The season began in early April, after a snowy winter. The snow continued to fall lightly through the middle of April and the temperatures remained moderate. Our teams began arriving in Tibet on 9 April. An initial acclimatization cycle brought the team up to 6400 metre / 21,000 foot high Advanced Base Camp, from which an attempt to reach the 7000 metre / 23,000 foot high North Col (camp 1) was launched. On 25 April, a 7.5 earthquake hit the region. Although very few, if any, effects of the earthquake were felt on the Tibet side of Everest, the China Tibet Mountaineering Association chose to end the climbing season and bring everone home, due to casualties and infrastructure effects elsewhere in Tibet and also in Nepal, where many of the mountain staff are from. We wish everyone a safe return and encourage all to lend a hand in rebuilding after the tragic Himalayan Earthquake of April 2015. At this time of writing, the Nepalese and Tibetan peoples are rapidly rebuilding and look forward to your visit during September - October

2015 for Mounts Cho Oyu, Shishapangma and Mount Everest. The situation is rapidly stabilising, and returning  to normal. Everyone is eager for your return to freshly repaired and well maintained mountain routes, hotels, and lodges, to boost their families' and villages' economies, and for renewed climbing excitement on the highest, most beautiful peaks on Earth, the Tibetan Himalaya.

Blog posts: Please click one of the links below to go directly to that blog post or just scroll down.

• 5 May
  
• 2 May
  
• 1 May
  
• 27 April
  
• 25 April
  
• 24 April
  
• 22 April
  
• 20 April
  
• 16 April
  
• 14 April
  
• 13 April
  
• 12 April
  
• 11 April
• 10 April
  
• 9 April
  
• 6 April
  
• Team Roster

5 May -

We were up this morning at a cold 6 am for our transport from base camp. After an initial bumpy dusty road we got on our way to Shigatsu. The hotel is delightful without the base camp wind, hot showers, soft beds. A few of us had a walk up the nearby prayer wheel coveted hill, peaceful and very friendly.

2 May -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader: Base Camp has been extremely windy for the last few days. A few of us have headed down to the tented Tibetan tea house village 45 minutes walk down from base camp. It's a good place to get out of the wind. We're expecting the Yaks to bring down all our gear from ABC tomorrow and then transport to Lhasa is due on the morning of the 5 May. 

1 May -

Everest Tibet & Mount Cho Oyu cancelled: Tibet Mountain Association. Teams heading to Lhasa airport; Nepal border closed by Earthquake.

27 April -

Hello everyone, we arrived back down to the relative safety and comfort of Base Camp yesterday evening. It is very sad to hear the continuing tragic news and of loss of life both on the South Side of Everest, in Kathmandu and the rest of Nepal. Our thoughts go out the families of all those affected.

Our Sherpa’s also descended with us to try to get information about their respective families as communication is easier here. Most have now been able to telephone through to their families to confirm their safety, but as yet not all, clearly communications are down in several regions. Some have experienced damage to their houses. All of our Sherpa’s are however in good spirits and we hope to receive further good news from the remaining families.

Activity on the mountain above ABC has been suspended for five days from yesterday, so most teams are now either at Base Camp or on their way here.

Two new members Steve and Rob joined us today and we are all enjoying Base Camp life despite the events going on around us.

25 April -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader: WE FELT THE EARTHQUAKE ON THE NORTH SIDE BUT HAVE NO DAMAGE AND ALL ARE SAFE

24 April -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader: THE SHERPAS SET UP SOME ROPES ON A NEARBY ICE PINNACLE FOR AN AFTERNOON OF PRACTICE. SNOWING NOW.

22 April -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader: WE ARRIVED AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP YESTERDAY AND HAVE SPENT A RELAXED DAY ACCLIMATISING IN THE WINDY SUNSHINE. 

20 April -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader: LEFT BASE CAMP YESTERDAY IN BRIGHT SUNSHINE AND NO WIND. SLEPT AT INTERIM BASE CAMP 5800M. COOK MADE DELICIOUS CURRY

  

16 April -

14 April -

We had a lot of snow yesterday which closed the road to Base Camp. It's unusual to get snow in Tingri so it was nice to see a snow covered town rather than a dusty one. Some of us went for a walk yesterday up a nearby hill to stretch the legs and get some nice aerial views of the town.

Today the snow had cleared so we set off on the dirt track drive to Base Camp. It was good to drive through some local villages and really see rural Tibetan life. We had a few stops and the local kids had fun running over to us to say hello.

We all arrived at base camp to take up residence in our individual tents and had a good dinner of chicken and chips. 

  

12 April -

Good morning from Nylam! After two days at 3,700 meters above sea level the whole group is feeling great.  This morning we are making our way to Tingri at 4,300 meters. It will be our final stop before we arrive at Base Camp.

