Everest 2008: China’s Olympic Torch Heads For the Summit of Mt. Everest

Update to Chinese Summit Attempt Found Here

Kraig, over at The Adventure Blog, tipped me off to a couple of reports that the Chinese Olympic Torch Relay Team on Mt. Everest has decided to try an early summit push. As has become customary in recent times with Russian expeditions, the Chinese will be attempting the summit in waves of climbers.

From EverestNews:

The Chinese have left Chinese Base camp with the torch! Note this is base camp, NOT advanced base camp…. Stay Tuned, the SHOW IS ON !!

This follows earlier reports that members of China’s Olympic Torch Expedition had made their way to 8,300 meters. With the report that the olympic torch has now been taken out of base camp, and is currently heading up, we can only speculate that at some point tonight, the torch will be handed off to the higher climbers for the final push.

Generally speaking, most summit pushes on Mt. Everest begin around midnight with teams hoping to summit before 2 pm local time. Anything later, and usually there is a problem. This time frame allows the climbers plenty of time to get back to the higher camps–and safety.

Weather in the region has been an issue in days past, but has calmed a bit. Recent weather reports had suggested that there might be a possible window come May 3rd or 6th, for summit attempts. Looks like China rather go sooner than later. EverestNews also suggests that the Chinese team may be experiencing some light snow in the higher altitudes, as well as high winds. My own Everest Weather Report, courtesy of EverestWeather, suggests that the winds are averaging 56 knots on the summit. Not ideal conditions, but worse has definitely been recorded from successful summits in the past.

Worry about a possible major storm originating from the Bay of Bengal and heading towards Everest has subsided. Two major weather services offering expedition weather reports have suggested the same–it should miss the area.

Over the course of the next few hours we should hear reports of the Chinese Summit bid and whether or not, this is indeed what is currently taking place. Chinese and International Media are not reporting on this, as of yet, but being the Olympic Torch, I am sure the news to the general media will not be far behind. I will try to keep you updated on any new developements in the hours ahead. Let’s hope, if this is indeed the summit push we have all been looking for, that all will be safe–even if we don’t agree with China.