Mount Everest - 2017 Season

[ol' boy]

Only about 3 weeks away from what most people consider "The Window" in the weather to ascend to the summit of Mount Everest.
Last season saw many deaths (6 in total, 1 Australian)

Wonder what this year will bring?

Famed Swiss Climber "Ueli Steck" fell to his death on Sunday in the region while on a practise climb.


Anyone else interested in Mount Everest?

[lsemmens]

I would love to attempt it, even now (nearly 60) but, I suspect that it is one thing on my bucket list that will remain on the bottom of the bucket.

[mtv]

Always had a fascination with Mt Everest and have watched numerous doco's about it.

I admire the camera crews more than the other climbers as they have to move around more to get different angles, etc and have to concentrate a lot more on the job than just getting to the summit and back.

It's amazing how much rubbish is strewn about the mountain, left over many decades... including numerous bodies.

I was reading recently that there are some expeditions now tasked with collecting some of the rubbish.

[ol' boy]

Some interesting facts here:

Amazing the age range of climbers to make the summit, as young as 13 years and 11 months to 80 years old!
Isemmens you got 20 years mate

Like you mtv, i've watched near all i could find about Everest, what started as a real challenge of man against mother nature has now turned into money driven contiki tour in some aspects. With the Sherpa caught in between peoples dreams and money.

Relative Live Blog on Everest Here:
And another here:

Prices range from $50,000 to $85,000 USD, with $115,000 for full custom climbs, some operators as cheap as $20,000.

Meant to be a year with record numbers of climbers due to previous seasons cancelations and permit credits for this year.



Imagine trying to find the above ladder in a white out!

[ol' boy]

Here are a couple of quotes from reports i've been reading:

From Advanced Base Camp on the China side, 6400m:

I am using an iPad and have 3G for both China Unicom and China Mobile. Phones may have 4G. It is quite fast internet at any rate. I FaceTime with family in the US without any issue.

Everest Disneyland coming soon:

China will invest $14.7 million in a mountaineering museum near the Tibetan township of Gangkar (Gonggar County) – about 20 miles from the traditional Everest Base Camp which is used as a base for attempts on Everest from Tibet. The new Center is planned to open in 2019 – three years before the Olympics.

According to the China Daily report, the center will cover 900,000-sq.-ft. – the equivalent of 3.5 Super Wal-Marts – and support mountaineers, skiers, paragliders and tour guides, plus medical services, travel agencies and a helicopter rescue base.

[ol' boy]

For those interested
Google Maps shows the Camps (C1, C2, C3 and C4) on Mt Everest going up the Tibetan route, pretty interesting.
You can also follow the Base Camp track down to each village

Some awesome Cafe's and Bakery's on-route!

Sherpa Barista Bakery, food & coffee shop




illy coffee and fresh baked goods!!!
Top shelf spirits and 4G mobile network!
It's not as isolated as i thought

This is a last Accommodation before Everest Base Camp
Notice the phone tower



Fairly new looking buildings
Sir Edmund Hillary would be shocked i'm sure.

[ol' boy]

If you'd like to follow this years Mt Everest climbs, these 2 Twitter Feeds are worth keeping an eye on




If anyone has info to offer please post away

[loanrangiel]

I have no interest in actually climbing Everest but climbing to base camp would be cool, i had the opportunity to climb Kilimanjaro when i was in Tanzania but i elected to go to Ngoro Ngoro crater instead. Just as well as a mate i was traveling with attempted it but only made it half way due to altitude sickness due to lack of time to aclimatise to the altitude.

[ol' boy]

All these men are good to follow



(has awesome live GPS tracking with map overlay!)





or

Those with FB, this Japanese guy is a real inspiration!



Historical Chart for Summiting Mt Everest.




Some serious shit going down at EBC currently
Sherpa's having a protest.
As tension mounts and weather window is closing in to summit!

Formula for all kinds of strange decisions or rash decisions to be made.
Rouge groups taking off etc.

[ol' boy]

I would love to attempt it, even now (nearly 60) but, I suspect that it is one thing on my bucket list that will remain on the bottom of the bucket.

Come on, an 80 year old has done it
Just don't try it as an 86 year old.... Seriously, is Everest that easy (which i suspect it is not) or are these people just nuts?



Anyway Isemmens, you got 20 good years to have a crack

[mtv]

Read about the demise of the 86 yr old former record holder yesterday..... some people just don't know when to quit.

As much as I'd love to have a crack at Everest, I reckon my limit is the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb (5 climbs so far)

[ol' boy]

Yep, that makes 2 Official Deaths this season on Mt Everest
And multiple injuries and 11 Helicopter airlifts off EBC for medical assistance

And they haven't even got to Camp 4 yet, there is still not fixed ropes and ladders on the summit.

Seems cheating to me, its hardly a True Summit when 12 Sherpas carried up equipment and fixed ropes from Camp 3, to Camp 4 and onto the Summit with multiple ladders installed to aid your path.
Not saying i wouldn't use them if i was there..... And it is in the "name" of safety.
But when does "safety" become assistance?

[ol' boy]

Explains it well.....

[ol' boy]

Jesus... This is Base Camp North Side!

[loanrangiel]

Hillary would turn in his grave if he saw the circus that its turned into .

[ol' boy]

Some South African jokestar has just been caught climbing Mt Everest without the $11000 USD Permit.

Apparently every few years, this happens, they find someone just trying to sneak up and blend in.
Even though there are 800people at EBC, seems the Sherpas know everyone and what group they belong too.
So being a Solo punter, you're going to stand out.

Ryan Sean Davy, even being stupid enough to post his daily activities on Facebook, and how he avoided detection in the Ice Fall.

[ol' boy]

Hillary would turn in his grave if he saw the circus that its turned into .

You are right.
And worse, the job of the Sherpa now on these High Paid Western Teams, is to more of less carry the Guest up and down the summit.
There is a Sherpa for every Guest
They are expected to Unclip and Clip you back on the rope line (if you are too tired), Operate your Oxygen and Swap Bottles, and literally carry you down if you are too weak.

And the above is what the Sherpa consider the easy part!
Hauling up all the tents and gear, sometimes 30kg on each Sherpa, digging a flatish platform for the tents, erecting the tents, kitchens, then carrying all the Guests personal stuff up to the final camp, so the guest can travel light is far harder they say.

Talk about extortion

[mtv]

Nepal considering age limit to climb Mt Everest.

They are now considering lowering the maximum climber age to 76 follow the death of the 85/86 year old former record holder.

(Reports vary if he was 85 or 86)

Have a look at the video down the bottom of the page, I shouldn't be alive episode: "Left for Dead on Everest" The remarkable story of an Australian climber who survived after being left for dead.



Yet another tribute to the dangerous, arduous and mostly thankless job of Sherpas.

[ol' boy]

On the North side (Tibet) there is an age window, 18 to 60 years old
On the South side (Nepal), you have to be at least 16 and there is no upper limit.

I guess they figured common sense would prevail.
Obviously something has changed, considering a 13 year old has summited (13 years 9 months)

As for the South African guy found walking back from C1 to EBC without the correct permit
Nepal can fine him 3 times the nominal permit fee.... So as the summit fee is $11,000 USD, this could become very expensive for him.
More likely he will be deported and have a 10 year ban from the from any Mountain Permit.

[lsemmens]

Is the Summit fee to cover rescue or is it just to line pockets?