TRIVIA
Mount Everest is rising at a rate of approximately one centimeter per year due to continuous collision of the continental plates of Asia and India. This geological force has also been the cause of its formation 60 million years ago.
It moves at a rate of 6 centimeters (2.4 inches a year) northeast caused by the geological fault system.
If one considers measurement below sea level, Mount Everest would not be the highest mountain on earth but Mauna Kea which is one of the five volcanoes making up the Big Island in Hawaii. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano which has its base 19,680 feet below sea level. If measured from its base to its summit, Mauna Kea has a height of 33,476 (10,203 meters) feet which means that it is 4,441 feet higher than Mount Everest!
Mount Everest is not called as such in Tibet since that name is a British coinage (from the name of George Everest, British surveyor-general of India). It is instead called Sagarmatha (Forehead of the Sky) by the Nepalese and Chomolangma or Qomolangma (Mother of the Universe) by the Tibetans.
George Mallory might have been the first person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest as opposed to the common knowledge that Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay are the ones who own this title. He embarked the same trek with Andrew Irvine 29 years earlier than Hillary and Norgay. His body was found near the Second Step. This gives the possibility that he might have reached the summit since it is believed that there are no more difficult climbs beyond this point.
Mount Everest has already been standing tall for 60 million years but was only discovered as the tallest mountain on earth in 1856.
Sherpas, the natives residing in the Everest region, have remarkable ability to tolerate the effects brought about by high altitude. They can carry heavy loads over long distance of travel and are most known for their mountaineering skills and friendly attitude towards climbers. These skills have made them a significant factor to the success of the many Himalayan expeditions. They have led, guided, rescued and served as porters to the thousands of climbers and trekkers of the mountain. Unsurprisingly, one of the first two people to reach the summit of Mount Everest is a Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
According to Everest News, as of December 31, 2004, the number of people summiting the mountain reached at least 2,249 and the number of deaths has reached 186.
There are still around 120 corpses remaining in the Mount Everest.
The Sherpas do not allow hikers to have sex in the mountain since it invites bad spirits and bad weather conditions.
In 1999, Guinness Book of Records has awarded Everest View Hotel as the Highest Placed Hotel in the World. It is Japanese-owned and is located in Sagarmatha National Park in the Southern Khumbu region of Nepal. If the weather is clear, Mt. Everest can be viewed from the hotel. Since the hotel is located at high altitude and air becomes thin at this point, it constantly pumps fresh air into its room.
The famous quote 'Because it is there' by George Mallory is not his main reason for climbing the mountain as opposed to what is popularly believed. This was just his response to an irritating reporter who had kept on annoying him with endless imperceptive questions.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What climbing experience do I need before attempting Mount Everest?
A: Climbers who are first attempting Mount Everest must have been exposed in climbing mountains with high altitudes specifically above 7000 m. It is also a preference, but not a necessity, to have learned beforehand how to use supplementary oxygen. Climbing Cho Oyu first in particular would be a good indicator of a climbers aptitude for mountaineering at 8000 metres.
Q: What physical preparations must I take for a successful Everest expedition?
A: Your bodys fitness must be from constant physical activity. It must have an adequate level of physical preparation. You should be able to walk for hours without much difficulty. But what is more important is the level of your determination and commitment to give your whole to the project.
Q: If I was planning to climb Mt. Everest for the first time, what route should I use?
A: It depends. The most popular is the South Col route. This is the route the first climbers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay used when they triumphantly reached the summit. However, the route should be taken as seriously as the other more technically challenging routes. It has dangerous areas such as the Khumbu Icefall, Geneva Spur, crevasses at the base of the Lhotse Face and the Hillary Step. More on routes
Q: How can I travel from the Philippines to Nepal, and from there, to Mt. Everest?
