From the Summit of Everest!

Scott Woolums reporting from Everest Base Camp.

 

Update from Everest Base Camp

After much analysis of a variety of forecasts, we have decided that a window of lower winds starting May 19^th looks like it will be hopeful for a summit attempt. We will be checking that every day for any changes, but it looks good. So the whole team is off tomorrow morning at 4am for Camp 2. We are planning a couple days there to rest and reacclimatize, then move up to Camp 3, Camp 4 and the summit. Right now it looks to be the 19^th. But no promises as the weather has been fickle and the forecasts even more so. Everyone is ready, healthy and happy to be on the move. We will post more over the next few days, but for now everyone is excited to be heading up and doing some last minute packing in preparation for our 4 am departure tomorrow.

 

 

Scott Woolums reporting from Everest Base Camp.

 

Crazy Wind Storm at Camp 2!

Lots has happened in the last few days. Irek, Newall, Gregg and I made our way pu to Camp 3 at 24,000 ft. on May 6^th in perfect weather. A very enjoyable…and difficult day. Spent another rest/acclimatization day in Camp 2 before coming down this morning. Last night after quite a nice day, the winds kicked up..and up. One of the bigger wind events I have seen at Camp 2. It blew 50-80 all through the night and even harder this morning. We are fine, our team lost 2 tents in the wind storm. We are luckier than most as I would guess over 30% of all the tents in Camp 2 were destroyed. A little excitement this morning. All team members are now here in Base Camp and we are planning a short rest/recovery from spending the last 6 nights at and above 21,500 ft. Off to the small village of DIngboche in the morning. Bills team left this morning so we will reunite with all tomorrow. Its getting closer. This last wind storm illustrates the risks of earlier summits, possible, but not always safest or most successful. Now we will watch the weather closely to make our rotation back up the hill and onto the summit!  After a few days rest!!

 

Scott Woolums reporting from Everest Base Camp.

 

Camp 2

Quick update! The whole team is here in Camp 2 at 21,500 ft on our second rotation up now. Going well, everyone is healthy and the weather is being its usual good, mixed, snow, hot sunshine…all in the last 15 mins! Planning a climb to Camp 3 in the next few days.

 

Scott and Bill from Camp 2, Mt Everest.

 

Back Down in Base Camp!

Its been a super busy week with a big push up to Camp 1 at 20,500 ft. for 2 nights, then on up to Camp 2 at 21,700 ft. The whole team is moving well. Up in Camp 2 I definitely had some issues with a bad cough, so the next morning returned here to Base Camp to recover some. Not a serious problem, just the only way these things can clear is by being at a lower altitude. Chris Davenport and Neal made a few turns up on the side of Nuptse this rotation, Yahoo! Some photos from Camp 1 and up to Camp 2.

 

Scott Woolums reporting from Everest Base Camp

 

Enjoying Base Camp!

Checking in here from Base Camp. Its been busy getting everything organized, loads ready to go up, communications, solar power and all. But everything is good to go. We have finished some training and fixed line practice in the ice towers near our camp. Yesterday morning we had our Puja, or blessing ceremony we always do before going into the icefall. This is important for the Sherpa team and is a good way to create a tighter team feeling between members and sherpas.   The Puja is an important ceremony for the Sherpa and they won’t start climbing until we’ve had this ceremony/blessing.  It is a milestone in the expedition as now the climbing really begins.  This morning at about 3 am our Sherpa team started up thru the icefall hauling 19 loads up to Camp 1, and by 9 am they were rolling back into base camp.  We’ve got a strong crew, and the route seems to be in really good shape so far this year.  

 

Base camp is very comfortable here, 100% solar power, good communications, hot shower, and our amazing cook Serki! He has been working with us for the last 3 years and really is outstanding. Yesterday also we had the strategy session with all leaders of the expeditions in base camp. Always good to see lots of friends and to coordinate with other expeditions to get ropes and equipment in place to fix lines on the upper mountain.   A number of teams did not show, so between 8 teams or so, all the upper mountain fixed line equipment and supplies have to be ferried up. That’s 53 loads or so for the Sherpas, lots of work.

