Finally, yet another update (reversal) on the solo trekker ban. The Kathmandu Post<\/a> reported that the Nepal tourism board is demanding all trekkers (not climbers) must hire a guide or a porter to always be with them while on the trek. A trekker found traveling on designated trekking trails without a guide or TIMS card can be fined USD$91.00 with a 20% kickback to the official who finds them. Local officials in the Everest Khumbu region had said they were not informed and would allow solo trekkers. However, now it appears the Board has made an official policy change, and it applies to all trekking routes throughout Nepal. Like many of these rules, the impact can range from none to annoying a few people.<\/p>\r\n Every season seems to have a storyline, and this year they include female climbers, no O’s climbs and climbers with disabilities. Let’s explore them.<\/p>\r\n Female Climbers<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Each year, more female climbers are on the 8000ers. While still early for this spring, of the forty permits issued, eleven are for females or 27%. In 2022, 66 females summited, or 10% of the total summits, while historically, female climbers represented just 7%. Two female climbers that are pushing the envelope are Adrianna Brownlee,<\/a>\u00a021, and Norwegian Kristin Harila<\/a>, 36. Both are trying to summit all 14 of the 8000ers as quickly as possible. I understand that both will get exceptions to enter Tibet and climb Shishapangma.<\/p>\r\n Of all Everest summiteers, only 3% shun supplemental oxygen. There are several people who have announced their no-O’s intentions. Note that often a person will say they will not use it but end up using it on the summit push. The aspirants include Nepali Dabuti Sherpa, Brazilian Carlos Cannellas, Hungarian Suhajda Szilard, and Andorran Stefi Troguet. Controversial Taiwanese climber who became infamous for some dubious claims last year’s Grace Tseng<\/strong><\/a>, 28, also on Everest trying without Os.<\/p>\r\n You may remember that the Ministry of Tourism banned all people with disabilities from climbing Everest, but Nepal’s Supreme Court later overturned the ban in June 2018. I wrote about it then in this post<\/a>. Now, five years later, there are several climbers with disabilities on the 8000ers.<\/p>\r\n First up is Lonnie Bedwell, a blind US Navy veteran who is attempting Everest and Lhotse. Lonnie was the first blind person to kayak the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon and later joined Eric Weihenmeyer\u2019s team down the same river. He was a National Geographic Adventurer of the year several years ago and has a number of movies, mostly about his kayaking exploits. He is climbing with Michael Neal and Bryan Hill who just completed riding their bicycles, solo and unsupported, from the Indian Ocean to Phaplu, Nepal.<\/p>\r\n I did Podcast with deaf climbers, Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger, who are aiming to be the first American deaf couple and, to their knowledge, the second and third deaf climbers to summit Mount Everest. Also, they are trying to become the first deaf couple to compete the Seven Summits. Both were born, as they say, profoundly deaf, meaning they had no hearing at all. They live in the Washington, D.C., area and are educators and mountaineers. They summited Denali, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Ecuador\u2019s Chimborazo and Cotopaxi, and Mont Blanc, plus Scott has all the US High Point.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n Carlos Soria, at age 84, will attempt his nemesis, Dhaulagiri, for the fourteenth time, yes, FOURENTH!! He was there in \u00a02015 when the earthquake hit but never made it to the mountain. However, some still count it as an attempt; thus, the fifteen you may see elsewhere. He will climb with his regular partner, Sito Carcavilla, and be supported by six climbing Sherpas.<\/p>\r\n Marc Batard<\/strong><\/a>, 71, will try again to find an alternate route from the Khumbu Icefall along the flanks of Nuptse. I’ve written<\/a> quite a bit about this.<\/p>\r\n If you summited Everest and would like a special watch to commentate the accomplishment, Bremont<\/a> is selling a limited run of 100 watches using crowns carried by Brit Garth Miller in 2022 on his summit climb. Of note, Bremont will make a donation the Khumbu Climbing Center<\/a> to help advance Sherpa’s climbing skills.<\/p>\r\n Climb On! You can hear #everest2022 podcasts on\u00a0<\/span>Spotify<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Apple Podcast<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Google Podcasts<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Pocket Casts<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>RadioPublic<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Anchor<\/span><\/a>, and more. Just search for “alan arnette” on your favorite podcast platform.<\/span><\/p>\r\n I like to use these weekend updates to remind my readers that I’m just one person<\/a> who loves climbing. With 37 serious climbing<\/a> expeditions, including four Everest trips under my belt and a summit in 2011, I use my site<\/a>\u00a0to share those experiences, demystify Everest each year and bring awareness to Alzheimer’s Disease<\/a>. My mom, Ida Arnette, died from this disease in 2009, as have four of my aunts. It was a heartbreaking experience that I never want anyone to go through; thus, my ask for donations<\/a> to non-profits where 100% goes to them, and nothing ever to me.2023 Storylines<\/h2>\r\n
No O’s<\/h2>\r\n
Disabilities<\/h2>\r\n
“Interesting?”<\/h2>\r\n
Opportunity<\/h2>\r\n
Alan
Memories are Everything<\/p>\r\n
\r\nThe Podcast on alanarnette.com<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
\r\nWhy this coverage?<\/h4>\r\n
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\r\nSummit Coach<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
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