A: From the Philippines, you can choose the following airlines: Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong airlines and then directly proceed to Kathmandu, Nepal. If you book a Philippine Airlines(PAL) ticket from Manila to Bangkok through the Internet, it would cost you Php13,416 plus taxes excluding subcharges. From Bangkok, you could ride a plane straight to Nepal. If you travel via Thai Airways, plane tickets would cost around $431 (Php 22,000) from Bangkok to Kathmandu. The flight is non-stop and takes around 3 hours and 20 minutes. Flights arrive via Bangkok to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). From Kathmandu, you can book a charter plane to Lukla. Sita Airways is considered the most reliable company to fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and you can fly in the mornings at 7 AM and 820 AM. During rainy season, be prepared for delays since the pilot sees the landing by sight only. Trek from Lukla to Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is unofficially considered as the Sherpa Capital. Here you can buy most of the mountaineering equipment you don't have for reasonable prices. Be sure to acclimatize properly for 2 days at least. Trek from Namche to Base Camp at 17,600 feet. Using the South Col route, scale Khumbu Icefall up to 19,500 feet. You will then reach Camp I located in the Valley of Silence. Continue to Camp II at 21,300 feet. Climb the Lhotse face to reach Camp III. Rest and acclimatize before carrying on to Camp IV that is in the Death Zone. Wait for the weather to become calm then head for the summit.
Q: Is the political situation at Nepal secure right now? Is it safe for foreigners?
A: Right now, the Nepalese government is enforcing a curfew from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in response to the protests and general strikes that has been going on for 18 days now. Although the Maoists have proclaimed they would not harm tourists, it is best to stick to tourist areas for additional safety. Also, be prepared for the eventuality of being stranded in Kathmandu. With strikes going on, public services, shops and some roads are closed to the public after curfew.
Q: What is the necessary equipment in mountaineering Mt. Everest?
A: You need to pack a first aid kit, communication devices such as walkie-talkies, cell phone that has a roaming connection, suitable mountaineering clothing, sturdy climbing equipment and gear, ropes, sun-screen against sunburn, sunglasses with UV protection against snow blindness and oxygen bottles for additional oxygen. Be sure to test gear in conditions that are close to the weather of Mt. Everest. More on this
Q: What travel advisories should I remember when attempting to reach the summit of Mt. Everest?
A: Some tips we could give is when shopping in Kathmandu, be early because vendors will give you the best prices. Even the drugs available in Kathmandu are inexpensive and over the counter like Cipro ($1.50 or PHp77.40 for 5 days) and Diamox ($.50 or PHp25.80 for 10 days). Expect to pay at most $10,000 for permits plus food, gear & equipment expenses, oxygen, insurance and Sherpa fees. Be sure to remember the proper acclimatization rule: climb high-sleep low. Drink large amounts of clean, purified water and be sure to conserve your eneergy for the trek ahead. One last important thing is to be prepared to cancel your summit attempt if the weather does not permit it or if you are experiencing major pain.
Q: What is the best season for an expedition to Mt. Everest?
A: The best season to climb Everest is during spring between March to May, preferably May since the weather is most cooperative during that time.
Q: Where can I get a tourist visa at Kathmandu?
A: You can get a 2 to 3 months tourist visa at the airport immigration counter when you arrive. However, if you like to avoid unnecessary delays, you can buy your visa at the Nepal Embassy in your country. At the Nepal airport, the visa costs around PHp 1600 (US$30) that expires after 2 months.
Q: What hotel accomodations are available in Kathmandu, Lukla and Namche? And do I need to convert US dollars to local currency or do they accept dollars?
A: The Everest Hotel is one of the luxurious hotels in Kathmandu. Its location is 3 kms from airport, close to down town. However, if you have limited budget, you can try hotels that offer low accomodation price such as Garden Hotel, Hotel Ambassador and Aloha Inn. All are located 7-8 kms from the airport. Some of the hotels that offer mid-range prices are Hotel Vaishali, Hotel Sherpa and The Malla Hotel. In Lukla, the recommended hotel is the Eco Paradise Lodge and the owner can help you buy plane tickets. There is also a curfew throughout Lukla so finish your tasks before 7PM. In Namche, you can check-in at Namche Hotel, Camp de Base, Thawa Lodge and Trekker's Inn.
You have to convert foreign currency to Nepalese rupee since people only accept local currency especially near the mountains. One Philippine peso is equivalent to approximately 1.46084 Nepalese rupee while one US dollar equals to around 75.24256 Nepalese rupee.
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