Everest 2012 Season

Sunset on the north side of Everest

This time last year I was gearing up for my own Everest expedition. I'm not back on the mountain this year but there's plenty of activity...

My Everest co-leader Chris Szymiec is heading back up leading for Adventure Peaks. Matthew Dieumegard-Thornton who I've had the pleasure of climbing and training with is on the south and keeping a detailed blog.

Over in Nepal Adele Pennington is heading for Lhotse with Jagged Globe as the next stage of her 14 x 8000m peak challenge.

Colin Wallace has a great website following the British attempts and history at Everest 1953.

Friday night film - Geordie on Discovery

Aclimatisation lectures

Oxygen training on Cho Oyu

Today I've been lecturing on the demands of climbing at altitude at the University of Cumbria. As part of their Human Performance module the Outdoor Studies students are spending a few weeks looking at operating in extreme environments. Plenty of interest and there's certainly a few folk who'll be heading high for their next trip.

Friday night film - Meru's Fin

Everest Summit Attempt

Climbing to Camp 3 on oxygen

The team spread out along the traverse to Camp 3 above 8000m

Everest's north east ridge with the prominent Second Step

Stunning sunset from the highest camp in the world at 8300m

Sucking on oxygen at Camp 3 prior to our summit attempt

10:30pm on the 25th May and getting ready to depart on our summit attempt

Sunrise from halfway up the Second Step at 8600m

The summit pyramid from the top of the Second Step

The mixed ground leading to the Third Step

Climbing above the clouds at 8700m

The final slopes to the summit of Mt Everest

The 8848m summit of Mt Everest, 9.35am on the 26th May 2011

Prayer flags on the summit of Mt Everest with Makalu in the background

Self portrait on the summit of Mt Everest

Back safely at Camp 3

Camp 3 perched on a steep & icy slope

Descending to Camp 2 in high winds

Descending in to the clouds towards the North Col

Cho Oyu above the clouds 17km away

A double sun halo from ABC

A final view of Everest from Base Camp

Everest Acclimatisation to 7500m

The view from ABC with the summit on the right

Advanced Base Camp below the North Col

Climbing the fixed lines to the North Col

Only one ladder this year, crossing the bergschrund just below the North Col

Chris topping out on the slopes to the North Col

Camp 1 at the North Col from the ridge to Changstre

Our North Col camp perched on the edge

Setting out from the North Col on our final acclimatisation to 7500m

Looking back towards the North Col from 7500m

Andrew & Geordie relaxing at 7500m

Self portrait at 7500m

Descending from our final acclimatisation climb

Chris arriving at Camp 2 on our summit bid

Friday night film

Friday night film

Geordie Stewart is currently out in Antarctica attempting Mt Vinson as part of his 7 Summit challenge. These 3 videos were from his unsuccessful Everest attempt last year but he's returning in 2011 on the Adventure Peaks trip on which I'm joint leader. Best of luck down south Geordie.

Ama Dablam Summit Attempt

Climbing the Yellow Tower in worsening conditions with Camp 1 behind

Ang climbing the Yellow Tower in full Scottish conditions!

The final climb to Camp 2 with the snow pelting down

Allan & David climbing the Yellow Tower

The crux of the Yellow Tower - pick a rope and jug!

Looking down the Yellow Tower

Base Camp after the storm

Morning view after our aborted summit attempt

Our Sherpa's Mingma & Lhakpa at Camp 2 after the storm

The Khumba Valley after the unseasonable snow storm

The route from Camp 2 up the Grey Tower

My tent at Camp 2 after the storm.

David at Camp 2

Camp 2 perched on the ridge

Our Sirdar, Lhakpa, at Camp 2.

Beginning the descent of the ridge.

David leaving Camp 2

Allan abseiling off the Yellow Tower

Crossing verglassed slabs and the site of Carrie's accident

Allan crossing the final photogenic slabs before Camp 1

Allan descending the ridge to Camp 1

Descending towards Meadow Camp

Following Puna into the cloud

Descending into the cloud at Point 5001