Category: Everest 2011

The day I arrived in the festering flea pit of Tashyzom at 4200m in an effort to try and recover from Pulmonary edema, my front tooth started to become very painful. I had left basecamp in a hurry to drive the 2 hours down to Tashyzom, and hence had packed very minimally. The only medicine…

H.A.P.E = High Altiude Pulminory edema. High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening form of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs) that occurs in otherwise healthy mountaineers at altitudes typically above 2,500 meters (8,200ft).Some cases, however, have been reported also at lower altitudes (between 1,500–2,500 metres or 4,900–8,200 feet in highly vulnerable subjects), although what…

( via SMS messaging and David Lim) Hi there, yesterday I went for a hike from ABC (6380m) up to the base of the ice wall that is the start of the climb to the North Col ( 7000m). Hot work. CLimbed up the first 2 rope lengths to get a feel of the route.…

(by Thuraya SMS message) Arrived ABC  (6380m yesterday from IC< taking  4 hr 40 mins. SO hot it’s suffocating – like being in my car without the airconditioning in Singapore! Another headache upon arrival so popped some ibuprofen and felt better. Today 28th April is a rest day where i will attempt to clean myself…

(from Thuraya SMS to David) Made it from  basecamp to intermediate camp in just under 4 hours. Bad headache and nausea from dehydration last night. Lots of yakshit around. not a pleasant spot. Weather is very changeable from hot, sunny climes to snowing the next hour. Tomorrow , am off to Advance Base Camp (…

Its been snowing quite heavily here for the last 24 hours and more snow forecast for the next one week. However tomorrow we will leave for an acclimitisation cycle higher up the mountain – hopefully to the North Col at 7000m.  This trip will take 10 – 12 days.  The main purpose of the trip…

About 50 yaks arrived at our basecamp yesterday morning, accompanied by their extremely tough Tibetan yak herders. Each climber had packed a duffle bag of personal items to be carried by the yaks the 21km to our Advanced Base Camp at 6350m. As well as personal items, communal gear including tents, food, kitchen gear, cooking…

With great happiness we departed the flea pit of Tingri for a bumpy and dusty 5 hour drive up to Everest Basecamp. As we crossed the Pang La pass at 5200m the whole of the North face of Everest became visible. The North Ridge was clearly visible and cloud was billowing off the summit. It…

I reported last night from the border town of Zhangmu located at 2300m. Today we drove for one hour up the steep sides of the gorge to another small town named Nyalam, located at 3750m. We have stopped here to rest for two nights. It was a spectacular drive up the steep, narrow gorge as…

Quick update to say I have finally arrived in Tibet in the border town of Zhangmu.  Am testing out my Chinese roaming USB modem kindly supplied by Ms Fanny and the comms system works great!  We arrived today at 4pm after a 5 hour drive from Kathmandu.  I will update the GPS position shortly so…

After 7 days here in wonderful Kathmandu, tomorrow morning we will leave around 9AM to start the drive into Tibet and our final destination, Everest Base Camp at 5300m. I have had a very relaxing time here. The first 5 days with Stephanie was as an enjoyable time together as we have ever had. It…

I arrived here with Stephanie on Wednesday lunchtime after a 4 1/2 hour flight from Singapore, and was greeted by a sweltering 29 degrees of dry burning heat. Even though this is approximately the same temperature as Singapore it felt much hotter due to lack of humidity. The visa upon arrival line went very fast…

And so there we were, sipping Javas and lattes in airconditioned comfort in Changi airport and being seen off by friends and loved ones. Off to Everest and 2 months of a distinct lack of the usual pampered luxuries in Singapore. Learnt a new, critical Nepalese word today.  Toilet = charpee. Hope I dont have…

All the gear is packed and as you can see from the photo, one duffel bag, one pack, one mini suitcase, one small back and a computer bag.  I am not sure of the weight yet, but am guessing around 50kg+. I have 40kg baggage allowance on Silkair and with Stephanie’s 20Kg allowance I am…

After years of dreaming, months of planning, training and fund-raising, tomorrow morning at 9:10AM I will takeoff for Kathmandu, to start my journey to Everest. Working right up until the day I leave has made things hectic. I feel rundown.  I will leave for Kathmandu tomorrow requiring some quality recovery sleep.  In the last four…