A quick update on the progress of the British Army team
currently attempting the difficult West Ridge of Everest.
According to their lavishly appointed web site, the team are now
in the process of setting up Camp 4 on the mountain after a spell of
good weather has allowed good progress over the last three days.
The team has been rotating teams of climbers up front to maximise
progress, and using siege tactics, and they are now less than 600
metres below the summit of the world's highest mountain - if they
succeed they will be the first British summiteers to have used the
West Ridge route to the summit.
Blogtastic...
Some of the most interesting reading on the expedition site is in
the climbers' blogs
section. Resting up in base camp, Shaun Phillips reflects on
the realities of climbing at extreme high altitudes:
'All your romantic thoughts about climbing big mountains go out
the window when you are stuck on a 50/60 degree slope trying to haul
40lbs plus of equipment up in near white out conditions, minus 20s
and howling winds. Your only thoughts are how many more steps you
have to do before you can stop for a rest. I have been working on
between 20/30 steps then rest for 15/20 breaths to recover when we
have been working between 6500 and 7500m.
'We were blessed with some of the best weather we had experienced
on the mountain so far to take in the awesome views of Lhotse, Nuptse
and down in to the Western Cwm. It was incredible to see the trail of
ant like dots that make up most of the commercial expeditions on the
south side, snaking their way up to the South Col. We are the only
expedition on this side of the mountain which makes it all the more
special.'
Top Site
We've said it before, but if you fancy whiling away a few minutes
then www.armyoneverest.mod.uk
is a phenomenal site complete with images and video footage
direct from the mountain.
For general updates from Everest where climbers are now poised to
summit this week see the excellent www.everestnews.com
site.
