The beaches of Mt. Everest

2005 was one of the worst weather years in memory for climbers on Everest. They dealt with horrible winds as well as frequent snow. But 2006 may be different. Shanghi Daily reports that Everest may be dry this year. It hasn't snowed in most of Tibet for over two months. While clearly there will still be snow and ice on both sides, the avalanche danger may lessen while the rock-fall danger may increase.

Torching the Summit

With the Olympics now in full swing in Turin, the Chinese took advantage of the publicity to announce they are taking the olympic torch to the summit of Everest for the 2008 games in Beijing. They will use 15,000 runners to get it there. Gee, I wonder how they will afford the permit for all those guys? :)

And the winner is ...

Municipal elections were held in Nepal last week. There was a low turnout of about 20% of eligible voters and the results were no surprise with the incumbents winning and declaring a victory against the Maoists. Criticism of election rigging quickly came from the international community which the Nepal Government immediately denied. Nepal continues to be a country in chaos. With the Everest climbing and trekking season to begin in a couple of months, the unrest always creates anxiety with climb organizers and teams. But if history is any guide, the Solo Khumbu will be peaceful - at least for the foreigners.

And the winner is... (part deux)

The prestigious golden axe was awarded to Steve House and Vince Anderson for their ascent of Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, Kairn.com reports. The Piolet d'Or ceremony is an annual event in France for the top mountaineering ascent of the year. In addition to being one of the toughest big wall climbs in the world, the American climbers also found what turned out to be remains of Reinhold Messner's brother Gunther who died on the descent. Also of some note is that this is the first time Americans have won the Piolet d'Or ever.

And the real winner is ...

Our sport often focuses on the tough men and women on the big walls, highest mountains and most remote peaks but a new book caught my eye. Carol Stone White's "Women with Altitude: Challenging the Adirondack High Peaks in Winter." covers the exploits of 29 women who summitted all the 4000 foot peaks in the Adirondack mountains in the Northeastern United States - all in winter. The article on Newsday.com had a quote I really liked from White "... "Why do we climb mountains? The analytical mind yields no final answer because mountain climbing is an experience of the body, the senses, the heart, the will _ cumulatively, of the spirit ... "

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