The promised good weather on Everest is not as good as everyone had hoped for. The winds picked up unexpectedly today at around noon.
“It was a bit of a surprise, but surprises seem to be the trend this season,” Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking told Explorersweb. With two teams currently in Camp 2 and a third in Base Camp, he is watching developments closely.
Crowds waiting at Camp 2 might need to adjust their summit schedule if the winds don’t drop soon. The issue is more serious for climbers who summited yesterday and now prepare for Lhotse. Among them are Pakistanis Naila Kiani, Nadia Asaz, and most of all, Sajid Sadpara, who is climbing without oxygen and so is more vulnerable to the cold.
Lhotse tonight?
Their original plan was to summit Lhotse tonight. The rope-fixing team finished the route up Everest’s sister peak today.
Dawa Tenjin Sherpa, Pasang Namgyal Sherpa, and Tamting Sherpa, supported by Ngima Nuru and Pemba Tamang, summited Lhotse at 12:50 pm. According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism, 156 foreign climbers have permits for Lhotse. Presumably, most of them will combine it with Everest.
Lhotse rope-fixers in Base Camp some days ago. Photo: Imagine Nepal
Record numbers keep growing on Everest. According to the latest update, 478 foreigners have permits. Imagine Nepal reports that two more of their group summited Everest today: Kitti Boonitrod and Phur Galjen Sherpa.
Finally, Pasang Dawa Sherpa has summited Everest for the 26th time, equaling Kami Rita Sherpa’s record number. Pasang Dawa was supporting Marton Peter Price of Hungary.
