Kilian Jornet headed to Everest

[RobertKay]

Kilian is working on his next challenge. I hope it doesn't kill him. The current fastest time from base camp to summit is 8 hours 10 minutes set in 2004 by Pem Dorje. At first it sounds like Kilian's goal (20 hours up, 35 hours RT) doesn't make sense until you read a little further down in the story. To keep these times in perspective, consider that the average fit and acclimatized Westerner needs 5 to 8 hours to get to Camp 1, three more to reach Camp 2, 4 to 8 hours to Camp 3, 5 to 9 hours to get to Camp 4 and then 8 to 14 to summit. Add all this up and it is 25 hours of climbing with significant rest periods between each move and he plans to start well below base camp and get it done in 20 hours. Time will tell.

http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/ru ... cebookpost" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jmanner]

The current fastest time from base camp to summit is 8 hours 10 minutes set in 2004 by Pem Dorje. At first it sounds like Kilian's goal (20 hours up, 35 hours RT) doesn't make sense until you read a little further down in the story.

Your math leaves me much confused The record is eight hours up and he is trying to do it in 20 hours, based on your post it doesn't seem like he's trying to break the record. However, when one pulls up the Outside link it clearly talks about "FKT" attempt...

edit: This makes more sense now

Jornet remains cagey when asked about the details of his Everest FKT attempt. He wouldn’t elaborate on his gear or fueling strategy, but he did divulge one tantalizing detail. To make his bid more “logical,” as he put it, Jornet plans to start much lower than 17,600-foot Base Camp, where previous record seekers have launched. Instead, he’ll begin in one of the villages below (he won’t say which one), adding another 14,000 feet and a marathon’s worth of mileage to his ascent.

[RobertKay]

As mentioned in my OP, the Outside article explains the discrepancy. Kilian plans to start at one of the villages below base camp.

"Jornet remains cagey when asked about the details of his Everest FKT attempt. He wouldn’t elaborate on his gear or fueling strategy, but he did divulge one tantalizing detail. To make his bid more “logical,” as he put it, Jornet plans to start much lower than 17,600-foot Base Camp, where previous record seekers have launched. Instead, he’ll begin in one of the villages below (he won’t say which one), adding another 14,000 feet and a marathon’s worth of mileage to his ascent."

Now, to get 14,000 feet below base camp would put him far more than a marathon's distance away. I suspect that to get down to a 3,600 foot elevation would take 75 miles or more. As hard to believe as this is, my suspicion is that the writer got this part of the story wrong. My guess is Kilian will reevaluate his plan once he gets there and begin his attempt from base camp or Gorak Shep at the most. This all raises the unanswerable question of where does a mountain truly begin (next to it, at the low point between two peaks, at sea level, or the bottom of the ocean, etc). Purists, you go ahead and talk among yourselves.

It will be interesting to watch.

[jomagam]

I'm guessing there's no FKT yet from whichever town he'll start, so his success is guaranteed if he gets to the top.

[Scott P]

As hard to believe as this is, my suspicion is that the writer got this part of the story wrong.

Probably so. I assume that the writer may have meant 14,000 feet total gain rather than 14,000 feet below base camp. 14,000 feet below the summit sounds much more reasonable.

[polar]

Sounds like the ultimate "light and fast" alpinism! But didn't the guy have to be rescued somewhere in Europe last year?

[Tornadoman]

As hard to believe as this is, my suspicion is that the writer got this part of the story wrong.

Probably so. I assume that the writer may have meant 14,000 feet total gain rather than 14,000 feet below base camp. 14,000 feet below the summit sounds much more reasonable.

I was thinking that he either meant 14,000 feet elevation gain (aka. starting at about 15,000 feet MSL) or starting at 14,000 feet elevation. It should be interesting to see how this unfolds.

[dereferenced]

I think the 8 hour record is with oxygen, and it's 22:29 without:
http://www.mounteverest.net/story/stori ... 2004.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So I'd guess his 20 hours is maybe the split time he wants from basecamp to summit?

[ezabielski]

Sounds like the ultimate "light and fast" alpinism! But didn't the guy have to be rescued somewhere in Europe last year?

Yes. Here's the thread: http://14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=41535" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He's also probably the greatest mountain athlete the world has ever seen. So he's got that going for him.