The first is a short animation I created a while back showing the typical Everest south side expedition schedule. There is no sound, just watch the moving ball! The “ZZZZ's” indicate nights climbers sleep at each camp and the rest is pretty self explanatory.
But for those new to Everest, the reason for so many trips up and down the mountain is to condition the body to the reduced oxygen levels. This is often called “climb high, sleep low” and is the primary reason an Everest (or any big mountain) takes multiple weeks.
To illustrate the point, if we all flew to Base Camp and started climbing without some acclimatization time, most, if not all of us, would become extremely sick or even die. So with no more words, here goes:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/diQtFPbBFCw?rel=0
Another picture use Google Earth to show the entire journey from Kathmandu to the summit of Everest using their fly by technology and satellite images. You can see the buildings in the villages, tents at camps and even climbers on the Lhotse face! Thanks to Brad Jackson for this one.
Climb On! Alan
Arnette is a speaker, mountaineer and Alzheimer's Advocate. He is climbing the 7 Summits throughout 2001. He has summited Vinson and Aconcagua already and leaves for Everest in late March. All to raise $1 million for Alzheimer's research. You can read more on his