Jost Kobusch is speeding up on his solo Everest climb. Today, he left his tent on the Lho La and progressed up at a good pace for the entire day on the Tibetan side of Everest’s West Ridge. According to his latest position, he reached 6,457m by 7:30 pm Nepal time, well after nightfall.
Unless there is a glitch with his tracking device, which happened last year, Kobusch has climbed 150 vertical metres higher than on his last foray two days ago. He is either bivouacking or has established his third high-altitude camp.
Jost Kobusch at the beginning of the route. Photo: Jost Kobusch
Unlike last year, Kobusch does not have the usual base camp on the Khumbu Glacier. Rather, between forays up the mountain, he stays at a lodge in Lobuche. He pitched a tiny Camp 1 tent at the beginning of the icefall leading to Lho La. Atop that pass, he placed his second camp.
Last year, Kobusch reached 7,366m. This time, he intends to get to the base of the Hornbein Couloir, at 8,000m. This would mark his final dry run before next winter’s third expedition, in which he will try to go all the way to the top, alone.
