Pinoys start Mt. Everest climb at freezing point

MT EVEREST BASE CAMP — The below-zero temperature has done nothing to deter First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition team members Leo Oracion and Erwin "Pastor" Emata from their bid to reach Mt. Everest’s summit on a 2006 reconnaissance climb.

In a phone call conducted Monday afternoon, expedition leader Art Valdez said the whole team, including the support group, has been at base camp for two weeks already.

"Leo and Pastor have set up tents at camp 1 and 2; they’ll be climbing down from Khumbu Icefall tonight then back up again."

Base camp is the first stop before proceeding to camps 1 to 4 and onwards to the summit. Climbers cross the Khumbu Icefall which is just above base camp to get to camp 1; it is vast and unstable, having claimed more lives than any other part of the southeast ridge approach to Mt. Everest.

Valdez explained that going up then back down again is part of acclimatization, a preventive measure against altitude sickness.

"We ascribe to the age-old climber’s maxim of ‘climb high, sleep low’. Leo and Pastor can climb even more that 1,000 feet a day, as long as they come back down and sleep or rest at a lower altitude."

Meanwhile, the rest of the team members serving as support group — Dr. Ted Esguerra, Fred Jamili and Levi Nahangayan and Noelle Wenceslao — have set up tents on top of an icefall at base camp. Valdez said "it’s like being inside an ice plant 24/7."

He added that the movement of the two-man team, as well as the other expeditions from various countries, has been hampered by the unbelievably cold, harsh weather.

"The first weeks of April saw days and days of hard snow fall."

In fact, based on information from websites of 2006 Everest climbers, some saw the avalanche that swept the Khumbu Icefall, causing the delay in climbing. Many turned back to base camp because their yaks could not go further with snow reaching up to the knees.

On the other hand, the other team members composed of Regie Pablo, Carina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino, Jong Narciso and Larry Honoridez are training on nearby Island Peak, which is roughly 20,000 feet above sea level. "They are doing a traverse climb; climbing up on one side and going down from the other," said Valdez. These team members are expected to be back from Island Peak before the week ends.

Valdez likewise related that the fixed ropes and safety lines for camp 3 and 4 will likely be set up by this week. "If this happens as scheduled, Leo and Pastor will be climbing up to camp 3 by the second week of May and onwards to Camp 4 which is the last stop before the summit."

He said the two-man team was part of the group that worked on creating a helicopter pad for rescue efforts following the icefall collapse which injured three sherpas (Nepali guides) and claimed the lives of three others last week.