Home
Today's News
8000 Meters Facts
Banners Ads
Bookstore
Classified Ads
Climb
for Peace
Contact
Downloads
Educational
Expeditions
Facts
Games
Gear
History
Interviews
Medical
News
(current)
News Archives
Sat Phones
Search
Seven Summits
Snowboard
Speakers
Students
Readers
Guide
Risks
Trip Reports
Visitor
Agreement
| |
    
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 Mt. Everest 2005: Dirk Stephan and Keith Woodhouse: Last night was wild | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Last night was wild. Gale force winds that threatened to rip all our tents away. In fact we had to postpone our trip to C1 as a result of the wind destroying the tents. Also the long ladder pitch shown in my recent update was completely destroyed as huge blocks of ice above and below it detached themselves from the glacier above. According to Sidiar our Sherpa leader it will be easier and safer now. As a result Manuel, Dirk and I decided to get some exercise and climbed up to 5600 meters above the Pumori base camp where we thought we could get some views of big E. We were not disappointed the views exposed the ice fall, the top of the Lhotse wall, the South Col and the whole ridge up to the South Summit, the Hilary Step and the top itself. You can see in the picture the winds which swept all the snow off the main face exposed as an aura around the summit area. Absolutely no go area for the time being!!! The trip was also a useful test of my current acclimatisation. To be honest I felt like it was a walk in the lakes. My breathing and power seems to be really good. Dirk struggled a bit and was disappointed given my 15 years his senior but he was fine really. Manuel looks as though he really could go all the way without O2. I have considered this myself but have firmly made a decision to use it as its not just about helping breathing but also decision making and avoiding frostbite. Base camp is now like a mini town with Yak supplies arriving every morning. The American's and some other teams are putting up boundary ropes like they own the place which is really very unhelpful. In summary I feel really positive, just a pain not having access to my own phone and having to rely on the generosity of others.
Background Dirk Stephan and Keith Woodhouse, a small German/English team of two will attempt Everest in Spring of 2005 via the normal southeast ridge route. Keith is in his fifties, Dirk 39. "Both of us have extensive mountaineering experience, I am in a lifetime project of the seven summits, already started with Kilimanjaro, 20 years ago. My expeditions have been self organized whenever possible. I soloed Aconcagua and Elbrus - if you can call it this way on this beaten tracks. Everest and Carstensz are still missing. Keith and me climbed Denali together the year before. Keith works for British Telecom as Manager Global Solutions. I am Pilot for a German Charter Company. My aim is to support a cancer charity. This has a personal background, as my wife has cancer herself and I am greatly involved in researching things and supporting people with the same fate. Everest is a good opportunity to raise funds things like this. Every support is welcome!"
| | ||||||||
|
|
Send email to 
• Copyright© 1998-2005 EverestNews.comAll rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Visitor Agreement, Legal Notes: Read it