The British Army team attempting the difficult West Ridge of Everest have succeeded in establishing Camp 3 at 7300 metres. Meanwhile the Fantasy Ridge expedition has called a halt...
The British Army expedition to the West Ridge of Everest has
successfully reached Camp 3 at 7300 metres on the French Spur
according to the latest news from the team in Nepal.
We've picked through the entrails of a rather militaristic press
release - 'The expedition is one of the Army's toughest ever physical
exercises and tests the training, organisational skills and endurance
that the British Army is famed for' blah, blah... - and we can tell
you that as we mentioned last month, the main army team is taking on
an exceptionally difficult route.
If they succeed, they will have placed the first ever British
climber on the summit of the world's highest mountain via the West
Ridge route and the establishment of Camp 3 - above is the team load
carrying towards Camp 3 - is an important marker on the way to the
summit.
Expedition leader, Dave Bunting comments:
"We're now at Camp 3 which means we've cracked the French Spur.
The next step for us is a lot less technical, so we're now in a
brilliant position. I'm really confident about the rest of the climb.
Looking at the altitude and the health and strength of the guys, I think we're on for it"
The team will be shuttling back and forth between Camp 3 at 7300
metres and Tilman's Camp at 5600 metres, their base on the mountain,
with a day resting lower down for every four to five days higher on
the mountain aiding acclimatisation and recovery.
The next step for the team is to establish Camp 4 some 300 metres
higher up the mountain beyond which is the other end of the 1.5km
long West Ridge.
Class Web Site
We'll
be keeping an eye on the team's progress, but you can get a load more
information from the team's web site at www.armyoneverest.mod.uk
which hosts the latest video clips and news direct from the
mountain as well as some curious interviews.
Possibly the most bizarre of these is one with X-Factor's
Simon
Cowell - take a look as he generously pledges to supply each
of the team with a copy of Chico's new album....
Fantasy Ridge
Meanwhile on the rather less lavish everestnews.com
site, you can follow pretty much all the teams on the mountain, but
the latest news from the Fantasy Ridge team is that they've binned
the attempt on the grounds of 'not enough man power, not enough
Sherpa Power and just too dangerous....'
