Fast track to Everest summit?

[Dakota]

I was wondering what some of the members of the forum who have been to Everest think of this idea. Is there anything critical to be gained by hiking the long route to Basecamp? It seems like a similar concept to Denali in a way.

If it works, I see the advantage of avoiding crowds for a higher success rate chance as well as from a safety stance. It seems like it could also be unsafe if you force it too quickly as well. Would ropes be fixed all the way to the top that soon? $89,000 is a lot to find out.



http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-ad ... Track.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AndyJB444]

Sounds even more risky, for both client and guide. Maybe there's a niche for it...I'd be looking for clients who are likely experience, fit, and rich. Unfortunately most times folks only have 2 of those 3...

[geojed]

Ed V said it best...

[SkaredShtles]

Ed V said it best...

Pfft. That guy is forever taking airplanes into cities close to the mountains.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Macart ... Expedition" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Life is a endless string of shortcuts.

[geojed]

Pfft. That guy is forever taking airplanes into cities close to the mountains.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Macart ... Expedition" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Life is a endless string of shortcuts.

In that case, why didn't Macartney-Snape start from his home in Meekatharra, Western Australia and then sea-kayak to the Bay of Bengal?

He had take a shortcut and FLY to Ganga Sagar, India and walk from the Bay of Bengal...Wimp...

[SkaredShtles]

Pfft. That guy is forever taking airplanes into cities close to the mountains.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Macart ... Expedition" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Life is a endless string of shortcuts.

In that case, why didn't Macartney-Snape start from his home in Meekatharra, Western Australia and then sea-kayak to the Bay of Bengal?

You want my guess? It was because he's lazy.

He had take a shortcut and FLY to Ganga Sagar, India and walk from the Bay of Bengal...Wimp...

Yup. Shortcuts. Life is full of 'em. And we all arbitrarily draw the line at what is "acceptible" for our style. Just keep in mind - it's *my* style. Nobody else's. Your style is yours. We're all cheaters in someone's eyes.

[Jim Davies]

Don't forget Goran Kropp, who bicycled from Sweden to Everest, summited, then rode back to Sweden.
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/10/books ... -part.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SkaredShtles]

Don't forget Goran Kropp, who bicycled from Sweden to Everest, summited, then rode back to Sweden.
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/10/books ... -part.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Gettin' close.

But riding a bike to Nepal is an obvious cheater's shortcut.

[geojed]

The ultimate would be to go to the Antipodal point of Everest (Latitude:-27.985818°
Longitude:-93.076404°) and swim from there, then walk once you get to land.

Or start from Everest BC walk/swim around the world and THEN climb Everest!

[jbchalk]

I was wondering what some of the members of the forum who have been to Everest think of this idea. Is there anything critical to be gained by hiking the long route to Basecamp? It seems like a similar concept to Denali in a way.

If it works, I see the advantage of avoiding crowds for a higher success rate chance as well as from a safety stance. It seems like it could also be unsafe if you force it too quickly as well. Would ropes be fixed all the way to the top that soon? $89,000 is a lot to find out.



http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-ad ... Track.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pretty ridiculous. Alan says it all in that Outside Online article. Ballinger is trying a new scheme and to cater to the very wealthy and ill-experienced who want to rush an experience that for most people will change their lives for the better. I would hope people would be smarter than that, but I know better. They're always out there.

[Dakota]

Pretty ridiculous. Alan says it all in that Outside Online article. Ballinger is trying a new scheme and to cater to the very wealthy and ill-experienced who want to rush an experience that for most people will change their lives for the better. I would hope people would be smarter than that, but I know better. They're always out there.

I think AndyJB444 had a good point in stating it might be a niche route for highly athletic people. I could see it as a window for sponsored athletes that are looking to add Everest to their portfolio with sponsorship cash without the sponsor having to bother with too much of the logistical side.

[dereferenced]

AFAIK, there are usually only a few good windows for summiting in May, after the jet stream moves away from the mountain and before the monsoon starts. I think that the most crowded summit day is usually the 1st of those windows. So, I'm not sure that acclimating faster or starting earlier could help you avoid other climbers. I'd assume that Ballinger's shorter expeditions would just start later and summit around the same time. I don't think that being on the standard route in the spring would be a an experience I'd want, either way.

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