Despite Unrest, Everest Climbs Proceed

Despite the continued unrest in Nepal, most of the climbing teams have moved out of Kathmandu and are proceeding with their schedule to summit Everest, and the other big Himalayan peaks. Another Daily Update from MountEverest.net notes that the huge demonstration planned for today in Nepal was called off when the King restored parliament last night, and a new Prime Minister was named, despite continued objections from Maoist separatists.

Enough with the politics however, ad the same Daily Update notes that most teams are in Base Camp on both sides of Everest, and are beginning their high altitude acclimatization. For anyone who doesn't know, climbing Everest, or any high altitude peak, requires an extensive period of acclimatization. Typically a team will arrive in Base Camp and after a few days of rest, proceed up to Camp 1 carrying supplies. They may spend a day or two there before returning to BC, where they will regain their strength, and then repeat the process, this time climbing up to Camp 2 with supplies, and then returning down the mountain to BC again for rest. It's a long slow process, but eventually they'll make it to Camp 4, which is where most teams make their summit bid. Because of the time involved for this acclimatization, a successful summit bid often requires as much as two months on the mountain.