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The Generations On Everest team will be ascending the North Col/North Ridge Route. This route starts at base camp on the Rombuk Glacier at 17,000 feet, and ascends to advanced base camp (ABC) at 21,000 feet. From there, the team will advance up the mountain via a series of six high camps, culminating at Camp 6 at 27,200 feet. The summit attempt will be staged from Camp 6 and will result in a day’s climb of 1,835 vertical feet to the peak.
On May 12, 1996, Mt. Everest was the scene of one of the most documented tragedies in mountaineering history. Eight climbers from two commercial expeditions perished while returning to Camp IV (South Col Route) from the summit. This tragedy was detailed in Jon Krakauer's book, "Into Thin Air", Anatoli Boukreev's book "The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest", as well as in the IMAX movie "Everest." When problems happen on climbs, there is always the possibility of controversy, and this tragedy was no exception. It is very difficult to judge the actions of climbers at high-elevation struggling with the affects of O2 deprivation, sleeplessness, exhaustion and mental stress. Our hopes are that with all the traffic on the north side of Everest this spring, that the weather, route conditions, and decisions made by other climbers are favorable for the Generations On Everest team. |
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Where exactly is Mount Everest?
Mount Everest is in the country of Tibet on the border with China in the Himalayan Mountain Range.
The history (both long- and short-term) of Tibet is epitomized by conflict. In 1959, conflict with the communistic Chinese government escalated, resulting in much bloodshed and in more than 100,000 Tibetans fleeing to neighboring Himalayan countries. In India, the Dalai Lama formed a new government while in exile. In 1965 the "autonomous region of Tibet" was founded, with the Dalai Lama (still in exile) as its religious and political leader.
In the late '60s, many monasteries were destroyed, along with historical and religions documents. The indigenous Tibetan culture and language was forcefully suppressed in order to being about an "equality" of the people in the region, which resulted in further uprisings of the Tibetan people.
In the 1980s, Western interest in Tibet started to grow. The Dalai Lama worked to calm down his people and to take the Buddhist path of non-violent opposition in dealing with the Chinese government. In 1989 the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his commitment to peace, harmony and non-violence.
Human rights organizations have estimated that more than 1 million people have been killed and that more than 100,000 Tibetans are still living in exile in India, Nepal and other countries, including the Dalai Lama himself.
Tibet was closed to foreigners for a period of five years in the late '80s and early '90s, but since 1992 geopolitical matters are improving and foreigners (such as the Generations On Everest team) are allowed access to the country. Many people in nations around the world support the Tibetans in their quest to return to their native country.
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(Dates are very subjective and will vary
with weather, etc.)
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March 20 – 23
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Spokane – Bangkok, Thailand
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March 24 – 26
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Bangkok – Kathmandu, Nepal
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March 26
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Kathmandu – Kodari, Nepal
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March 27
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Kodari – Nylam, Tibet
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March 28 – 30
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Nylam – Xigar, Tibet
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March 30
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Xigar – Rongbuk Base Camp
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March 30 –
April 4
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Rongbuk Base Camp
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April 2 - 3
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Intermediate Camp
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April 4 – 10
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Advanced Base Camp
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April 11 – 14
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North Col – 23,000
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April 15 -16
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Camp 5 – 25,800’
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April 17
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Advanced Base Camp
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April 22 - 23
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Base Camp
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April 24
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North Col – 23,000’
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April 25 - 26
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Camp 5 – 25,800’
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April 27
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Camp 6 – 27,200’
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April 28
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North Col – 23,000’
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April 29 – May 2
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Advanced Base Camp
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May 3
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North Col – 23,000’
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May 4 - 5
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Camp 5 – 25,800’
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May 6 – 7
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Camp 6 – 27,200’
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May 8
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Summit – 29,029’
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May 8
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Camp 6 – 27,200’
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May 9
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North Col – 23,000’
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May 10
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Advanced Base Camp
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May 11- 17
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Base Camp
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May 18
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Base Camp to Zangmu
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May 19
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Zangmu to Kathmandu
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May 19 – 21
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Kathmandu
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May 21
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Kathmandu to Bangkok
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May 22
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Bangkok – Spokane
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07.13.03
...............
Generations On Everest Re-cap
Written 10:00 AM; July 13, 2003; Spokane, Washington
...............
Update: May 21, 2003; Summit Day
One by one, beams of light from our headlamps cut through the darkness. Pemba sat up near the door of the tent, found the pot, lit the stove and began melting ice for water. He was quick and efficient. Pasang Gelu tucked the bottom of his sleeping bag under himself to avoid knocking over the stove and leaned back against the tent wall, while Jess and I sat up and started fumbling with clothing and gear.
Within 20 minutes, Pemba had a steady boil bubbling in the pot. Jess and I poured hot water into our cups, which were full of oatmeal. We ate it, like it was our last meal. Our Sherpas preferred their own food. First they made a sweet tea and then mixed in tsampa, barley flour, until they had an eatable paste. After the four of us were done eating, we each had a cup of hot tea, which completed our midnight snack.
After pulling on my boots and fastening my neoprene overboots, I wiggled into my climbing harness, and then checked to ensure we had at least 2,200 liters of oxygen in each tank. After what seemed like endless false starts, everyone was dressed, hooked-up to their oxygen system and ready to leave the tent.
READ MORE...
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