Mount Everest Summit: a different kind of fun at 29,000ft
Apr 22, 2016, 8:49 pm
#32
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Join Date: Mar 2013
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Incredible TR! Really cool to see a firsthand account - I loved reading the books about Everest growing up even though for a variety of reasons it's not something I'll ever be able to do.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Apr 27, 2016, 7:54 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA
Posts: 384
wow, congrats!
how hard is it to descend the mountain? it's obviously treacherous to go up the mountain, but what are the difficulties once you're climbing down?
what's the closest one can get to the top, on plane or helicopter? (and are there any good redemptions?!)
how hard is it to descend the mountain? it's obviously treacherous to go up the mountain, but what are the difficulties once you're climbing down?
what's the closest one can get to the top, on plane or helicopter? (and are there any good redemptions?!)
May 4, 2016, 4:05 am
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Dorset, United Kingdom. Frequently at higher altitudes.
Programs: BAEC Gold and a few others
Posts: 103
Descent is tough because you're so fatigued. The distance isn't huge, but there is a lot of abseiling and you need to stay quite sharp to avoid making a simple but costly mistake.
We took a helicopter to roughly 6,300m a couple of years ago, and could see over the Khumbu Icefall and right in to the Western Cwm. It was one of those days I'll never forget. It was just myself and Laura with a pilot (using oxygen, which certainly added to the sense of adventure!). Couple of photos below. We could organise this for guests now as part of a Nepal adventure for example.
May 9, 2016, 4:47 pm
#41
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I still am.
MrAndMrsJones that was the best TR I have ever read. ^^
I honestly had no idea that a helicopter could fly that high. Isn't that why most of the rescue missions are abandoned as the air is just too thin up there? How did they manage this?
MrAndMrsJones that was the best TR I have ever read. ^^
I honestly had no idea that a helicopter could fly that high. Isn't that why most of the rescue missions are abandoned as the air is just too thin up there? How did they manage this?
May 9, 2016, 10:23 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
The world record is over 40,000ft for a helicopter, but these are all special flights in stripped out machines piloted by experienced test pilots. Your average helicopter/pilot combo wouldn't be able to do it.
May 10, 2016, 3:22 am
#44
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So technically a mountain rescue from Everest could be possible on a stripped out machine?
May 10, 2016, 3:40 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
I'm not an expert in mountain rescue but technically it's possible to get a helicopter that high. How you would evacuate someone when you're up there i don't know, and all this is assuming you have the right helicopter and a skilled enough pilot ready and waiting.