Pics - For Non-Facebook People

View from Hotel in Kathmandu

Kathmandu Urban Planning in Action

Just Outside of Kathmandu

In Nyalam, China, Across the Border

Decorative, but somehow functional, Yak droppings

The high pass on the Tibetian plateau

Shishepangma, another 8,000m peak

Ever-watchful Chairman

Solar-powered teapot

These mini-tractors were everywhere

Acclimatization hike

Breakdown on the way to Base Camp

Arriving at Base Camp

Panorama of Base Camp

First view of Everest

Hiking to Middle Camp, Yaks on the way back down

Windy day

Middle Camp

Ice formations at Middle Camp

Movin' on up - to Advanced Base Camp

View of the North Col from ABC

Food and cooking tents

Non-functional GSM/Cell tower at ABC

View of climbers on the North Col

Intrepid explorer

Just a few more minutes to Camp 1 (North Col)

Back down to Base Camp to rest and do laundry

And then back up again...

Puja ceremony done by the Sherpas before an ascent

Bathroom at ABC

Tents on ledges at Camp 2

Camp 2

Camp 3 (High Camp)

Beginning the ascent at 7:30 PM on May 20th

2:15 AM on May 21st - Summit!

It ain't official without a certificate!

Pictures and Thank Yous - A True Team Effort

Kyle and the first Mongolian woman to ever summit Everest. 

Kyle at the summit.


Details and more pics to come regarding the climb, but first I want to take care of something more important.  Most notably I want to thank my wife - and better half by far - for putting up with my shenanigans.  Jill shouldered a very heavy burden so that I could climb, from managing all of the day-to-day of the household and finances, to watching Boden - who has become a very active climber in his own right.  In all my mountaineering, Jill has been nothing but amazingly supportive and understanding - I love her more every day.

I haven't had any access to this blog since my trip began, and after looking back through everything, I'm surprised and grateful for all the very thoughtful and kind entries and comments. Of course I'm very much appreciative of all the hard work and knowledgeable additions from Max O'Meara, who clearly was the superstar of this blog. Max is also a heck of a climber and mountaineer himself, and a great person to boot.  Thank you Max - you are awesome. I share many of your sober thoughts on the dead and dying of Everest, and it took me a few days after the summit to get it together again emotionally.

I'm also very thankful to my Mom, Kris, for flying to Denver to help out with Boden. Also, I would be remiss in not saying that I have the greatest in-laws on the planet. Jim Beyer came out to help with Boden, followed by Teri, and then finally Jessica Sanford has watched the little man in Iowa for a couple weeks. What an amazing team effort, and I am so fortunate to have the support of such a wonderful family.

You can see that this climb was not a solo effort. Even though the climb was my own, friends and family made the Everest experience possible. I am still in Kathmandu, but very ready to be home!

Kyle

Update from Kyle

Hello everyone!  I heard from Kyle last night, and he continues to rest at Base Camp while the yaks bring down the rest of his team's equipment.  As I am sure you can imagine after accomplishing such an amazing feat, he is now quite bored and is anxious to get off the mountain!  He will head back to Kathmandu soon and depart for home on May 31st.  He gave me some details about the climb, but our call was cut short by bad reception.  He told me that his group (which consisted of three climbers, not counting Sherpas) joined with another group for a total of ten climbers to attempt the summit.  Of those ten climbers, only two made it; Kyle and a Mongolian woman.  It was actually a historic summit for her as no Mongolian woman had ever summited Everest before.  He also told me that the stories really don't prepare you for some of the things you witness on the mountain, and he continues to be sober about the experience.  Hopefully, when he gets to Kathmandu, he can start to communicate with you all personally and post pictures.

My sister Ali found this interesting article about some of the more bizarre stories from Everest this season.  Check it out.  There is an amazing picture showing climbers just under the summit climbing by ropes.  Scary! 

Jill

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/27135/record-setting+performances+highlight+a+bizarre+week+on+mt+everest/


 

Resting at Base Camp

Kyle was able to send me a text message from Base Camp today.  He is doing well and resting there.  He is planning to leave from Kathmandu on May 31st and make the long trek home.  He made a very modest request to have Jeff set up a massage for him when he returns.  Perhaps a two-hour massage, Jeff?

Hopefully we will get some more details about his summit and pictures soon!

Jill

Summit Confirmation! Top of the World.

I heard from Kyle.  As we thought, he made it to the summit!  After that, he headed back to Advanced Base Camp while most of the north side climbers were still pressing for the summit.  He passed lots of people on his way back down.  It was both an exhilarating and sobering experience.  The summit was hard, but he never felt over matched.  Contrary to most of the reports I had seen, the weather was bad and it made the task more difficult, but Kyle thinks his team was the first to summit on the north side after the ropes were in place.  In my mind, a notable accomplishment in addition to making the summit.  In addition to seeing the fallen climbers from the past, he saw some current climbers who were not doing so well and one that did not make it.  Perhaps more information than you needed to hear, but it is a reality of the experience.  All the more reason to be thankful that Kyle made it and that he is now safe!

Special thanks to Max O'Meara.  Kyle told me to tell you that he appreciates everything you have done these last few weeks.  He will contact you as soon as he can.  Max, please don't take this the wrong way, but you are a special kid!

Also, thanks to my co-clerk Nathan Bryant who kept me calm and let me talk his ear off about Kyle's daily progression.  You were very sweet to constantly pull up Kyle's coordinates and show me where he was on the mountain.  Friday, your wise counsel (when Kyle's tracking device erroneously showed that he had fallen off the mountain) was much appreciated.  You're a good kid, too!

Last, but not least, Kyle wanted me to tell family and friends that he appreciates everyone following along on this incredible journey.  There will be stories and pictures to follow.

Good news for Boden and I -- Daddy's coming home and sooner than expected!  We are thankful today.

Jill

Nightime Summit

Max now thinks that Kyle made a nightime summit.  Hopefully we will hear from him soon.  Bo, your Daddy is super cool!

Jill

Summit??

Everyone, Max isn't sure Kyle has yet reached the right coordinates for a summit, but it looks like he is close so stay tuned!
Jill