Up, Up and Away!
Date: 07/05/2009
Before leaving Base Camp Noel and Lynne Hanna took part in a Buddhist Puja ceremony, lead by the local Llama of the Dingboche Monastery, as Everest is regarded as a secret and holy place. Everyone was encouraged to pay their respects to the gods of the mountain hoping that they will be protected throughout the climb. A blessing was passed on to the climbers and their equipment. Buddhist prayer flags now criss-cross the camp representing the five key elements - sky, grass, water, fire and cloud.
Noel said, “We set off at 5am for Camp 1 which stands at 6,100 metres above sea level. This is our first real acclimatisation exercise and the highest point so far on the expedition. It’s a dangerous part of the climb as we cross the Khumbu Ice Fall at the head of Khumba glacier. The Ice Fall is a treacherous maze of cliffs and crevasses and we set off early before the sun rose so that the ice formations wouldn’t start to melt. It’s constantly moving underfoot and sometimes at such speeds, large crevasses can appear without warning and towers of ice, the equivalent to 5 or 6 stories high, often collapse. The largest crevasse we’ve crossed had three aluminium ladders connected together!”
Crossing the Khumba Ice Fall is not for the faint hearted. Noel and Lynne crossed it in 5 hours and then climbed a further 200 metres before reaching Camp 1. After a much needed overnight rest, the expedition left Camp 1 to return to Base Camp. However their descent was significantly hampered by an avalanche which changed the landscape beyond recognition on their return to camp.
Lynne said, “It was shocking and also breath-taking to see the landscape change so dramatically in the space of a few hours. Everest is a spectacular place where you can be confronted by the perils of nature in an instant. It is crucial that we stay alert and focused at all times to remain injury free and have the best chance of summiting. The main challenges we face are the inherent dangers of the mountain and acclimatising to altitude. Being the only woman on the expedition is a personal challenge and it can also be lonely at times but you have to stay strong and focused on the climb.”
Up, Up and Away!
Still smiling! Lynne Hanna sets off to tackle the Khumbu Ice Fall
Up, Up and Away!
The Khumbu Ice Fall is a treacherous maze of cliffs and crevasses
Up, Up and Away!
Arrival at Camp 1
