Everest 2008: China Prepares Route up North

April 8, 2008

The Adventure Blog has tipped us off to an update on the Chinese Olympic Torch Expedition today.

According to EverestNews, the Chinese Expedition has made it as far as Advanced Basecamp on the North, as well as set up communications towers for cell phone service. The Chinese Expedition has already set rope to the North Col and are currently setting their sights on getting it from the North Col to the Summit. So what does all this mean?

You could look at it as the Chinese being ahead of schedule. Then again, with a team of 50 climbers and hundreds of porters helping them along the way, they should be. This also means that the torch run could happen sooner than expected, freeing up precious time on the south for the many expeditions waiting in line due to China’s recomendations to Nepal.

EverestNews goes on to say that the Chinese are not planning one summit, but THREE separate trips up Mt. Everest and the first will begin no later than April 28. That would be a very early summit if all goes as planned.

My guess is that the Chinese will be trying to take the Olympic torch up as soon as possible to hamper any chances of someone sneaking to the top with their “Free Tibet” flags-April 28th should do just that. Other than a helicopter landing on Everest, looks like the Chinese will get their wish—hmm there’s a thought..I wonder what they have in place for that…

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