Everest controversy

At the very end of the climbing season we had one final news story which led to some controversy.

Ropes have reached the summit

Thanks to Seven Summit Treks for their updates from the efforts to fix the ropes for the climbers this 2026 Climbing Season.

Here's a picture they posted on Facebook earlier showing the first Sherpa teams (and climbers) on the roof of the world. 
We shall be following over the next few weeks...

Image thanks to Seven Summits Treks on Facebook.

Good luck to all those pushing for the summit over the coming weeks, and the teams supporting them along the way.

All the ways Everest can kill you

A useful Wired video for our extremes unit.

We always teach this during the Everest climbing season.

Mitch's Global Triathlon - ending by climbing Everest

The final stage of Mitch Hutchraft's global triathlon will take place on Everest.

It's called PROJECT LIMITLESS. It's supported by the clothing company Jöttnar.

It started with a swim across the English Channel from Dover to Calais.

He then cycled from Calais to Digha in India.

From there he ran 900km from Digha to Kathmandu.

From there he trekked up to Everest Base Camp.

He is currently doing climbing acclimatisation including going through the Khumbu Icefall and up to Camp 2 and then back.

We will be following the final stage with our Year 8s.

Clearing up Everest

When we teach about extreme environments, we always include a short look at Mount Everest and what draws people to risk their lives climbing it. 

We discuss the mortality rate of climbers, and the disproportionate impact on the Sherpa who fix the ropes and ladders in the most dangerous area of the mountain: the Khumbu Glacier's icefall.

There is a growing number of permits being allocated in each climbing season, which adds to the overcrowding on the mountain - the delays this leads to can increase the risk to climbers, as they may have to spend longer in the 'death zone'.

Students always ask why they don't just remove the bodies from the mountain.

The BBC News published an article on their website which goes a long way to answering that question with some specifics about the cost, the process and the risks involved.

Ascension

Thanks to  my friend Simon Hathaway for the tipoff to this wonderful animation.
Watch it full screen.
An homage to early mountaineers, with a spot of 'Touching the Void'... and one that Year 7s will be introduced to next year...


Ascension from Ascension Le Film on Vimeo.
"Ascension"

Made by Thomas Bourdis, Martin de Coudenhove, Caroline Domergue, Colin Laubry and Florian Vecchione at Supinfocom Arles in 2013. Music by Seth Stewart.

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Synopsis
In beginning of the 20th century, two climbers carry a statue of the Virgin to the top of a mountain.

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Ascension is a multi award-winning graduation movie, done at Supinfocom Arles in 2013 by Thomas Bourdis, Martin de Coudenhove, Caroline Domergue, Colin Laubry and Florian Vecchione. The music has been composed by Seth Stewart.

Check out the website.