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Mtnman1830
12-27-2009, 12:08 PM
Discovery is airing another Mt. Everest show tonight, just thought I would pass the word.

accadacca
12-28-2009, 08:01 AM
I watched some of it and I'll be watching the reruns. :2thumbs:

Mtnman1830
12-28-2009, 10:10 AM
My son and I watched some of it. He told me that he didn't want me to climb that mountain. :2thumbs:

tallsteve
12-28-2009, 01:06 PM
I just go the Dish HDTV upgrade installed yesterday after getting an HD TV for Christmas. I watched some of this program last night and was blown away at how incredible it looked in HD!

Partly Animal
12-28-2009, 01:29 PM
Saw myself for about two seconds on the Hillary Step during the intro to episode two. I may show up more in episode five. I was part of the summit team that will be featured then. Airs on Wednesday.

jumar
12-28-2009, 06:27 PM
I always enjoy watching these things :popcorn:

Sombeech
12-28-2009, 06:32 PM
Saw myself for about two seconds on the Hillary Step during the intro to episode two. I may show up more in episode five. I was part of the summit team that will be featured then. Airs on Wednesday.

Cool! :2thumbs:

Mtnman1830
12-28-2009, 07:58 PM
Saw myself for about two seconds on the Hillary Step during the intro to episode two. I may show up more in episode five. I was part of the summit team that will be featured then. Airs on Wednesday.

So, where's the TR? :ne_nau:

:naughty:

Sombeech
12-28-2009, 08:08 PM
Agreed. Let's see the ultimate Trip Report pictures from Everest. :mrgreen:

Jaxx
12-29-2009, 04:00 PM
Saw myself for about two seconds on the Hillary Step during the intro to episode two. I may show up more in episode five. I was part of the summit team that will be featured then. Airs on Wednesday.

That's freaking awesome!

Iceaxe
12-29-2009, 04:03 PM
I may show up more in episode five. I was part of the summit team that will be featured then. Airs on Wednesday.

Do you have a picture of yourself on summit day so we can see how you were dressed and what colors you are wearing? That would make it easier for us to identify you if you make the footage.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/181204/giantpopcorn.gif

Partly Animal
12-29-2009, 05:47 PM
Saw myself for about two seconds on the Hillary Step during the intro to episode two. I may show up more in episode five. I was part of the summit team that will be featured then. Airs on Wednesday.

So, where's the TR? :ne_nau:

:naughty:
I'll have to get to work on that but don't hold your breath. My wife did a pretty good blog while I was gone that is probably better than any trip report I could write.

http://bruceoneverest.blogspot.com/

Partly Animal
12-29-2009, 06:21 PM
I may show up more in episode five. I was part of the summit team that will be featured then. Airs on Wednesday.

Do you have a picture of yourself on summit day so we can see how you were dressed and what colors you are wearing? That would make it easier for us to identify you if you make the footage.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/181204/giantpopcorn.gif

Ok, here's a few photos. Watch for the guy in the down suit. :lol8:

Iceaxe
12-29-2009, 08:04 PM
Watch for the Red M&M... got it... :2thumbs: :lol8:

Hmmm.... I just noticed this.... is Logon going to be your only presentation? or are you going to do one further south and save me a long drive?

.

jman
12-29-2009, 10:26 PM
That's ironic that you bring up Bruce's Logan presentation, Shane. I was googling earlier this morning and came across the exact same info. I have a group of 8 headed up there to listen in....and....someday...future Everest-eers.

Perhaps, other members will be there too?

Sombeech
12-29-2009, 10:27 PM
I'm interested in heading up to Logan on the 8th. :2thumbs:

Partly Animal
12-30-2009, 10:34 AM
Watch for the Red M&M... got it... :2thumbs: :lol8:

Hmmm.... I just noticed this.... is Logon going to be your only presentation? or are you going to do one further south and save me a long drive?

.

Sorry Shane, I don't have anything scheduled down your way, at least not anything the public is invited to. Come on up to Logan though, we'd love to have you.

Felicia
12-30-2009, 12:24 PM
Even as a kid, I have always wanted to go to Mt Everest. I've never had an interest in going to the top. I would like to camp at the base of the Ice Falls and then spend some time on the Ice Falls.

