Everest Summit 2002

Monday, May 31, 2010

The Journey Through Pics


The expedition started with a trip from Kathmandu to Lukla. The day was foggy and the arrival to the Lukla airport was hair-raising. Visibility was not to standards recommended for low flying between high peaks.


The first stop was the town of Phakding for some trekking and conditioning. The town is located at 2850 meters. The bridge to get into town was used by everyone including yaks with large loads on their backs.


While trekking to Kongde the team arrived at the top of a ridge where there were spectacular views of Everest, Lhotse, Nutse, Ama Dablam, and Taweche.


Trailbreaking while descending to Thame. This steep snow field without fixed ropes was probably one of the most dangerous passages of our entire trip.


This is the beautiful town of Thame which is home to the internationally famous Apa Sherpa, 20 times Everest summiter.


The city of Namche Bazaar was the next stop. The team spent a few hours in the town with time to call home and have tea.


Time to leave Lukla Airport and go back to Kathmandu and from there to Tibet.


On the way to Tingri the team spent time at the Snow Land Hotel in Nyalam.


The Town of Nyalam


The cave and altar where Milarepa used to pray circa 1052. He was one of Tibet’s most famous yogis and a prominent figure of the Buddhist religion of Tibet.


Tibetan black-necked cranes. Extremely rare birds which fly over the Himalayas as part of their annual migration.


Chinese Base Camp with a view of Everest.


Puja ceremony in preparation for the climb.


After the ceremony the Lama leaves in his motorcycle. His cellular phone went off a couple of times during the ritual.


This was the team altar where the puja ceremony was performed and the prayer flags raised.


On the way to advanced base camp (ABC).


Fur Nuru prepares food.


The team at ABC.


Lhakpa Gelu


Tents in the North Col (Camp I)


Enroute to Camp II


View from Camp II. The blocks of snow were placed to function as protection from the high winds.


Summit Day!!! Here Lhakpa Gelu assists with the display of the Puerto Rican flag.


Apa Sherpa, Julio Bird, Jordan Romero, and Lhakpa Gelu; a total of 37 Everest summits between the four climbers and several new records. Apa completed 20 summits, Lhakpa Gelu his fourteenth, Julio becomes the oldest Westerner to have summitted both sides of the mountain and the only Puerto Rican to have climbed both sides of Mount Everest, and Jordan became the youngest summiter ever at the age of 13.

4 comments:

  1. OUTSTANDING ! LOVE YOU GUYS !!

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  2. Hermoso! Felicitaciones nuevamente.

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  3. Hola Julio: Brutal, como dicen en Puerto Rico. Algunos de esos paisajes me hacen recordar la primera novela que me hicieron leer en San Ignacio, "Lost horizon". La historia of the Blue Moon Mountains y Shangri-La.

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    1. Carlos, yo leí esa misma novela, y quedé prendado. También había una película basada en el libro. Era en blanco y negro, con el mismo título. La ciudad de Zhangmu, para mí, era Shangri-La.

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