Mount Everest Expedition 8848m Northface (Tibet face)

Overview of Mount Everest Expedition 8848m Northface (Tibet face)

MT. EVEREST the highest mountain on Earth called, appropriately in Nepali Sagarmatha ‘Sky Mother’ and Chomolungma in Tibetan straddles the border of these two nations. First official measurement was conducted in 1856 during the Great Trigonometric survey of British India.

Known then as peak XV was certified at 8840m. With a simple technology and the distance from the mountain, the height was determined with really phenomenal accuracy and only 8m off from the current value of 8848m. The name Everest was chosen to honor British Surveyor General of India Sir George Everest. Tibet and Nepal were closed to foreigners, so it is reasonable to assume that local names of the mountain were unknown. It was lucky that the tallest mountain was not named after an unaccomplished politician or a royal.

Everest is a climbing pinnacle for everyone from accomplished climber to an inexperienced but wealthy tourist being taken to the summit for a substantial fee by a professional mountain guide with a team of climbing Sherpa guides. The climbing royalty fee of U$25, 000 forms a substantial source of tourist revenue for the government of Nepal, for whom Himalayas are a substantial natural resource due to lack of any substantial mineral resources. There are two commercial routes on Everest, south route via the Southeast Ridge from Nepal and via North Ridge from Tibet.

The Chinese royalty is lower than Nepalese but the climb from Nepal  via Khumbu Icefall is extremely spectacular and sheltered from winds up to camp 4 at South Col making climbing much easier and much more pleasant. It is along Western Cwm (it is a Welsh word pronounced ‘come’; it means cirque or bowl shaped valley) well sheltered from winds and very hot on sunny windless day, called also a Valley of Silence.