Sri Lanka’s very own mountaineering duo Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala and Johann Peries who are on a mission to raise the lion flag at the highest peak of the world, are ready to make the first attempt at the final climb.
Jayanthi and Johann, along with other climbers from around the world are on the brink of the first attempt in three years to make the final ascent to the world’s tallest peak, after fatal avalanches cut short the 2014 and 2015 campaigns.
Sharing their thoughts at the base camp after what the climbers refer to as ‘rotation’ the duo stated
“We had a busy (and cold!) few days since returning from the first rotation. It snowed quite a bit at base camp and we had an oxygen clinic as well.
We began our second rotation on Wednesday with a super early start waking up at 1am!! This rotation is for 4 nights; one night at Camp 1, one at Camp 2, one night at Camp 3 and then back to Camp 2. We are excited about this rotation but at the same time Camp 2 is at an altitude of 7200m which is going to be a big challenge.
The climb to Camp 3 also involves going up a blue ice wall the entire way which we know will be tough. This is our final rotation before we make the summit attempt so wish us luck as always. Your support means a lot to us”
Teams at forward camps are looking for a weather “window” to open in the next few days, clearing the way to the 8,850 meter (29,035 foot summit) along the Southeast Ridge first climbed by New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. The southern route, on the Nepali side of the mountain, has suffered tragedy over the past two years, with 16 Sherpa guides killed by an avalanche in the treacherous Khumbu Icefall in 2014.
Last year, an earthquake that killed 9,000 people across Nepal sent a massive snow slide crashing into Base Camp, killing at least 18 climbers and guides and putting an end to that year’s campaign.
At least 289 climbers and their guides are in different high camps waiting for a weather window and jostling to become the first to scale the peak. Nearly 700 people summited in 2013.Tourism Department official Gyanendra Shrestha said climbers had fixed ropes up to the South Col, the final camp, at about 8,000 meters (26,246 feet), and were stocking it with supplies.
Ang Tshering Sherpa, chief of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, who is in touch with climbers at Base Camp, said in Kathmandu that, weather permitting, the route from the South Col to the summit would be fixed on Wednesday.
Unpredictable weather remains a challenge though this year’s campaign has been free of incident.
We at ThePapare.com along with everyone in the country would like to wish the Jayanthi & Johann all the very best in their attempt at summiting the highest peak of the world.
