Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas
Welcome to the kick-off of Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas. As regular readers of my blog know due to fears over the Coronavirus, aka COVID-19, Nepal closed all climbing, including Everest, for the spring 2020 season. China, through the Tibet Mountaineering Association, closed all their mountains to foreigners, Chinese nationals will be allowed […]
Everest 2020: Was it Correct to Close Everest?
Follow Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas starting April 2, 2020 Now that word is spreading that both Nepal and China have closed the 2020 Spring Everest (and other mountains) season let’s talk about if this was the correct decision. For me, the answer is clearly yes. Climbing is a sport, it’s optional […]
Everest 2020: Nepal Joins China and Closes Everest
Follow Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas starting April 2, 2020 Nepal has joined China in closing the spring climbing season on all mountains, including on Everest citing Covid-19 aka the Coronavirus. Nepali officials also decided to temporarily stop issuing on-arrival tourist visas to all countries through the end of April. Previously it […]
Everest 2020: China Closes Everest
Follow Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas starting April 2, 2020 According to operators running Everest expeditions on the China/Tibet side of Everest, they were notified today, March 11, 2020, that the China Tibet Mountaineering Association aka CTMA that all permits for the spring season are canceled due to the Coronavirus. Operators […]
Everest 2020: A Month Go Checklist
Follow Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas starting April 2, 2020 Early March is an awkward time for aspiring Everest climbers. It is too late to make serious advancements in physical training and too early to eat what you want, assuming you will lose weight during the climb. Making serious gear changes […]
Three Questions for Jost Kobuschh’s Winter Everest West Ridge Attempt
I caught up with Jost Kobuschh and congratulated him on a fine effort. In review, he was attempting a winter, solo Everest climb on the rarely attempted West Ridge without supplemental oxygen and no Sherpa support. This exact style and the route had never been attempted or accomplished. The German alpinist tagged his high point at 7,329-meters/23,750-feet. […]
Nepal Begins to Address Risky Visitors due to Coronavirus Virus
Follow Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas starting April 2, 2020 Nepali officials are adding visa steps for travelers from five countries experiencing the highest levels of the Coronavirus. The usual process for most visitors is to obtain a visa at the airport once they arrive. Now visitors from five countries, China, […]
Update on Coronavirus Impact on 2020 Spring Everest Season
Follow Virtual Everest 2020 – Support the Climbing Sherpas starting April 2, 2020 I’ve been speaking with foreign and Nepali operators, plus Nepali officials, about the impact of the Coronavirus on the Everest season. Bottom line is that there are already cancellations but it appears as of this writing the Tibet side will remain […]
2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Over for All
And then there were none. Alex Txikon ended his effort as did Jost Kobuschh. Everest in winter is just too difficult this year. Everyone is back at base camp now. There were no winter summits on the four 8000ers attempted this winter: Everest, K2, Broad Peak, and Gasherbrum I/II. Now, on to the spring season! […]
2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Teams on the Move
One is going for the summit and one is doing laps on Everest. We will know at the end of this week if Everest will see a winter summit this season. Everest Jost on West Ridge – Broke 7200m, Time running out German alpinist, Jost Kobuschh’s is back down to his Camp 1 at 6,100-meters/20,000-feet after establishing […]