 

Today we are off towards Pumori for another hike before we start into the ice fall.

 

Scott and Bill from Everest Base Camp, Nepal

 

Enjoying Base Camp!

Checking in here from Base Camp. Its been busy getting everything organized, loads ready to go up, communications, solar power and all. But everything is good to go. We have finished some training and fixed line practice in the ice towers near our camp. Yesterday morning we had our Puja, or blessing ceremony we always do before going into the icefall. This is important for the Sherpa team and is a good way to create a tighter team feeling between members and sherpas.   The Puja is an important ceremony for the Sherpa and they won’t start climbing until we’ve had this ceremony/blessing.  It is a milestone in the expedition as now the climbing really begins.  This morning at about 3 am our Sherpa team started up thru the icefall hauling 19 loads up to Camp 1, and by 9 am they were rolling back into base camp.  We’ve got a strong crew, and the route seems to be in really good shape so far this year.  

 

Base camp is very comfortable here, 100% solar power, good communications, hot shower, and our amazing cook Serki! He has been working with us for the last 3 years and really is outstanding. Yesterday also we had the strategy session with all leaders of the expeditions in base camp. Always good to see lots of friends and to coordinate with other expeditions to get ropes and equipment in place to fix lines on the upper mountain.   A number of teams did not show, so between 8 teams or so, all the upper mountain fixed line equipment and supplies have to be ferried up. That’s 53 loads or so for the Sherpas, lots of work.

 

Today we are off towards Pumori for another hike before we start into the ice fall.

 

Scott and Bill from Everest Base Camp, Nepal

 

From Lobouche

Perfect morning trekking up to Lobouche at almost 16,000 ft. Enjoying the good food at the Eco Lodge here. Day after tomorrow will see us in Base camp. Tomorrow we plan a climb of Kala Patar then spend the night at Gorak Shep. Quite the change starting last year with cell phone access along the trek route.

 

Scott Woolums reporting from Lobouche, Nepal

 

From Dingboche

In the small village of DIngboche now. Enjoyed a good day yesterday with the whole team here. Some mixed weather yesterday. Bills group left this morning for Lobouche. Everyone is doing extremely well. This morning we took off for a big hike up towards a small lake below the North Face of Ama Dablam. Outstanding morning and spectacular views out over the whole Khumbu region. Perfect acclimatization trek up to over 16,000 ft. with Irek, Newall, Gregg and I. So after 3 nights here we are planning to trek onto Lobouche tomorrow morning. We are only a few days now away from Base Camp, Yahoo!

 

Scott Woolums reporting from Dingboche, Nepal

 

Kala Patar Today!

Almost everyone summited Kala Patar just above the small village of Gorak Shep this morning. Only Bill and I stayed back. This is the very last stop on the way to Everest Base Camp. Usually the end of the road for most trekkers in the Khumbu area. Some fresh snow last night but blue skys this morning. Our forecasts look good for the next few days, basically more of the same clear mornings and overcast afternoons. A very normal pattern for this time of the year. So hi from all of us. Tonight Bills group is all in Base Camp, my group will be there tomorrow mid-day! Yahoo, getting closer!

 

Scott Woolums reporting from Gorak Shep

 

An Amazing Trek Today!

Fantastic hike up to Namche here yesterday. Sunshine most of the day. Enjoyed a good reunion with the rest of our team at the Moonlight Lodge in Namche Bazaar! Early today we said farewell to Bills group as they are on the way up to Debouche today. My team is staying here in Namche an additional night. Went for a spectacular walk up to the Everest View Lodge and onto the small village of Khumjung where the Sir Edmond Hillary School is located.  Our first view of Everest this morning, complete with extremely high winds. Will be watching that closely over the next few weeks as the jet stream winds around the mountain. Perfect day, just a little cool and windy here. Now we are back at the Moonlight Lodge and enjoying a quiet afternoon. Photos from our hike this morning. 

 

Scott Woolums reporting from Namche Bazaar, Nepal

Kathmandu!

Update from Kathmandu!            

