Everest live updates from Ricky Munday

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23rd April 2018

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Follow Trek & Mountain reader Ricky Munday over the next few weeks as he attempts to summit Everest from Tibet… here’s the story so far

*Everest Northside update* The puja is a traditional ritual where a Tibetan Buddhist lama blesses our equipment and hopefully allows safe passage on the mountain. This afternoon, we split out our high altitude food, clothing and equipment, which will be carried by yaks to Advanced base camp at 6,400m. #Everest2018 #expedition #MountEverest #climbing #mountains #mountaineering #adventure #travel #igtravel #igers #nofilter #followyourdreams #neverstopexploring #landscape #nature #landscape_lovers #naturelovers #picoftheday #photooftheday #tibet #followme #instalike #like4like #webstagram #followforfollow #outdoors #outdoorlife #nepal

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*Everest Northside update * Dave from our summit team dwarfed by the landscape at 5,700m on an acclimatisation hike above #Everest2018 north base camp. Dave and I reached a high point of 5,850m, which will stand us in good stead when we leave BC on 23rd to sleep at intermediate camp at 5,800m. We followed the ice river for about 4km then climbed steeply. I felt strong today, and my pacing varied on the steeper sections from 20 steps then stop and breathe, to 400 steps then stop and breathe. #expedition #MountEverest #climbing #mountains #mountaineering #adventure #travel #igtravel #igers #nofilter #followyourdreams #neverstopexploring #landscape #nature #landscape_lovers #naturelovers #picoftheday #photooftheday #tibet #followme #instalike #like4like #webstagram #followforfollow #outdoors #outdoorlife

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* Everest Northside update – arrived at Base Camp * The authorities wouldn’t let us stay in Tingri another night, so with heavy hearts we left the luxurious Snow Leopard guest house this morning at 11 am. The Everest team drove along the well-paved road for three hours to basecamp, stopping at a high pass at 5,200m, with incredible views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. The north Col team took the old, unpaved road, following the route pioneered by Mallory in the 1920s. We passed through several Tibetan villages where farming is the mainstay of the economy. It’s a tough, subsistence lifestyle at well over 4,000m. We arrived at base camp at 2pm – it felt a little strange to be back here. When I left base camp last year to evacuate an injured team mate, I didn’t know if I’d ever see the mountain again – but here I am! I’m determined to make the most of this unexpected opportunity. The Sherpas had arrived shortly before us so we helped them set up our individual tents. The Sherpas provides us with a foam carpet for the tent and a very deep foam mattress & pillow for sleeping. With my duvet as a luxury bonus, I’ll be extremely comfortable at BC. We’ve just had fantastic soup and sandwiches for lunch – the Sherpas have done an outstanding job of setting up camp so quickly. We’ll spend a few days here sorting kit and having a few walks before starting our first rotation up to Advanced Base Camp. #Everest2018 #expedition #MountEverest #climbing #mountains #mountaineering #adventure #travel #igtravel #igers #nofilter #followyourdreams #neverstopexploring #landscape #nature #landscape_lovers #naturelovers #picoftheday #photooftheday #tibet #followme #instalike #like4like #webstagram #followforfollow #outdoors #outdoorlife #nepal

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*Everest Northside update* We spent 11 hours driving north yesterday from Kathmandu on unpaved, precipitous roads carved into the mountainside. Passing places were few and far between and we stopped frequently to negotiate delicate passing manoeuvres with cargo trucks and buses. We found a nice spot for Dal bhat (curried lentils) near Trishuli on the Dhunche highway after 5 hours on the road. We had a shakedown at a checkpoint at Langtang National Park. In theory, every bag was pulled off the bus and checked by Nepali soldiers. In practice, our Sherpas would pull a bag off, then walk round the bus and lift it back onto the roof. It’s all part of the game, which ended when some rupees changed hands and we were sent on our way. Those climbing the north Col only didn’t receive their permits or their passports yesterday – a motorbike brought them up from Kathmandu to or tea house this afternoon. Today, we climbed 900m above Syabrubesi to a tea house in Goljung, and visited a Buddhist stupa above. It was a beautiful day and it was fantastic to stretch my legs after our long journey yesterday. The scenery up here is absolutely spectacular. Our Sherpas have gone ahead to the border with our bags. We’ll leave tomorrow at 7am to drive into Tibet and should arrive at base camp on 18th. #Everest2018 #expedition #MountEverest #climbing #mountains #mountaineering #adventure #travel #igtravel #igers #nofilter #followyourdreams #neverstopexploring #landscape #nature #landscape_lovers #naturelovers #picoftheday #photooftheday #tibet #followme #instalike #like4like #webstagram #followforfollow #outdoors #outdoorlife #nepal

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Today the @adventurepeaks Everest North Ridge team leave the vibrant, narrow & congested streets of Thamel, Kathmandu and hit the road to cross the Nepal/Tibet border and make our way to Everest north base camp. The journey will take six days to allow us to adjust to the increasing altitude before we reach BC at 5,200m – higher than any point in Western Europe. Yesterday some of the team trekked in the hills outside Kathmandu, while one member rested with some gastric issues. I ate dinner with our leader Sean and some of the Sherpas and climbers from other groups who will travel with us to Tingri, Tibet before they attempt Shishapangma. There was a huge amount of 8,000m peak experience in the room – one of the climbers has summitted 11 of the world’s 14 8,000m peaks. It was a real privilege to share a meal with them. #Everest2018 #expedition #trekandmountain #MountEverest #climbing #mountains #mountaineering #adventure #travel #igtravel #igers #nofilter #followyourdreams #neverstopexploring #landscape #nature #landscape_lovers #naturelovers #picoftheday #photooftheday #tibet #instalike #webstagram #outdoors #outdoorlife #nepal

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