Himalayan Spring 2015: Puja ceremonies and the collapse of the icefall

He also had another setback in the Everest climbers maintaining the base camp today, despite the need to start their courses of acclimatization soon. Earlier this week it was bad weather that prevented them get moving, but now is a drop in the Khumbu icefall that delayed the start of the first rotation of the mountain.

Alan Arnette reported that more than 80 sherpas were ice climbing this morning as they continued their work gear move to camps 1 and 2. However, the collapse of ice along the road caused by them back. Apparently, there was a movement in a large crack that required four levels to complete, and the whole thing came crashing down. Doctors Khumbu Ice now have to find an alternative through the dangerous ice waterfall route. Fortunately, no one was injured in the collapse.

This is not uncommon, and is largely why cross the icefall is so dangerous. This part of the mountain is very unstable, and works Docs ice throughout the season to maintain safe and open road. This sounds like a major collapse, however, could take a day or two for them to find a new path. You will recall that this path has been described as safer and shorter than those used in the past, and I hope this will not change after this incident.

Alan also said his team had their Puja ceremony a few days ago. The Puja is an important step any climbing expedition, and we can not start the mountain until terminated. During the Puja, a Buddhist monk brings together climbers and sherpas for permission to mountain gods to pass safely to the summit of Everest, or what other mountain rising. Traditionally, the monk bless your computer and ask the gods to keep climbers safe. Even if taken seriously by everyone, it is also a time to celebrate and have too.

With the addition Puja, teams are ready to begin the ascent, but the fall of unusually heavy snow continued on Everest in the past two days, preventing anyone to go higher than the base camp. No sales teams crossed the icefall at the time, and no one but the Sherpas were up to Camp 1 or 2. I hope this will change soon, because now is the time to begin to acclimate fail. In fact, some squads have actually gone to other mountains to begin the process of acclimatization. For example, American climber Jim Davidson has moved to Lobuche East where it will go as high as 6118 meters (20,075 feet) at the top. This rise is expected to conclude today and return to Everest BC.

More on Annapurna, teams continue to play the waiting game. The weather was still bad because it does not allow teams make their summit day. Heavy snow blanketed the upper slopes of the mountain in the dust, so it is extremely dangerous. Avalanches are common in the Annapurna, even under the best conditions, but with so much snow falling in the mountains, it is very difficult to break the track, and the risk of avalanches too high. By now, everyone has to wait for the right moment and hope that things will improve.

ExWeb published a summary of news from other peaks of 8000 meters and most of the news is the same. Bad weather continues through the Himalayas, including Manaslu where Simone Moro and Tamara Lunger waiting to try the spring after winter ascent was frustrated. According to reports, the duo returned to the mountain in early April to discover that more snow had fallen in his absence and he could not even locate your cache teams around the dust. They chose to remove the shipping plug completely, and now they have returned home.

The same story was reported on Shisha Pangma, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri and where ExWeb a team of hikers he encountered serious problems a few days ago said. Heavy snowfall led the team off guard by surprise, and were forced to take refuge in the base camp, where a climbing equipment offered to help. Apparently whiteout conditions still there now, so it is very difficult for anyone to go anywhere.

Finally, tomorrow the one year anniversary is met since the massive avalanche killed 16 companies in the Everest. I'm sure it will be a solemn occasion sherpas and western mountain climbers think everything about that day. Many people on the mountain this spring were there last year too, so expect to be funeral services and ceremonies. I have no doubt that those who lost their lives will be in the minds of climbers coming days.