Mt. Everest 2005: Mountain Madness Expedition: Bouldering at 17,500 feet!

Update: May 15th, 2005 Bouldering at 17,500 feet!

Now it's a waiting game for the weather!  We descended to base camp on the 13th.  Dean and Eric trekked down to Pheriche at 14,000 feet for R&R, yesterday.  They will return to base camp tomorrow.  Descending down to a lower elevation is a good idea.  You're body recovers faster with the higher volume of oxygen in the air. 

A bunch of us went bouldering just outside of base camp yesterday.  Bouldering is a form of climbing where the climber climbs near to the ground, so he doesn't need a rope or climbing protections.  Some say it's one of the purest forms of climbing.  There are many good climbs/problems here with great views of Everest in the background.

Our Sherpa team is remarkable.  Yesterday they started from camp 2 (21,000 feet) at 3 a.m. with double loads (35 kg or 77 lbs.).  They reached the sol col at 26,000 feet by 9 a.m. and then descended back to base camp by 5 a.m.  All of our camps are stocked and ready for our summit attempt!  We are grateful to have a good strong Sherpa team!

Currently our plan is to go to camp 2 on Wednesday, May 18th.  Our tentative summit date is the 22nd, but that ALL depends on the weather.

Cheers from sunny base camp!

Christine

Dispatches

Since 1994, Mountain Madness has led 29 team members on successful expeditions to Everest's summit.  This year's Everest expedition will approach the mountain from the Normal Route--ascending through to the South Col from the Khumbu Glacier, and continuing to the summit via the Southeast ridge.

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