Video capture of a trip up to the summit of K2, the second highest peak on Earth and one of the most difficult hikes in the world.
natgeo Video by @renan_ozturk // Moonlight over Ama Dablam in the Nepal Himalaya. Shot from the 'sherpa graveyard' at the terminus of the Khumbu Glacier were there are many rock shrines built for those who have died in search of summits at the roof of the world. Quite the eerie place to be by yourself in the middle of the night contemplating the suffering and yet inexplicable beauty of high altitude climbing.
earthstory reblogged
Apparently this is the starting point for many voyages into the Himalayas
Source: boybehindthelens
Up close view at part of the climb to the summit of Everest - here crossing the Khumbu Icefall
This is the view from Island Peak, one of the most popular climbs in the Himalayas. The high peak that dominates the view at the start is Lhotse, the 4th tallest peak on Earth. It blocks the view of Everest.
We covered the disaster on Everest when it occurred earlier in the year. Here’s an update on the prospects for reform as a result of it.
Source: addtoany.com
Deadliest day ever on Everest
This photo shows a location just above base camp on the slopes of Mount Everest called the Khumbu Icefall. This icefall is a location where the Khumbu glacier passes over a steep slope just like a waterfall, and it makes up part of the most popular ascent path up Everest’s slopes. Both basecamp and this icefall sit at about 5500 meters elevation. Early in the morning on Friday, April 18th, disaster struck this location.
Peak climbing season is approaching right now as winter turns to spring, so these slopes are crowded with visitors preparing for the ascent. Early in the morning on Friday, a group of Sherpa guides headed out to work on repairing ropes that will be used by climbers ascending the peak.
Details aren’t certain, but part of the glacier broke away, striking the Sherpas directly. As of reports right now, at least 12 of them have died and 4 others are unaccounted for.
The avalanche hit the most popular route up the slopes; if it hit only a week or two later it could have caused even more casualties as the area would be full of as many climbers as you see here.. Prior to today, the deadliest day on Everest in history was in 1996 when a storm struck, trapping and killing 8 people.
-JBB
Image credit: Wikimedia
Read more:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/18/mount-everest-avalanche-climbers-dead