At the Mercy of Everest
Date: 14/05/2009
Local climbers Noel and Lynne Hanna have seen at first hand the dangers of life on Everest. A huge block of ice, known as a serac, came crashing down with very little warning and hit an expedition in the Khumbu Ice Fall. Two Austrian climbers were injured and a huge rescue operation was mounted to recover a Sherpa called Lakpa Nuru. Unfortunately the search was called off as it grew too dangerous and his body has not been recovered.
Generally one-in-ten climbers die trying to scale Everest but even for those who make it to the top, there is a one-in-twenty chance they won't survive the descent.
Lynne said, “There have been a lot of avalanches during our time on Everest but we have been lucky so far. Although we did not know the expedition team, a death on the mountain is always difficult but you have to stay mentally strong and focused on what we are here to do – summit Everest and raise funds for the Ulster Cancer Foundation. We have walked through the Khumbu Ice Fall, a treacherous maze of cliffs and crevasses, six times and you are never certain when the next serac could collapse.”
Noel and Lynne have completed three climbs on their acclimatisation programme in preparation for the summit attempt. While acclimatisation has its dangers, it is a necessary evil, allowing climbers to become familiar with the route as well as with their own specific reaction to altitude and adjusting to thinner air.
Noel said, “On our third trip our expedition leader felt that we should walk in two separate groups. This was to minimise a complete expedition wipe out, should there be another avalanche while crossing the Khumbu Ice Fall. Our goal was to climb to our highest point on Everest to date, without the use of supplemented oxygen. On our way to Camp 2 (6,500 metres above sea level) high winds raked through the camp which then had to be rebuilt for our overnight stay. We then climbed higher onto Camp 3, which stands at 7,200 metres above sea level. The weather here is very changeable, with strong winds and snow, so we cooked in our own tents which were pitched at steep angles on solid ice. When you climb higher it becomes much more difficult to breathe but the acclimatization programme has left us well adapted to the altitude and feeling strong for the summit attempt.”
Noel and Lynne are now resting and recovering below Base Camp at 4,300 metres. Noel who had been suffering with a bad cough is enjoying the thicker air quality and is now back to full health. At this lower level, climbers enjoy the increase in oxygen levels, digesting their food more easily and sleeping soundly.
Lynne added, “After a few days we hope to feel a lot stronger and energised for the summit push. Some climbers don’t climb down lower than Base Camp as they are afraid they will be exposed to cold’s and flu viruses carried by other trekkers but the benefits of low altitude outweigh any concerns we have.”
At the Mercy of Everest
Noel Hanna crossing the treacherous Khumbu Ice Fall
At the Mercy of Everest
Noel Hanna crossing the treacherous Khumbu Ice Fall
At the Mercy of Everest
Lynne and Noel Hanna crossing the Khumbu Ice Fall
