Mt. Everest 2005:  Speed Everest with the Italians: We're waiting to get into position

Update: Today Bruno is resting at the ABC (Advanced Base Camp-6,375 m.) since there will be a test at high altitude tomorrow. On the following day he’ll descend to the BC (Base Camp-5,150 m.) in order to regain strength  while waiting to make the attempt.  Tomorrow Claudio and Sergio will climb to the ABC also and on the following day the rest of the group will join them and wait to take up their positions. A slackening in the wind in the last three days made it possible for several expeditions to reach the summit. The Spanish climber Rosa Maria Fernandez together with two trustworthy Sherpas and two Americans with the same number of Sherpas summited on Saturday. There is the possibility that some Slovenian climbers made it to the summit, also, but the information that we have at the BC is sill vague.  It has been confirmed, however, that a group of fifteen Chinese equipped with oxygen made it to  the summit on Sunday. The group was able to transmit television images from the peak and afterwards installed a satellite transmitter that will register data useful in determining the exact altitude of Mt. Everest.  All of these climbers came up from the northern side (China) while the attempts that were made from the southern side (Nepal) have not been successful.  “Ciao” to everyone. Adriano

Who is BRUNO BRUNOD

Place and date of birth: Aosta (Italy); 10/11/1962

Sport: mountain running and skyrunning

Bruno Brunod is 42 years old, married and the father of two children. Twice world champion of Skyrunning and holder of various speed records for climbing and descending some of the most important mountains in the world (Cervino, Monte Rosa, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro). He discovered cycling during his military service and gave immediate proof of his skill as a climber. He became a member of an amateur team in Brianza. The well-known cyclist Chiappucci was also a member and when he approached a hill, his fellows told him: "Position yourself behind Brunod and try to hang on". His humble nature and his homesickness for his mountains caused him to give up cycling. Even though he obtains the results of a professional athlete, Brunod retained the spirit of an amateur. He returned to his career as a mason, specialized in stone facings and roofs. He trained twice a day, once before dawn and again after sunset.

Almost as a diversion, Brunod entered the world of mountain running with immediate success, setting new records. Not content with this success, he rapidly made his way into skyrunning and in a short time became one of strongest in this sport.

Highlights of Brunod's mountain running and skyrunning career (1995-2004):

1995

- Record, still unbeaten, for the climb and decent of the Cervino starting from Breuil-Cervinia: 3:14.44, lowering the previous record set by Valerio Bertoglio by almost an hour.

1996

- 1st place in the "SKYRUNNING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP" after winning three of the five races of the "FILA Skyrunning" world circuit.

- In the same year Brunod set the world record in the "Vertical Kilometer" in the Val d'Isere (France).

1997

- Record, still unbeaten, for the climb and descent of Monte Rosa (4.459

meters) starting from Gressoney.

1998

- 1st place in the "SKYRUNNING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP".

2000

- Record for climb and descent of the Aconcagua, 6.962 meters (Argentina).

- Participated in the " Aconcagua 2000" project sponsored by FILA, the Autonomous region of Valle d'Aosta, the Federation for Sports at Altitude, and the Institute of Sport Science-CONI, setting the new record for climb and descent in 4 hours and 52 minutes, breaking the previous record of 5 hours and 57 minutes set by the French GMHM team in 1992. The record was reported on the national newspapers (Corriere della Sera, Tuttosport, Il Giorno), on all of the major South American newspapers, specialised magazines, the national television of Argentina and RAI3.

2001

- Record for climb and descent of Kilimanjaro, 5,895 meters (Tanzania). Climb and descent of the Marangu Route, using the classic ascent mode, in 8:34:52 covering a positive vertical descent of about 4,000 meters and a corse development of 80 kilometres from start to finish.

2002

- Other prestigious results and important positions such as the victory in the "Alpine Sky Raid" and second place in the world circuit of Skyrunning.

2003

- Course record on the Alta Via number 1 of Valle d'Aosta, 120 kilometres

long and over 9,000 meters of positive vertical descent.

2004

- Winner of the "Aosta-Becca di Nona" race.

- Winner of the Canazei (Trento, Italy) race of the Vincitore della gara di Canazei (Trento) "Skyrunning World Series" circuit.

- Winner of the finals of the "Buff Skyrunner World Series" in Malaysia.

Italian skyrunner Bruno Brunod will attempt the record for the fastest ascent and descent of Mt. Everest from North Side Base Camp without oxygen. Apart from Brunod, the expedition "Everest Vitesse 2005" is composed by 8 mountain guides and 1 medical researcher who will assist the skyrunner during his run. They will reach Tibet at mid April 2005 and they are mainly sponsored by the Aosta Valley Autonomous Region.

Updates

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

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