Everest 2015: Updates and Impressions
We are now at Gorak Shep and will arrive at Everest Base Camp tomorrow, Monday April 13. While the route has been fixed through the Icefall to Camp 1, there have been no reports of teams starting their climbs. Most are either still trekking in or doing acclimatization exercises on Lobuche Peak, or to Pumori […]
Everest 2015: Namche Bazaar is sometimes Bizarre
I walked the dirt paths of Namche Bazaar shielded from the rain by three story rock buildings. I was careful not to get gored by yak horns or a trekker’s hiking pole. I find the cafe I was looking for, the one with Internet that worked. As I walked in, it was dark, a pool […]
Everest 2015: First View – New Icefall Route Pictures
Today we were rewarded with spectacular views of Everest, doctor Lhotse and Ama Dablam from the Everest View Hotel just above Namche Bazaar. I created a gallery of some of my favorites from today. New Icefall Route On another topic, Garrett Madison scouted out the new route in the Khumbu Icefall. In fact, it is […]
Everest 2015: Trek to Everest Base Camp Begins
Those who have followed me for years know I always say: Do the trek to Everest Base Camp, cheap it will change your life. Well I’m on my way for the 5th time, look 7th if you include overall trekking in the Khumbu. As part of the Madison Mountaineering team, we are a rather large […]
Everest 2015: Ceremonies of Life and Death in Kathmandu
Our last day in Kathmandu, we did the tourist thing by visiting two of the more popular spots: the Boudhanath Stupa and the Pashupatinath Temple. I had visited these spots on my first visit in 1997, but have never returned so it was interesting to see them again. Warning: this post and video has graphic […]
Everest 2015: Life in Kathmandu
Arriving in Kathmandu always brings a wave of emotions. This is my 10th visit here since 1997 and every time, illness I’m struck by the contradiction of poverty and smiles. My flight from the U.S. went well except for a six hour delay in Istanbul. But at least I was able to spend it in […]
Everest 2015: Heavy Snow in the Khumbu
As climbers and trekkers make their way towards Everest Base Camp (EBC), doctor they are being challenged in many ways. Unusually heavy snowfall is delaying putting the route in the Khumbu Icefall and rain, fog and low clouds are delaying many from reaching Lukla. The Kathmandu Shuffle Team after team are leaving their hotel early […]
Everest 2015: Leaving for Lhotse
In a few hours I will be flying towards Kathmandu for my attempt to summit the world’s fourth highest mountain, Lhotse at 27,940 feet or 8516 meters. As always, I value, with gratitude, your good thoughts. Following I will be blogging along the way and extensively from Everest Base Camp. This link is the primary […]
Everest 2015: Teams Streaming into the Khumbu
With April 1 just around the corner, medicine it looks like business as usual on Everest. Team after team are updating their websites, blogs, Facebook and Twitter feeds saying the weather is good in the Khumbu and they have had little problems thus far. Apparently Kathmandu had heavy rain last night and fog this morning […]
Everest 2015: Climbs to Watch
Every year, there Everest attracts climbers wanting to do something out of the ordinary and 2015 will be no different. This is a quick overview of some of the ambitious plans from climbers all around the globe: Rarely Climbed North-Northeast Ridge Canadian Raphael Slawinski will be attempting a different route with two German friends, ed […]