Everest 2008: Update on Communications Ban–Possible Solution ‘Outside the Box”

April 16, 2008

Yesterday I posted that Nepal’s Liaison officers on Mt. Everest had initiated the communications ban at Basecamp. In it’s simplest terms, teams climbing from the South will not be able to communicate with the outside world..ie the Press or websites until after May 10th. This has effectively chopped all lines of communication into and out of Nepal’s Mt. Everest region.

Climbers to test the waters?

Nepal and China have both stated that climbers who do not follow along with the restrictions imposed in the designated areas, including the communications ban, face the reality that their permits will be made invalid for 2008, and depending on severity of the infraction, could even pose a risk of losing future expeditions to Mt. Everest in coming years for the Expedition Company that they are involved with.

Many have taken this as a serious threat.

Yesterday teams began posting what could actually be their last Expedition update until the May 10th deadline. Many had stated that communications would cease until May 10th.

For climbers, who rely on Expedition Dispatches to reach out to both sponsors and the public, this has left a bit of a bitter taste, yet many will not acknowledge their dislike for fear of repercussions from Nepal.

If you can’t beat a system–GO AROUND

Mountain Professionals, in what may or may not be their last post for awhile, has suggested that they may try to make dispatches from a phone land line in Gorek Shep–which lies a few hours below Basecamp. These dispatches will appear in audio form only

From Mountain Professionals:

“Our hope is to call in audio dispatches from a land line in Gorak Shep a few hours below basecamp until we have the go ahead to resume more robust contact with the outside world. So please stay tuned here for more news!

At this point, I am not sure how this will be recieved from Nepal’s authorities. On the one hand, the paper that climbers and expedition leaders had to sign in order to gain their Everest permits specifically stated that all electronics would be locked up at Basecamp. No Photos–No Communications till May 10th. On the other hand–This does specifically apply to Mt. Everest and Basecamp up to Camp 2, according to the rules that were signed.

This is definitely an interesting concept and perhaps a bit of hope for many of the climbers. We can all cross our fingers and hope that this could actually happen–but then again, perhaps we should hope that they won’t run into trouble from the authorities for a bit of crafty thinking “Outside the Box”.

No other expeditions have mentioned this idea, yet, on their sites, but I am sure that this information will not be solitary to the Mountain Professionals team. Word spreads fast at Basecamp–

Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it,