Is this doable? Do people purposefully go just that far?

Has anyone else seriously thought of going to Everest?

:popcorn:

Mtnman1830
12-30-2009, 01:25 PM
Even as a kid, I have always wanted to go to Mt Everest. I've never had an interest in going to the top. I would like to camp at the base of the Ice Falls and then spend some time on the Ice Falls.

Is this doable? Do people purposefully go just that far?

Has anyone else seriously thought of going to Everest?

:popcorn:

I have a friend whose brother in law is from Nepal. He does take people up to Base Camp, below the ice falls. I have thought about going, but the $$ is a big hurdle.


If anyone in the Roy/Ogden area is going to Logan, I would be interested in car pooling... Anyone??? :ne_nau:

Felicia
12-30-2009, 01:46 PM
I have a friend whose brother in law is from Nepal. He does take people up to Base Camp, below the ice falls. I have thought about going, but the $$ is a big hurdle.




What type of money are we talking about?

Mtnman1830
12-30-2009, 01:49 PM
I have a friend whose brother in law is from Nepal. He does take people up to Base Camp, below the ice falls. I have thought about going, but the $$ is a big hurdle.




What type of money are we talking about?

I looked up airline tickets, and then changed my mind.

Its now on my wish list.

accadacca
12-30-2009, 02:48 PM
I'm interested in heading up to Logan on the 8th. :2thumbs:
I may be interested too. Carpool? I'll see if I can get out of the city in time to meet up. Cool stuff Bruce. :2thumbs:

trackrunner
12-30-2009, 03:22 PM
What type of money are we talking about?

Felicia talk to Scott P or Bruce. Both have done some treking there. I remember Scott said the most expensive thing was the airline tickets. Food, guides, housing was very cheap over there. There is a thread about it somewhere on Bogley.

/hijiak

ststephen
12-30-2009, 03:40 PM
My beta will be 25 years old, but I'm sure it is still a very worthwhile place to visit.

Robin and I did a month trekking in the Khumbu as part of our honeymoon. We did it on the cheap, but yes you do have to get to Nepal somehow. If you have more time than money you might put together cheaper flights via bucket shops after you left the US. We pieced our trip together over several months that way. After that, you can guide yourself or hire a local porter (not guide) without paying through the nose.

I don't think you can climb up the ice fall at all without a climbing permit for either Everest or Lhotse. Those will add significant cost. But there are other other so-called trekking summits that have cheap permits. Island Peak which is "around the corner" of Lhotse is a popular one.

I highly recommend visiting the Gokyo valley which is one valley further west from the Khumbu Valley. The view from the top of the hill in Gokyo is better, IMO, than from Kala Patar next to the ice fall. Plus you can hook up the two valleys via a glaciated pass that's off the beaten path a bit and stunningly beautiful.

I really enjoyed being able to wander at our own pace and stay a day or two at villages we liked. Maybe once our son is grown we'll do it again...

Partly Animal
12-30-2009, 05:36 PM
ststephen's beta is spot on. You can't go into the icefall without a climbing permit - $10,000 if you can get someone to add you to their permit, otherwise much more than that. Pretty much rules the icefall out. The icefall is such a dangerous place I can't imagine you'd want to go into it if you weren't going to the summit. The trek to base camp is a great experience though and base camp is right at the foot of the icefall. There are what Nepal refers to as treking peaks that have fairly inexpensive permit fees like Island Peak you could consider if you want to climb something while you're there.

I'm probably sticking my neck out here but I would guess that the trip would cost somewhere around $3000 - $4000 per person depending on how you put it together. That cost would include the flight and a treking outfitter but it certainly can be done on the cheap without the outfitter which could save maybe as much as a couple of thousand dollars.

I'm trying to talk my wife into returning there with me next year. No commitment yet but I'm working on it.

