This afternoon, a team of Sherpas from Himalayan Guides and Madison Mountaineering completed fixing rope to Camp 4 (8,000m) on the South Col of Everest. This allows teams to begin ferrying loads of oxygen and supplies to that altitude in preparation for summit attempts in the coming weeks.
Yesterday, the eight-member Sherpa team reached Camp 3, before climbing the near 1,000m wall of blue water ice known as the Lhotse Face (7,400m). After leaving the depot, they retreated to Camp 2 to rest for a few days and await a good weather window to continue fixing rope to the summit.
Cyclone Fani is currently heading towards the east coast of India, and the strong winds and heavy snow expected at 7,000m on May 3 and 4 could delay further rope fixing and acclimatization for the 370-odd climbers waiting for their chance on Everest. However, one weather source claims that the cyclone effects may largely miss the mountain regions.
