Russian Big Wallers–Left Hanging: The crack Russian climbing teams trying to conquer the massive rock faces on the north sides of Everest and Jannu are within striking distance of the summits, but have been hunkered down for the past few days, battered by wind and snow. “Everyone is sitting in their “bubbles” and drinking everything that they can find, from an aspirin up to coffee,” reports the Jannu team.

The Everest climbers will apparently make their summit assault today:

“As you understand, these pushes are the final. The team will not have an other opportunity. A fixed ropes ended at 8400 m. The highest camp is at 8300 m. Shabaline’s group should fix 3-4 pitches more above 8400, and then they will go to the summit without ropes. If for any reasons it will be not possible to them, the following groups should execute this task.”

“Without ropes.” Gulp…



Jannu North Face: The Russian Route So Far