It is quite cold here, but we have gotten bright and sunny days to explore the town and take an acclimatization hike on a nearby hill. From these hills we were able to see the majestic, snow capped peaks of the Himalaya.  This is truly a beautiful area.  The above picture of our group (less those individuals who are in Lhasa) was taken at one of our first vantage points during our hike. With everyone in good spirits we look forward to exploring Tingri!

-Harrison

Today Team Summit Climb (TSC) roused relatively early (8am for breakfast) to ensure an early departure from Nyalam for Tingri.  The purpose (in which the team succeeded) being to secure better accommodation in Tingri.  The morning skies were brisk and clear.  The scenic drive to Tingri climbed up to the +5,000m high pass and then fell to the Tibetan high plateau below.  TSC and all the gear, arrive safe and sound in Tingri in time for lunch.  Everyone then took to explore Tingri in the steps of Mallory, Tilman and Shipton.  Cloud cover blocked view of Mt Everest.  TSC will pass another rest day in Tingri tomorrow to acclimatize before heading to base camp the day after.

11 April - 

Discovery Channel's Joe French visits www.EverestClimb.com Sherpas.

Today our team packed everything for Everest Tibet, Everest Nepal, Island Peak, Glacier School, Basecamp Trek. We had a nice visit from Discovery Channel's Cameraman Joe French. Who filmed the packing for the television program. Thanks to Joe for filming and to the Sherpas for their hard work.

 

10 April -

Hello this is David. We had a leisurely breakfast this morning and some last minute purchases of luxury items in Zangmu, pillows and duvets proved popular. Then it was on the road for the relatively short drive to Nylam. Mid way we stopped at an army check post for document and passport checks. The afternoon and evening were spent chilling eating and generally relaxing into the acclimatisation program in Nylam. back to top

9 April -

Hi this is David, leader of Everest Tibet expedition. We had an early start this morning. Up at four am for the drive to the border with Tibet at the friendship bridge.  After a very speedy, road side repair to a puncture on our coach, we drove on the twisty and stunningly picturesque river gorge road to arrive at the border late morning. As we crossed the bridge we were chosen to be the face of the new friendship bridge tourism poster and had many orchestrated group photos taken. Who knows, maybe we’ll now appear on giant posters at all Chinese border crossings!

Tonight we’re staying in Zangmu, just across the border, in a delightful, new and remarkably clean hotel, and we’re looking forward to a good night’s sleep after a hectic day. back to top

Andreas and Janine enjoying a sizzling dinner in Kathmandu. James Grieve Photo. Dan Mazur and team discussing expedition plans during the team briefing. Zsolt Torok Photo

6 April -

All of our staff are packing for Mount Everest. The members are helping pack too. It is very exciting to get ready, with anticipation!

 

Deha Shrestha, SummitClimb IT Manager, preparing solar equipment for Everest. Jangbu Sherpa, Sange Sherpa, and Murari Sharma preparing tents, epigas, and drums for Mount Everest.

 

 

 

Ian Bellows from Cascade Leadership Challenge preparing Mount Everest Medical Kits.  Jangbu Sherpa  and Thile Sherpa modeling their new RAB jackets. Thanks RAB!!!. back to top

 

  

 

Our advance Everest team preparing to fly to Lukla. Our Staff preparing the tents for the Everest expedition.

Team Rosters:

Everest Tibet -  

• David O'brien, UK (Leader)
  
• Diamon Pon, USA
  
• Margaret Suanez, Australia
  
• Harrison Laird, USA
  
• Kurt Blair, USA
  
• Michael Hopkins, UK
  
• Iestyn Richards-Rees, UK
  
• Adam Torrens, Australia
  
• Basia Gorska, USA
  
• Anders Bergvall, Sweden
  
• Joshua David, UK
  
• Roland Yearwood, USA
  

Everest Tibet Training Climb First Group:

• Dirk Klicker, Australia
  
• John Raven, UK
  
• Andreas Gruhl, German
  

Everest Tibet Training Climb 2nd Group Start from 21st April:

• Stephen O'Mullan
  

Advance Base Camp Everest Trek - 

• Janine Verfurth, German
  
• Frances Steelquist, USA
  
• Mark Steelquist, USA
  
• Kaitlyn Clark (KJ), USA
  
• Kleanthi Astrid Chrisafis (Kleo), USA
  
• Ian Bellows, USA
  
• Rob Brown - 2nd Group
  
• Glenn Grossman - 2nd Group
  

Climbing Sherpas & Staff -   

• Tenji Sherpa       
  
• Lhakpa Tendu Sherpa                  
  
• Chhonga Karma Sherpa             
• Gelze Sherpa                                   
  
• Ang Dorjee Sherpa
  
• Ngang Nuri Sherpa                        
  
• Kipa Sherpa - Cook  back to top