 

Yesterday morning Bills group, including Ephi, Chris, Neil and 3 trekkers flew into Lukla…in helicopters! Perfect day and Bill sent a message saying everything is going well from Phakding. Newall, Irenuz and I will be flying in tomorrow morning to start our trek. Including 2 other trekkers. The plan is to meet the other team after a few days. Lots of time, we are actually a few days ahead of our schedule last year. All of us are looking forward to getting out on the trail and away from the gritty streets of Kathmandu.

 

Scott Woolums in Kathmandu, Nepal

 

Permit Issued Today! Dinner at Dwarikas!

Welcome to Kathmandu! Our whole team is here now. Lots of projects mixed with great mini adventures around town! Had our briefing and received our climbing permit today. Out to Dwarikas for dinner. An old completely restored Rana Palace, that’s one of the nicest places in town. Awesome meal! See menu! Off to the Shymabunath Temple this morning, photos later! Bill, Neiol, Chris and EPhi will be off to Lukla tomorrow. I will stay for a couple more days to make sure things are in order before flying into start the trek to Base Camp! Yahoo, it all begins again!

 

Scott in Kathmandu, Nepal

 

Kathmandu!

Quick update! In Kathmandu and off for another Everest expedition! Very nice to be back, seeing lots of friends. Kathmandu is the same as always. Enjoying just being here at the Yak and Yeti hotel. A small oasis within utter chaos! Lots of projects but will keep updating every few days, all the way to the summit and back! So far Gregg, Debbie, Newall, Diane, Bill and myself are here now. Ephi, Chris and Neil are due in this afternoon.

 

Scott from Kathmandu, Nepal

 

Back from Antarctica at Last!

A long time down south, way south! I will post separate posts for each trip we did. Simply the most amazing season ever yet in Antarctica. The season started with on time flights straight into the new Base Camp this year on the Union Glacier, then directly out to Vinson Base Camp where Andy Holzner and Team and myself managed to do a very fast Vinson expedition in perfect weather. Andy is totally blind, what a lesson in determination and capabilities! Several days of great AT skiing before and after in super light Antarctic Feather Powder!

 

Next up was an unplanned opportunity to guide a "Ski the Last Degree" expedition, with 2 days to prep! Off we flew to 89 degrees south with a small team of Chinese to ski the last 60 or so miles to the South Pole. That went very well (still thawing out from that!). Quite a feeling being out so far and watching the sun spin circles overhead. The sun never sets and changes 15 degrees almost every hour. Quite disorienting! So my first time to the South Pole, Yahoo!

 

Back to the Union Glacier for a few days, then back out to the South Pole, this time to hang out for 5 days with Richard Parks, retired Rugby Star and super nice guy. Spent New Year's there and had an opportunity to Kite Ski every day! Spectacular Parhelions every day!  see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parhelic_circle .

 

And then another supposed quick trip back to the South Pole, an overnight that turned into 4 days this time with another ANI guide, Winslow and her Chinese Team, also Neil (there for an overnight camping adventure!) and David Rootes. We all made the most of some quite bad weather this time before flying again back to the Union Glacier.

 

Spent quite awhile here guiding clients on various skiing and climbing adventures. 4 ascents of the local Mt Rossman including a couple first ski descents. Perfect kiting conditions most evenings. A lot of delays this year with the Illyshin-76 aircraft taking people to/from Chile. So camp here was a busy place most of January.

 

Then the trip I had been waiting for since the start of the season, guiding an expedition out to the quite remote Mt. Sidley in the Marie Byrd Land region of Antarctica. 550 miles out from BC to the highest volcano in Antarctica. It's one of the new seven volcanic summits of the world. An interesting opportunity that turned into a fast and successful adventure up a new route and quite probably the second ascent of the mountain itself. Sidley is a huge volcano with half the crater blown apart very much like St Helens, yet still 14,000 ft. high. A relatively easy route leads up the East ridge which we did in 44 hours out of our Base Camp climbing and skiing 23 of those hours. We had flown out in a turbine converted DC-3 aircraft which waited for us at BC. Very nice to ski right onto the plane and fly back quickly. Lots more on this soon.

 

Scott