Madison Mountaineering<\/a>, who is leading the rope fixing efforts along with Prestge Adventures<\/a> warns that it could be late next week when the ropes reach the summit, around 11th May. In 2017, the ropes reached the Nepal side summit on 15th<\/sup> May and on the Tibet side, 13th<\/sup> May. In 2016, it was 11th May on Nepal side.<\/p>\n According to our weather forecasts, it appears that a major wind event is approaching Mount Everest, probably in the next day or two. Our Sherpas will make good use of tomorrows marginal weather forecast to position additional loads at the South Col high camp, and then see if the following day is appropriate for climbing above 8000 meters. The jet stream will likely cover the Mount Everest region for up to a week and no climbing will take place above 8000 meters during this time, so we are preparing to hold tight and wait for the opportunity when the Jet Stream passes and the winds are calm enough for a summit attempt! Until then we plan to rest and enjoy the amenities of our Everest base camp!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Jon Griffith<\/a> who will live stream Tenji Sherpa<\/a>‘s attempt to summit both Everest and Lhotse in one push with no O’s posted this amazing photograph along with “A massive sun dog sits atop Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. A phenomenon created by high altitude ice crystals which is normally indicative of moisture and bad weather in bound. Not sure I’ve ever seen such a big one before though.<\/strong>” I will be posting my interview with Jon and Tenji today or tomorrow.<\/p>\n Alpine Ascents delayed a few days to avoid being in the rush earlier this week and felt it payed off. Note that their acclimation plan is working as they are getting stronger and going faster. Ben Jones, Alpine Ascents<\/a>: “the team was very efficient getting to Camp 1 today. We cut an hour and a half of time off of our first rotation time to Camp 1 without intending to. You just feel that much better on the second rotation and very obvious to us guides that our team is getting stronger, taking less time to catch their breath, and moving through the obstacles of the icefall much more efficiently now<\/strong>”<\/p>\n Not everyone is slowing down however. Matt Moniz<\/a> and Willie Benegas<\/a> skied the Lhotse Face today after reaching Camp 3 for acclimatization. They intend to ski the Lhotse Couloir later this month.<\/p>\n Seven Summits Treks<\/a> made an interesting comment regard safety on the Nepal side. For years, there have been calls for a “rescue team” to be stationed at Camp 2 throughout the season and it appears they are doing just that. I’m unclear if these are dedicated Sherpas who will not be assisting other climbers or regular duty Sherpas who would be called away in case of an emergency. In any case the training they are doing is excellent and welcomed on the Nepal side:<\/p>\n Each year numbers of rescue between C1 to Summit Level has to be conducted, we can not stop accident in the mountains but we can reduce and make it more safe. With the same purpose SST has been appointed a rescue team of 10 climbers, which will be at Camp 2 and will be ready to operate rescue in an emergency.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Guy Cotter<\/a> and his member are attempting to summit Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse this season, something rarely accomplished. Jumping on a good idea Tim Mosedale<\/a> and Jon Gupta<\/a> asked to join them and they made a strong attempt yesterday. Tim does a nice detailed write up well worth a read if you are into serious mountaineering but this is the money quote:<\/p>\n After the next short pitch there was a lot of snow which had been blown across an open slope. It was the dreaded wind slab – wind blown snow that gives the impression of being strong and uniform but which can fail catastrophically \u2026 especially when 11 people are walking across it making perforations and lines of weakness in it and adding an extra ton of weight.<\/p>\n Sadly this was to be our high point just 200m from the summit. It was a slightly crushing blow especially as we had spent three quarters of an hour lower down waiting for the weather to improve and when it had it had seemed that the mountain gods were on our side. It would have been very, very easy to try and force the route, push the boundaries and compromise rational decision making but this is not the place for taking risks. Firstly it wasn\u2019t a personal decision, secondly if anything were to go wrong then the implications don\u2019t bear thinking about and thirdly a risky and foolhardy choice would have far reaching consequences for anyone coming to the rescue. It is, after all, only the summit!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/a>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/31933958_1944640148914521_6309295129484066816_n-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Slowing Down to go Faster<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Matt-and-Willie-skiing-the-Lhotse-Face-Courtesy-of-Mikey-Foreal-1-640x427.jpg\")
<\/a>Rescue Resources<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/SST-rescue-training-in-the-glaciers-of-Everest-under-the-leadership-of-Lakpa-Sherpa-Lakpa-is-an-IFMGA-certified-mountain-guide-and-president-of-Nepal-Mountaineering-Instructor-Association-1-225x169.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/SST-rescue-training-in-the-glaciers-of-Everest-under-the-leadership-of-Lakpa-Sherpa-Lakpa-is-an-IFMGA-certified-mountain-guide-and-president-of-Nepal-Mountaineering-Instructor-Association-1-1-225x169.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nNuptse Attempt<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Nuptse-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Nuptse has only been summited 20 times and has a reputation as a difficult and steep climb. The summit itself is heavily corniced and few actually stand on the literal top stopping a few meters lower. Of course this is the route where Ueli Steck fell to his death last year. \u00a0Jon posted this super video clip of Tim on the ridge:<\/p>\n