Russian Everest North Face Update: The Russian Big Wall climbing team that is attempting one of the world’s most difficult climbs–straight up the rocky center of Everest’s forbidding North Face–has been hunkered down in Base Camp for the past few days as hurricane force winds lashed Everest’s upper reaches. The weather has cleared up for the moment, but the winds destroyed three tents AND the mess tent. No matter, these guys would probably eat lichen if that’s what it takes. Now the Russians are headed back to work on the wall, to extend their network of fixed ropes and camps above the current 7800 meters. Climber Eugeny Vinogradsky reported that they intend to set a camp as high as 8500 meters (virtually just below the summit, which is at 8850), which would be one of the highest camps ever set on Everest. The wimpy southsiders tend to set their final camp at around 8000 to 8300 meters, and rush the summit from there, in order to spend as little time as possible in the Death Zone above 8,000 meters. The Russians can’t get away with that. The North Face has a difficult rock pitch between 7900 and 8500 meters, and there’s no way to get up that bad boy in a matter of hours. The Russians will now be working mostly in the Death Zone. This thing is about to get hairy….



Post-Hurricane Inventory: “Thank Tolstoy. The swill tent may be gone, but at least the vodka is safe….”