SA man takes cancer battle to Everest
Raising the awareness about Cancer has long been a mission for Sharm Naicker, a mountaineer from Durban.
As we all know, overcoming odds and beating cancer is a major obstacle, Sharms’ goal is to educate people about the decease and help them overcome the odds. Sharm comes from a family with a long history of cancer, which included many loses, so taking the fight to cancer is something very dear to him.
In a bid to raise much needed awareness for the illness, Sharm’s next great challenge with be to become the first South African born Indian to tame North Face of the very inhospitable Mount Everest. He was incidentally the first South African Indian to conquer the much lower South Face. Although he will not be the first South African to climb Mount Everest, it’s always good to see another South African flag up there.
One obstacle still standing in his way however, is funding. We are appealing to you for any donations, no matter what the size. Every little cent counts, lets help him realize his dream. In order to make the expedition Sharm needs to raise in excess of R372 500,00.
For a breakdown of Sharms’ financial requirements:
Email: memteverest@gmail.com
Mount Everest
Despite being the highest mountains on planet Earth, Himalaya Mountains including Mt. Everest are relatively younger than their American and European counterparts such as the Andes, the Alps, and the Rockies. European climbers were able to get close to Everest only when Tibet was open to outsiders in the 1920s. Since then, the Everest has fascinated the mountaineers all over the world. George Mallory gave the reason behind his interest in Everest Expeditions quipping, ‘Because it’s there’.
Unfortunately, Mallory and Irvine disappeared high on the mountain in 1924. Mt. Everest was first summited in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary via the South Col. Everest is certainly a lifetime opportunity. Climbing Everest from the Tibet side is relatively easier and less costly than climbing from the Nepal side. Still, Everest expeditions encounter many seen and unseen obstacles including high altitude, harsh weather conditions and even sheer exhaustion.
We make your Tibet visa and other necessary documents for the Everest Expedition. After 3 days, we drive toward Nepal-Tibet border up to the Friendship Bridge. We take time to acclimatize with one night at Zhangmu (2300m) and two nights at Nylam (3750m). Then we drive to Tingri (4350m) where we spend further two nights for acclimatization. Then we drive to Everest Base camp (5200m) also called the Chinese base camp.
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu
– 1350m
Upon your arrival in the Tribhuvan international airport, our
representative will welcome you and will assist to transfer you in your
hotel in Kathmandu. You may relax at your hotel or go around for
shopping. In the evening Himalayan Glacier Trekking will organize
welcome dinner for you in one of the typical Nepalese restaurant in the
heart of Kathmandu meanwhile briefing about your adventurous trip will
take place. Overnight at hotel. (T,B,L,D)
Day 02-03: Rest in
Kathmandu
Sightseeing and Preparation for Everest Expedition. While the leader
attends a formal briefing in the Ministry of Tourism, you will explore
the fascinating city of Kathmandu. You will visit famous Stupa,
Boudhnath and the popular Hindu pilgrimage site, Pashupatinath Temple.
In the late afternoon, the leader will check everyone’s equipment, as
Kathmandu is the last opportunity to buy anything missing. You will
also get introduced with fellow expedition members and guides.
Overnight at hotel. (T,B,L,D)
Day 04: Drive to Boarder
to Tibet – 2800m
Day 05-10: Drive Everest
Base Camp 5150m with enough acclimatization
Day 11-15: Acclimatize at
Everest Base Camp
Depending on the weather, we may explore around Base Camp (there are
some fun places to camp at) for around a week or move up to Advanced
Base Camp more quickly.
Day 16: Trek Interim camp
– 5600m
Day 17: Trek Advanced
Base Camp 6400m
Day 18-21: Acclimatize at
Advanced Base Camp
We have a puja to show respect for the mountain.
Day:22-53: The climbing
Period
We plan one longer acclimatization trip on the mountain and we may make
a second trip up to North Col. We will return to Base Camp to recover
before making a summit attempt. We summit as a team in one or two
groups. In general solo summit attempts without lots of backup are not
possible.
Day 54: Advanced Base
Camp packing
Day 55: Trek to Base Camp
Day 56: Drive Kathmandu
Day 57: Depart from
Kathmandu
The
Climb
Base Camp (17,000 ft
/5666m) to Advanced Base Camp (ABC) (21,300 ft/6400m)
It’s about 20 km from BC to ABC which involves hiking on boulders, ice
and snow. Normally, we stop at an interim camp on the first day for
acclimatization purpose. The next day we arrive at the ABC by following
the Rongbuk Glacier. ABC lies under the slopes of Changtse Mountain on
the northwestern side moraine of East Rongbuk Glacier. ABC serves as
the primary high camp home for the rest of expedition period.
ABC to Camp 1
(23,000 ft/7000m)
Climb steadily toward the Camp 1. There will be one steep section of 60
degrees that will feel vertical. Clip into the fixed rope and use their
ascenders. Descend by using rappelling. Place a few ladders over deep
crevasses. Camp 1 or the North Col is a 2,200 ft climb from ABC.
Depending upon acclimatizing and weather, it takes between 5 to 7 hours
from ABC to Camp 1.
Camp 1 to Camp 2
(24,750 ft/7500m)
The route from Camp 2 is generally snow but it can be rock in case of
high winds. Takes about 3 to 5 hours to reach Camp 2. Camp 2 may also
be used as the highest acclimatization camp.
Camp 2 to Camp 3
(25,600 ft/7900m)
Extremely windy Climb. Tents on small rock ledges. the wind is usually
blocked by the North Face of Everest At camp 3. Takes between 3 to 6
hours to reach Camp 3. Since, we are now almost at 8000m, it’s
recommended to sleep on supplemental oxygen.
Camp 3 to Camp 4
(27,390 ft/8300m)
Follow the fixed rope through a snow filled gully; part of the Yellow
Band. Take a small ramp and reach the northeast ridge proper. Camp 4 is
a short rest stop. Have some food and water, perhaps a short nap and
start for the summit.
Camp 4 Through Three
Steps to Summit
Three “steps” or rock climbs to be attempted. The route along the 1st
Step goes to the right of the high point. The 1st Step is steep and
challenging requiring hard pulling on the fixed ropes in the final
gully to the ridge. The 2nd step is the core and difficult part of the
climb with the Chinese Ladder. First, climb about 10' of rock slab then
the near vertical 30' ladder. The 3rd Step is somewhat straightforward
yet challenging rock climb due to high altitude. Spend the next hour to
climb the steep snow fields of the Summit Pyramid – a steep snow slope,
often windy and extremely cold. Navigate around a large out cropping
and experience three more small rock steps on a ramp before the final
ridge climb to the summit. The Summit Ridge is the final 500'
horizontal distance along the ridge to the summit and is quite exposed.
It will another 4 to 6 hours to get back to Camp 3.
Weather Conditions
The springtime from March to May is considered the favorable weather
for Everest climbing. However, the weather conditions in Everest are
never fully predictable. Temperatures may get as low as minus 20C in
summer, but can drop to minus 60C or even lower during winter. The
possibility of bad weather such as snow, wind, and cloud should also be
taken into account. Similarly, the wind speeds may rise to 80Km/h
(50mph). At the Base camp the temperature is about 15C warmer than at
the summit. The oxygen level around 7,000m is only 40% of what it is at
the sea level.