Everest 2013: Weekend Update April 14
Right on schedule, Everest Base Camp (EBC) in Nepal filled up this week as climbers finished their trek from Lukla. On the other side, a few have arrived but most teams are half way through their drive to the Chinese Base Camp (CBC) after crossing the border mid week. The north bound teams take day […]
Everest 2013: Crossing the Ladders of Everest
Climbers are working hard to adjust to the altitude and their new environment. Multiple reports are coming in on restless nights, high heart rates, low oxygen saturation and the usual litany of GI issues. All normal. The weather is also dominating reports with snow, low clouds and winds covering Base Camp and obscuring the top […]
Everest 2013: Tributes to the Sherpas
The death of Icefall Doctor, search Mingma Sherpa, is still echoing throughout the climbing community. Anytime there is a death, it shakes the Sherpas and climbers to their core. It causes everyone to consider their goals, to think deeply about why they are there. For some it is a job, for others it is a […]
Everest 2013: First Steps into the Icefall
There is progress to report all around today. Teams are in Base Camp making their first trips into the Icefall. Others are finishing up their trek in the Khumbu and the North side teams have crossed the Chinese border and are starting the first of four nights en-route to the Chinese Base Camp. Several teams […]
Everest 2013: Base Camp Puja
The teams climbing from the Tibet side have now left Kathmandu. According to Phil Crampton of Altitude Junkies, > the delay in crossing the border was due to lack of “vehicles available for all the groups to enter around the same time so they have staggered the entry dates.” Climbers and trekkers are required to […]
Everest 2013: Icefall Doctor Dies
It is sad to start the week with the report of the death of Mingmar Sherpa. One of the Icefall Doctors, he is reported by AFP and the Himalayan Times to have died after falling into a crevasse between Camps 1 and 2 in the Western Cwm. His body will be retrieved by helicopter once […]
Everest 2013: Weekend Update April 7
It was a good week for all those heading towards Mt. Everest. The weather was fine and reports from Base Camp included cold and snow – both good news after the dry and dangerous 2012 season. In 2012, salve I posted this for the April 8th Weekend update: In Nepal, Everest Base Camp received a […]
Everest 2013: Blessings from the Lama
One of the key moments for any Himalayan climber is the blessing they receive from a Lama before the climb. Many teams arrange multiple blessings: one in Kathmandu, sick and other during the trek in and the most important one at Base Camp which is also called a Puja. The one during the trek in […]
Everest 2013: The Trek Goes On
Just a quick update today as teams are still on the trek to Everest Base Camp. Many of the updates are about what they are seeing, here and feeling along the way. However, this may be the strangest collection of updates I have ever posted! I’m seeing several reports of stomach issues the past few […]
Everest 2013: The Secret to Climbing at 80
Some of the largest teams have now arrived in Kathmandu including Himalayan Experience, no aka Himex and Russell Brice. Himex has a smaller Everest team with 10 climbers but an additional 6 going for Lhotse and an all women effort on Nuptse of 4 climbers. Himex’s overall lead guide is Mark “Woody” Woodward from New […]