UPDATED JUNE 2009: I updated this post with actual dates.
This year, the Himex Everest Team climbed the mountain through the south, Nepal route. Himex normally climbs the north route through Tibet, but due to last spring's cancellation and this year's continuing uncertainty as to whether the Chinese would again close the mountain, we decided to climb through Nepal.
March
27 I and several others arrive in Kathmandu (1,317m)
29 Rest of team arrives
31 Kathmandu – Lukla (2,840m) – Monju (2,610m)
April
01 Monju – Namche Bazar (3,440m)
02 Namche Bazar – Khumjung (3,780m)
03 Khumjung
04 Khumjung – Tengboche (3,860m)
05 Tengboche – Dingboche (4,410m)
06 Dingboche
07 Dingboche – Lobuche (4,910m)
08 Lobuche - Everest BC (5,360m)
09 Everest BC
15 Jim and Megan climb Kala Pattar (5,545m)
18 Team 1 summits Lobuche
19 Team 2 summits Lobuche
20 Team 3 summits Lobuche
23 Eugene, Monique, Megan and Team 1 summit Lobuche
24 Team 2 summits Lobuche
25 Team 3 summits Lobuche
May
03 Team 1 reaches Camp 3
04 Team 2 reaches Camp 3
05 The Japanese and Megan reach Camp 3
05 David Tait summits Everest with Phurba and Sherpas who fix ropes
17 Team 1 leaves for their summit push
19 Team 2 leaves for their summit push
21 Team 1 summits Everest (Phurba again summits)!
23 Team 2 (Megan) summits Everest!
25 Everest BC
26 Everest BC party
27 Everest BC – Pangboche (3,930m)
28 Pangboche – Namche Bazar
29 Namche Bazar – Lukla (food poisoning for half the team, joy)
30 Lukla – Kathmandu
31 Kathmandu
June
02 Depart Kathmandu
This year, the Himex Everest Team climbed the mountain through the south, Nepal route. Himex normally climbs the north route through Tibet, but due to last spring's cancellation and this year's continuing uncertainty as to whether the Chinese would again close the mountain, we decided to climb through Nepal.
The chart below shows my altitude per day during the expedition. It provides a visual of the acclimatization process. This is similar to the chart I created in 2007, but it does not include all members (because there were 28) and Sherpas. To plot that would be a major undertaking for this expedition.
The trek to Base Camp is in orange, acclimatization after that is in red, the summit push is in blue and final descent, purple. We spent time on Lobuche and surrounding peaks to avoid the Khumbu Icefall for acclimatization, so we only went through the Icefall on two round trips. The only significant difference between my schedule and that of the rest of the team is that, because of muscle injuries in my chest and back, I climbed Lobuche only once, rather than twice. The descent was actually through Pangboche - Namche - Lukla.
For a larger version, click here.
The trek to Base Camp is in orange, acclimatization after that is in red, the summit push is in blue and final descent, purple. We spent time on Lobuche and surrounding peaks to avoid the Khumbu Icefall for acclimatization, so we only went through the Icefall on two round trips. The only significant difference between my schedule and that of the rest of the team is that, because of muscle injuries in my chest and back, I climbed Lobuche only once, rather than twice. The descent was actually through Pangboche - Namche - Lukla.
For a larger version, click here.
March
27 I and several others arrive in Kathmandu (1,317m)
29 Rest of team arrives
31 Kathmandu – Lukla (2,840m) – Monju (2,610m)
April
01 Monju – Namche Bazar (3,440m)
02 Namche Bazar – Khumjung (3,780m)
03 Khumjung
04 Khumjung – Tengboche (3,860m)
05 Tengboche – Dingboche (4,410m)
06 Dingboche
07 Dingboche – Lobuche (4,910m)
08 Lobuche - Everest BC (5,360m)
09 Everest BC
15 Jim and Megan climb Kala Pattar (5,545m)
18 Team 1 summits Lobuche
19 Team 2 summits Lobuche
20 Team 3 summits Lobuche
23 Eugene, Monique, Megan and Team 1 summit Lobuche
24 Team 2 summits Lobuche
25 Team 3 summits Lobuche
May
03 Team 1 reaches Camp 3
04 Team 2 reaches Camp 3
05 The Japanese and Megan reach Camp 3
05 David Tait summits Everest with Phurba and Sherpas who fix ropes
17 Team 1 leaves for their summit push
19 Team 2 leaves for their summit push
21 Team 1 summits Everest (Phurba again summits)!
23 Team 2 (Megan) summits Everest!
25 Everest BC
26 Everest BC party
27 Everest BC – Pangboche (3,930m)
28 Pangboche – Namche Bazar
29 Namche Bazar – Lukla (food poisoning for half the team, joy)
30 Lukla – Kathmandu
31 Kathmandu
June
02 Depart Kathmandu
