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“Everest affects one as no other mountain does. It
is a graceful, gentle mountain even though it keeps some of us
forever… yet far more survive to a whole new vision on life.”
(Norwegian expedition, 1999)
"I
want to climb until either I reach the top of the mountain, or I can go
no further ... I'm prepared to endure anything, to risk much. I am
willing to go further than ever I have before ... to stake everything I
have."
(Reinhold
Messner: 1st ascent of Everest without oxygen in 1978 and 1st solo
ascent in 1980)
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Sunset over Mt Everest
(Click picture to view enlarged version) |
Mt Everest with Khumbu Glacier
(Click picture to view enlarged version) |
“It’s also about daring to dream and acting on
it.” (Norwegian expedition, 1999)
“It’s not about failure or success, it’s not
about living or dying – understand that you have come to Everest to
conquer yourself.” (George L Mallory)
"Because
it's there" (George L Mallory's most
well-known quote) |
| Everest is 8 848m high, give or take 5m, depending on
where you measure sea level, which, surprising to some, is not the same
around the world. Its history is Legend and is described in many of the
classic books on Everest. It was “discovered” by the Surveyor
General of India, a certain Mr Everest. He described a peak “in the
north” higher than anything yet measured. His calculation of the
height, 29 028 ft. was a height which was quite accurate. |
The South Col - South-East Ridge Route
(Click picture to view enlarged version) |
Mt Everest's Western Cwm with the giant Khumbu Icefall in
the foreground and the north face at the top left
(Click picture to view enlarged version) |
As can be seen from the safety section, Everest is a
dangerous mountain to climb and yet many have done it successfully by
not being too desperate to get to the top. It is located in the
Sangamartha National Park, one of the most beautiful places in the
world.
Temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees centigrade and any
wind chill factor can put this another 20 degrees lower. (The
lowest temp in the world, minus 89,4 degrees, was first recorded in
Vostok, Antarctica in 1983.) Weather windows
usually occur at the change of winds from the Indian offshore monsoon to
the onshore monsoon, which starts in June each year.
The
mountain, and not the climber, will decide when it it is possible to
ascend. Most climbers take three expeditions to Everest before they
reach the summit. Respect Everest, and the summit might come.
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