Alpine Ascents 2013 Everest Team at South Col

Mt. Everest looking across the Yellow band and up past South Col

 

The Alpine Ascents 2013 Everest Team have made it to the South Col, at just below 8,000 meters. There are only 14 mountains in the world that rise above 8,000 meters, and our climbers will be sleeping there tonight. Two of those 14 peaks rise out of the South Col. Everest, our main objective and the highest mountain in the world, rises over 850 meters above the South Col. Lhtose, the forth highest mountain in the world, rises over 500 meters from the other side of Camp 4. We have a few climbers who will be attempting to summit both of these impressive mountains in under 24 hours. This is a feat that has only been accomplished by three other climbers to date! In 2011, Alpine Ascents Guide Michael Horst was the first, and he is currently our Expedition Leader for the Arabs With Altitude. Alpine Ascents guide and our 2013 Everest Expedition Leader, Garrett Madison and climber Tom Halliday became numbers two and three just a few days later.

For now the team will be hydrating, eating, and sleeping at the Col in preparation for their Everest summit climb tomorrow night. Those also climbing Lhotse will have the day after to rest up in the South Col before leaving on a second alpine start the following evening.