It’s been three years since we summitted Everest, but not a day has gone by that I have not thought about some aspect of our climb. And today is a special day: Glued to the couch, as I am reading “The Next Everest” by Jim Davidson. “The Next Everest” is about Jim’s first attempt to …
(sherpafilm.com) … the above statement is spot on: Certainly, the Everest blockbuster movie was quite impressive, but this one is way more significant. Most likely, you’ve never heard of this movie. It’s a documentary that covers the disastrous events of 2014 when an avalanche in the Khumbu ice fall killed numerous Sherpas. Here's the trailer: …
While most of my Nepal experience was about climbing Mount Everest, Nepal has so much more to offer. Regardless of your fitness level, you’ll be able to find something that’s right for you. Ever thought about trekking, for example? Consider this: our Everest climb involved a multi-day trek to Base Camp. It all begins with …
Continue reading Looking for a hiking destination? – Consider Nepal!
Shortly upon my return to the U.S. from my unforgettable Everest adventure, I made a visit to Osha Liang’s head office in Houston, Texas. Not only did I get a chance to catch up on some work I missed while I was on Everest, but the Houston office hosted a “tell all” happy hour where …
Summiting Mount Everest was an overwhelming experience. Primarily, of course, it feels like an accomplishment. After all, it's the culmination of an exhausting two-month expedition. It means that I was able to overcome many situations where there were thousands of reasons to turn around, but only a few for continuing. Experiencing a sunrise at the highest point on …
As you read this post, I'll already be on my way to the summit. I would've liked to post this sooner, but our summit strategy had to be kept confidential until we were actually on our way. We believe that our strategy decision will allow us to reach the summit without encountering too many other …
Success or failure on Everest is determined by many factors. Of course, those factors include skills, fitness level, health, and the ability to deal with extreme altitude. One key factor, and one that is surprisingly often ignored, is strategy. Right now, we have a weather situation that is less than ideal for summit bids. In …
Our initial projected summit date was May 11. Due to high winds on the upper part of the mountain, it was moved out to May 14/15. More accurate weather forecasts indicate that the winds might still be a problem. We're now internally discussing pushing the summit date out even further. While nothing can be …
This rotation was supposed to happen significantly earlier, but weather issues kept us grounded at Everest Base Camp (EBC). We had blue skies every day, and it felt warm and even comfortable at EBC. Yet, we could see that at higher altitudes, high winds were making any ascent completely impossible. This is one of the …
Continue reading 5/2/17-5/6/17: Last rotation before summit bid
When I woke up this morning, I encountered an unexpected visitor: a Yeti hanging out on one of the various frozen lakes near camp. Although grumpy and clearly agitated, he wasn’t in an attacking mood. I was able to capture this unique moment in a number of photos. Might very well be the first time ever that …
Markus Takes On Everest 