Speeds, Feeds and Satellite Phones, Trekking the Khumbu, Third Times a Charm
Speeds, Feeds and Satellite Phones
Based on some early dispatches, this year on Everest may be the most technology rich experience ever. There are the normal written updates with some nice pictures but video, audio and maps seem to be in vogue. There are several systems used by the climbers ranging from homemade ones to solid commercial systems. ExplorersWeb.com has improved their Contact3 Expedition System and it is probably the most used by the larger commercial guide companies. Their website shows a cost of $3200 for a complete system consisting of a digital camera, PDA, satellite phone and their custom software. Other expeditions are using their own creations as demonstrated by Paul and Fi.
A couple of early standouts, technology wise, include Mountain LInk's video of driving the wild streets of Katmandu and Lance Trumbull's Everest Peace Project and his video plus audio posting. Maps also seem to be the "in" thing this year. The Contact3 expedition software provided this feature last year but it has improved. With Google Earth, some sites are using it to show precisely where the climbers are. An excellent example is on EveryTrail.net.
But while all this makes it pleasing to the eye, I always appreciate the willingness of the climbers to open their hearts and minds to all of us watching. It is the courage to write about their fears, failings, dreams and successes that capture my imagination each year.
Treking the Khumbu
Many Everest expeditions have trekkers who join them. They walk
the same trails as the climbers and spend a night or two in base
camp. I have done this walk both as a climber and a trekker. As
a climber, your mind becomes increasingly focused on the task ahead.
Every sight of Everest is like shot of adrenalin that causes your
heart to miss a beat with excitement and anticipation. You are
aware of your climbing and trekking mates but you also spend a
lot of time walking quietly in deep personal thoughts.
As a trekker, you can be completely and totally overwhelmed.
For many people this is their first visit to Nepal and the Himalayas.
The scenery is stunning. Every turn of the trail brings a new view
that is better than the one before. You chat away with excitement
and wonderment. Even the Yak poop on the trail is exciting! But
you also look at the climbers in a different way than you did back
home or at the hotel in Katmandu. You begin to understand what
they are trying to do and your respect grows. Deep inside every
trekker, they wonder if they could do it. Some come back and try - like I did.
Third Times a Charm
Will Cross has started his dispatches on his site. I will be pulling
for Will for a number of reasons. First is his goal to be the first
climber with diabetes to trek to both poles plus compete the 7
Summits. I saw him on a documentary filmed by Ben Webster of their
2004 Everest attempt and he seems like a nice guy. But mostly I
am pulling for him since this is his third attempt! Some people
may call him foolhardy or a peak bagger or worse. But I call him
focused, determined and courageous. He knows what he knows after
his other two attempts. He knows how much it hurts, how his body
cries to go down, how his mind plays games. He knows all this and
he goes back. Climb on Will!