Mtnman1830
12-30-2009, 09:08 PM
if anyone has two empty places and is going from the ogden area, let me know... would be willing to help with gas, and i will even buy mtn. dew!

accadacca
01-01-2010, 12:40 PM
if anyone has two empty places and is going from the ogden area, let me know... would be willing to help with gas, and i will even buy mtn. dew!
If Beech and I end up going you could prolly thumb a ride for some dew. :naughty:

Sombeech
01-01-2010, 12:51 PM
I'm pretty sure I'm heading up. :2thumbs:

accadacca
01-01-2010, 12:57 PM
I'm pretty sure I'm heading up. :2thumbs:
Sweet! We should figure out where to meet, what time and then pick up Mtnman somewhere. :popcorn:

Sombeech
01-08-2010, 11:14 AM
bump

erial
01-08-2010, 11:41 AM
I'm halfway thru High Crimes. Looks like you chose wisely in signing on with Russell Brice. Did you eventually encounter any of the "shennigans" that Michael Kodas details or is larceny and other misbehaviors mere aberrations on the climb?

Scott P
01-08-2010, 12:00 PM
What type of money are we talking about?

If my son is good in school all year, I promised to take him to Base Camp (unless he wants to go somewhere else more).

Anyway........

Guides and porters are really easy to pick up in Nepal and typically cost arouond $5 a day, plus tip (possibly more in certain regions or seasons) If you have a choice, a porter is preferable over a guide as well. The popular trails in places like the Annapurna and Everest regions are very easy to follow and navigate. If you can navigate to climb Mount Elbert, you can navigate to Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit. Some books have maps describing the entire route in lots of detail. The one below is really good:

http://www.amazon.com/Trekking-Everest-Region-5th-Kathmandu/dp/1873756992/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253397891&sr=8-1

An average budget would be $10 a day and you can live pretty good on that. Spending more than $15 is pretty hard.

Total cost for the trek itself (food, lodging, porter/guide) should be $225 for 15 days + round trip airfare Kathmandu to Lukla (about $225) or if you walk in from Jiri total cost for the trek itself should be $315 for 21 days + one way airfare Lukla to Kathmandu ($120) unless you have the time to walk all the way out.

$550-$600 plus airfare SLC to Kathmandu should be more than enough including the trek, hotels and in Kathmandu, shopping, permit, extra luxuries, etc.

Right now, airfare is currently $1400 for a really nice airline and $1000 for the cheaper ones, but this changes from week to week. The $1400 is for one of the nicest airlines I've flown, but hopefully the prices don't rise much by the end of next year.

(Of course if anyone is interested in joining us, they are more than welcome).

Basically if anyone wants to go to Everest Base camp, it would be wise to budget around $2000 including everything (airfare and everything else) SLC to SLC. Expensive maybe, but very much worth it. You can do it for cheaper, but budgeting that much would allow for extra luxuries, nicer airlines and any incidental items that might come up. If you budgeted that much you would likely have money left over at the end of the trip, but sometimes it's better to bring a little extra.

Partly Animal
01-08-2010, 01:21 PM
I'm halfway thru High Crimes. Looks like you chose wisely in signing on with Russell Brice. Did you eventually encounter any of the "shennigans" that Michael Kodas details or is larceny and other misbehaviors mere aberrations on the climb?Most of the underhanded things that Kodas describes occur on the north side. The south tends to be a bit more civilized, which is the side I climbed from. I never witnessed any of it while I was there, so from my experience it would appear to be an aberration.

I had mixed feelings when I read High Crimes. It seemed like Kodas had an agenda and I wondered how accurate the picture was he painted. When you're finished reading it I'd recommend Dark Summit by Nick Heil. I think it does a better job of portraying the true situation.

Sombeech
01-08-2010, 09:26 PM
Thanks Bruce, that was a great presentation.

We hit the Factory Pizzeria afterward.

Felicia
01-09-2010, 09:39 AM
What type of money are we talking about?


Basically if anyone wants to go to Everest Base camp, it would be wise to budget around $2000 including everything (airfare and everything else) SLC to SLC. Expensive maybe, but very much worth it. You can do it for cheaper, but budgeting that much would allow for extra luxuries, nicer airlines and any incidental items that might come up. If you budgeted that much you would likely have money left over at the end of the trip, but sometimes it's better to bring a little extra.

Great information! It actually sounds doable - not this year - but totally something to set as a goal.

Are you going this year?

