Virtual Everest 2020: Base Camp Life and Summit Schedules
When will we summit? A question asked a thousand times during an expedition. The answer is more complicated that it appears, and also, reveals a lot about the team dynamics. Our fictional team discuss plans over dinner. In the real world, Mingma G posted that the “Chinese Everest team climbing on the Tibet side, has […]
Virtual Everest 2020: Difficult Times
It happens to almost everyone, at some point on a long expedition, the body revolts. The pain begins, the cough gets harder and then you address it. Will the drugs work? Need more rest? Go home. Difficult times for our virtual Everest 2020 team. Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas is a joint […]
Virtual Everest 2020: Sherpas at C2
Living for the season at 21,000-feet, the Cooks, are the backbone of any Everest expedition along with the Climbing Sherpas. Our fictional team is busy creating red blood cells as they spend another night at C2. Meanwhile in the real world, China Daily is live-streaming a video of Everest from the Tibet side using the […]
Virtual Everest 2020: Acclimatization at C2
Now at Camp 2, 21,000-feet, the team begins to adjust to the extreme altitude. There is no way to avoid acclimatizing if you want to summit Everest, almost 8,000 feet higher. Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas is a joint project of Alan Arnette and several global guide companies. Our objective is to […]
Virtual Everest 2020: Camp 2
On their active rest day at Camp 1, our fictional climbers took a short hike into the Western Cwm. Today, they move to Camp 2 at 21,000-feet. If it’s sunny, it’s a brutal walk, if cloudy and windy, it’s a brutal hike. They want a Goldilocks experience: high clouds, light winds. In the real world, […]
Virtual Everest 2020: In the Western Cwm
The Western Cwm is known as the valley of silence. But it could be called a microwave oven. The icy walls that define the valley reflect the harsh rays of the sun creating an almost unbearable environment. But just when it gets too hot, it gets too cold. Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing […]
Virtual Everest 2020: Weekend Video Update April 26- Lukas Furtenbach Interview
During this Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas project, I’m adding a new aspect of my coverage, a video report on most Sundays. I will recap the week and preview what we can expect coming up. Also a brief interview with the guides participating in the Support the Climbing Sherpa project. Today is […]
Virtual Everest 2020: Climbing to Camp 1, and 5 Years Later
With an introduction to the Khumbu Icefall completed for our fictional team, now they return for a rotation to Camps 1 and 2 in the Western Cwm. They are treated to magnificent views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. It is magical. On a personal note, I (Alan) was at Camp 2 on April 25, 2015, […]
Virtual Everest 2020: Weather Day and Tough Conversations
Our fictional team returned from their first trip to the Khumbu Icefall. Almost everyone did well, but there are signs of problems for a couple of climbers. Today, it snowed heavily at base camp, so it will be quiet but … also a difficult conversation. Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas is a joint […]
Virtual Everest 2020: First Steps in the Khumbu Icefall
The first trip into the Khumbu Icefall can be shocking. It starts steeper than thought, has more ups and downs than advertised and when you see that first ladder, second thoughts are common. Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas is a joint project of Alan Arnette and several global guide companies. Our objective is to entertain […]