Everest 2022: Welcome to Everest 2022 Coverage
Welcome to the kick-off for my Everest 2022 coverage! I have already posted a few articles on Everest 2022 so let me officially welcome you. This season will be my 22nd season of all-things Everest: 16 times providing coverage, another four seasons of climbing on Everest, and two years attempting Lhotse.
Winter Himalayan Climbs Over
High winds and heavy snow thwarted all of the ambitious plans for the 2021/22 winter Himalayan season. Using the end of February as the end of winter, it’s over. It’s time to turn to Spring climbing. There were attempts but no summits on five of the fourteen 8000ers: Everest, K2, Nanga Parbat, Manaslu, and Cho Oyu.
Video Interview with Kuntal Joisher – 100% Vegan Mountain Climber
Every person who climbs Everest is unique. So, of course, that person feels special, but some stand out. Take Kuntal Joisher, for example. He has summited Everest from the Tibet and Nepal sides, plus Lhotse, and completed many other amazing adventures like the Northern Icecap in Chile. But what makes Kuntal stand out is his dedication to a vegan lifestyle that goes all the way to shunning any item that uses animal products – including using a full synthetic climbing suit. We discuss how he got to this point, his outstanding photography skills, and what it’s like being an ambassador for “Save the Ducks.” We also discuss his next climbing project his passion for bodybuilding and photography. Finally, we share a common family situation with my mom, Ida, and his father, both dying from forms of Dementia, Lewy Body syndrome, and Alzheimer’s.
Bad Weather Continues to Thwart Winter Himalayan Summits, Vision Study
Mother nature will not let up for the remaining efforts on Cho Oyu and K2. Attempts have been stopped by high winds and snow conditions. The end of winter is quickly approaching for the teams.
Everest, Cho Oyu and K2 left for Winter Himalayan Climbs
The efforts on Manaslu and Nanga Parbat ended without summits leaving one solo climber on Everest, a team of Sherpas with one client on K2, and two Nepali teams racing for the summit on Cho Oyu. Depending on which definition of the end of winter you use, the Meteorological definition at the end of February, or March 20, 2022, the Astronomical definition, teams are now focused on making their summit bids.
One by One, Winter Himalayan Climbs End
With the heavy snowfall, and unrelenting winds, one by one, the ambitious winter plans are falling. There is a reason so few people attempt any of the world’s highest peaks in the winter, and this season is a case study. It appears unlikely anyone will summit this winter … but I could be wrong!
Everest 2022: Video Interview with Adrian Ballinger, Alpenglow
With the Everest 2022 season just around the corner, it appears the Tibet side will be closed and continued uncertainty about the wisdom of climbing on the Nepal side. There are questions as to whether operators should run their programs at all. Many are moving forward but a few are not. I discuss the situation with Adrian Ballinger, founder of Alpenglow Expeditions who has canceled his expedition from the Tibet side this spring. We also talk about his plans for a no O’s, ski descent on Makalu.
Podcast: How Much Does it Cost to Climb Mount Everest? – 2022 Edition
This is the Podcast version of my annual post of “How Much Does it Cost to Climb Mount Everest?” Prices have risen on both sides, and there is price parity on the Tibet and Nepal sides. Also, I look at some of the most expensive options – it’s shocking!
Winter Himalayan Climbs Fight the Weather
Poor weather across the Himalayas continues to stall significant progress on Evererst and Manaslu. Another team joins the race to create a commercial route on Cho Oyu and tragedy in Patagonia.
Winter Himalayan Climbs Go/ No Go
Winter climbs of the world’s highest peaks have a poor summit rate primarily due to harsh weather. Well, history repeats itself this winter of 2021/2022. Teams are calling it quits or returning to large cities to wait out the weather.