Everest 2008: Chinese Olympic Torch Expedition Delayed

The Chinese Expedition to carry the Olympic Torch up the north side of Mt. Everest has been delayed according to EverestNews. Previously, the Chinese Expedition was scheduled to take off from 8300 meters for the summit on April 28 for it’s first of a possible four separate summit attempts in hopes of carrying the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch to the summit of the world’s highest peak. The reasonings for the delay are being mentioned as a ’state secret’ with no further information available.

From the South side of Mt. Everest many Expeditions have been busy acclimatizing over recent days in preparation for their own summit attempts scheduled to begin after May 10th. Nepal has went with a suggestion to keep climbers at Camp 2 or below until after May 10th, as suggested by China as the final day of their expedition. All of this is in hopes of keeping any Pro-tibetan or anti-chinese protests to a minimum during China’s olympic Torch run on the North.

Earlier this week an American climber, William Brant Holland, became the first climber expelled from Mt. Everest following Nepalese officials finding a pro-tibetan flag in the climber’s possession.

With the news of a possible Chinese delay on the North, the South side of Everest could be set into a situation of confusion. With the south side expeditions already running on borrowed time, a possible two week period to get over 31 expeditions to the summit of Mt. Everest, their window after May 10th may be shrinking if the Chinese are delayed much further.

It is known that a possible storm system was heading towards Mt. Everest and could be the cause of the delays currently being seen. The Chinese have been having problems battling high wind conditions while laying ropes between the camps. The last update I have seen, in regards to the Chinese expedition suggested that ropes were only up to Camp 2 and slowly progessing to Camp 3.