Everest Update - Conan Poised For The Top

Just a quick update on what's happening on Everest and in particular, the progress of the British Army Team and OUTDOORSmagic member Conan Harrod who are both shaping up for summit bids.

Go Conan!

According to wife Lindsay, who posts as Leaf on the OM forum, Conan has now have made it up to High Camp at 8300 metres and is poised with the rest of the team to try for the summit tonight, Tuesday, aiming to get to the top between around 6am and 8am local time or 1 am to 3 am UK time.

That will give the team time to get back to High Camp before the winds strengthen in the afternoon. So cross your fingers for Conan tonight, Lindsay estimates he'll be leaving at around 6 or 7pm UK time. More details on this forum thread and at the Adventure Peaks web site. Good luck Conan :-)

Don't forget you can support Conan's fundraising effort for Christies at www.justgiving.com/everest

Meanwhile...

Just around a very big corner, the British Army team on the West Ridge of the mountain is reporting that the climbing teams have been hit by 'near white-out' conditions which have slowed progress on the mountain.

The plan over the next few days is for the summit teams to move up the mountain until they reach Camp 5 at the base of the summit pyramid, by when it's hoped that ropes will have been fixed to the bottom of the Hornbein Couloir.

From there they plan to fix more rope up the Couloir between Wednesday and Friday before making a push for the summit, presumably around the weekend.

Brit' Record Breakers

Elsewhere on the mountain, a Scottish couple is hoping to become the first UK married couple to summit Everest - see this article. Phil and Pauline Sanderson of Grantown-on-Spey are attempting the mountain from the Tibetan side. Pauline has cycled to Base Camp from the Dead Sea in Jordan, the world's lowest point.

Plus two teenagers are aiming to become the youngest Brits to climb the mountain. James Hooper and Rob Gauntlett are both 19 and warmed up with an ascent of Ama Dablam.

For the latest news from Everest., we recommend www.everestnews.com