter peaks between them and I am very honored to manage an expedition for such a group of experienced climbers.

So we are off to a good start for Everest 2012. Many climbers are now on what some would say is the primary reason for selecting a South side climb over a North – the trek through the Khumbu. Tomorrow, I will add my thoughts to this discussion but for now leave you with the thought that a Khumbu trek will change your life.

Climb On!
Alan
Memories are Everything