March 14, 2008 - 10:03am — MountEverest2008
Concerned, But Still In Go Mode
Atlanta
An aspect of climbing I have not yet highlighted is the permit acquisition process. One cannot simply fly to Nepal, lace up the boots, and set off for the summit. Permission must be granted… and to achieve, an application process must be followed, the applicants must clear screening criteria, and of course considerable sums of money must be paid. Knowing the system and how to efficiently and effectively work through it is a skilI… not one that I possess… but one that the guide company I am climbing with, Alpine Ascents, does.
So, with knowledge that the permit experts are on the case… clients of Alpine Ascents like me typically take it for granted that we will have the necessary clearance to climb the mountain. I simply have not worried about this aspect of the trip. Based on news that came in yesterday… I am now very worried indeed.
What follows is a posting I made late last night; there appears to be some uncertainty in the air. I really have no choice but to stay in 100% “go mode” at this time. My wife is actually throwing me a “good luck in Everest” party at our home in Atlanta tomorrow. Family and friends from out of state are travelling in as I write this update.
I’m typically a pretty lucky guy, so I am hoping that things get worked out quickly and that we can proceed with our expedition as planned.
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Can Everest Be Closed?
It seems just this morning I wrote in a blog that I would be sharing the full deal the Everest experience as it really is. Well, in that spirit, a new wrinkle just popped up that I was not counting on.
Everest can be climbed from the north side (from Tibet, part of China) or the south side (Nepal). Earlier in the week, China declared the north side closed this year a decision related to the fact that China plans to carry the Olympic torch to the summit in May. China is concerned about Tibet related protests and, rather than run the risk of the Olympic moment being tarnished, is appearing to clear the slopes all together. Consequently, this news left many north side expeditions with the feeling that the rug had been pulled out from underneath them. The south side, controlled by Nepal (and the one our group will be going up) however was still open. There was a rule that we could not climb above Camp III prior to May 10 but that was not considered a problem as this stipulation did not interfere with our climbing plans.
Late today however, more news has come in. It appears the Nepalese government is being pressured by China to implement additional restrictions that would, in practice, basically shut down the south side all together. The guiding companies are scrambling to keep the expeditions alive senators and embassies are involved and climbers like me are wondering if their Everest dreams have just been shattered. If things don’t work out (we should know next week) I guess there is always Fall 2008 or possibly Spring 2009. For now, that’s little consolation; with my March 28th airline ticket to Nepal beside me, I am going to bed wondering whether or not I will actually board that flight.
More to come as soon as it is available