:2thumbs:

ststephen
01-09-2010, 10:04 AM
I really enjoyed taking the extra time to hike in from Jiri. The sociological cultures of Nepal are stratified by altitude; different clothes, food, religions that extend "horizontally" across elevation bands. By starting low and hiking that distance you'll encounter many different types of people which greatly added to the charm of the experience.

I would also suggest a little more time in the high mountains. Have some extra days to explore side valleys and rest or lay-over if you are either not feeling well or just enjoying a place too much to rush on.

We spent about 30 days total including travel to Jiri and then flying out of Lukla. The bus/truck ride to Jiri was an adventure itself (at least 26 years ago it was)!

Also factor in some time to visit temples and general tourist stuff in Kathmandu. Watch out, the monkeys can bite or scratch!

Partly Animal
01-09-2010, 11:10 AM
Thanks Bruce, that was a great presentation.

We hit the Factory Pizzeria afterward.

Thanks to all of you who came up to see it. It meant a lot to me. I hope you felt like it was worth your time.

Sombeech
01-09-2010, 12:02 PM
Hey Bruce, one question I've been meaning to ask for a while:

Did you experience and "post achievement depression" after you finished this huge accomplishment? ie, the planning is over, no more preparation....

accadacca
01-09-2010, 12:43 PM
Thanks Bruce, that was a great presentation.

We hit the Factory Pizzeria afterward.

Thanks to all of you who came up to see it. It meant a lot to me. I hope you felt like it was worth your time.
I thought it was a great presentation. It was perfect for the audience. I learned quite a bit and I have read and seen a bunch of it on TV. I just cant imagine what you went through, but I imagine a little more now. Thanks again and congrats! :2thumbs:

Partly Animal
01-09-2010, 01:05 PM
Hey Bruce, one question I've been meaning to ask for a while:

Did you experience and "post achievement depression" after you finished this huge accomplishment? ie, the planning is over, no more preparation....

Yes, my wife tells me I was a bear to live with for the first month or two after I got home. It definitely was a bitter sweet experience. The Seven Summits was a goal I had worked on for so long and had become such a motivating force that when it was over it left a huge hole.

jman
01-09-2010, 01:08 PM
Thanks Bruce that was a awesome presentation! I learned a lot and opened my eyes to a few more things. Glad we came!

Mtnman1830
01-09-2010, 03:45 PM
Thanks Bruce, that was a great presentation.

We hit the Factory Pizzeria afterward.

Thanks to all of you who came up to see it. It meant a lot to me. I hope you felt like it was worth your time.


Heck ya, it was worth the time. I could have sat there listening for hours...
It was a great presentation. Thanks for putting it on! :2thumbs:

Mtnman1830
01-09-2010, 05:43 PM
Have you though about doing a presentation about you climbing 'The Seven Summits'? I would be on for that, for sure.

Partly Animal
01-10-2010, 04:37 PM
Have you though about doing a presentation about you climbing 'The Seven Summits'? I would be on for that, for sure.My presentations are all pretty much at someone

bruce from bryce
01-12-2010, 04:43 AM
I've been to Nepal two times and my wife has been there three times. First time was through a tour company with a guide and one porter. Nine days cost us between $4000-$4500. Second time we contracted with a private guide and two porters for 21 days and traveled to Gokyo. Cost $3500-$4000.
Second trip was much better as we took our time getting to Gokyo. After summitting Gokyo-Ri and seeing Everest I had to return rapidly as I was suffering from high altitude sickness and extreme restless legs as my medicines were not working. Wife continue up towards base camp for an additional 4 days and then we met at the Tengboche Monastery.
Her third trip was to Pokhara and the trek to Annapurna Base Camp. Unknown costs but she went with a single guide.
Major cost is the airfare while in-country costs are very low. Second trip we paid $15 per day for the three Nepalese but then gave all three very large tips at the end, plus a bunch of extra clothing and equipment.
Our guide on the second trip could not get enough business as a guide and has worked the past 5 years in Korea to set up his family for life back in Nepal.
Without tourists Nepal is a dead country despite finally getting rid of their corrupt King (the one who assasinated his brother).
Current lowest airfare is $1467.00 on AA, which is probably the worst airline in the world after Royal Nepal