Bahrain's pursuit of Mount Everest begins

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The time has come up to start practising for the ultimate challenge, say Bahrain’s mountaineers. After scaling the Mount Manaslu, the team said they are back on the training grounds for their next quest - the Mount Everest.

The team comprising 15 members of the Royal Guards of Bahrain and three British climbers conquered Mount Manaslu on October 15. The 8,163m high Mount Manaslu is the eighth highest peak in the world.

The same team, on October 3, climbed Mount Lobuche (6,619m), which lies in the Himalayan region. The latest news from the team, however, is that they are now aiming to reach the Everest summit in April.

Experts say there is a brief window of time, usually after April, to climb when temperatures are warmer, and high altitude winds known as the jet streams moved away from the mountains.

The month, experts point out, is also that time of the year when people have the highest chance of getting to the summit. According to the Bahrain team, “Muscle memory is a key ingredient to the success of the team in April.” In other words, this is to help muscles adjust to the stress from lack of oxygen during a high altitude climb.”

“Repartition on skills and drills learnt on Mt Lobuche and Mt Manaslu must be practised,” the team wrote on its Instagram account with a picture of them practising.

Reports say roughly 10,000 hours of practice are required to master that skill. Experts also point out that muscle memory can last for a very long time in humans, up to 15 years and possibly even permanently.

To new heights!

Interestingly, for the Bahrain team, reaching the Mount Everest summit now also means, climbing a bit more than what it was there last year. Latest reports say the highest mountain in the world is 0.86m or 86 cm higher than had been previously officially calculated. The new height is 8,848.86m (29,032 ft).

Nepal or Tibet?

As experts say, there are many possible routes to the summit. However climbers usually favour the south route in Nepal and the north route in Tibet. Reportedly, climbing in Tibet has become more expensive and more controlled these days. So, if it is the south route, then the team will have to fly into Kathmandu, the capital and then on to the village of Lulla, from where the hike to the Everest base camp begins. However, it is not clear, which route our team prefers.

How long it takes?

Usually, it would take two months to reach the peak, experts say. It takes a nearly two weeks trek to the base camp, which sits at an altitude of around 17,000 feet (5,200 meters). Mostly, climbers will remain at the camp for two weeks to get used to the altitude and for the weather conditions to get favourable. Then maybe another four days to reach other stations and for the final ascent to the summit.

How much does it cost?

Climbers usually pay anything from $35,000 to more than $100,000. Yeh, expensive! This money covers the $11,000 needed for the climbing permit, as well as bottled oxygen and high-altitude gear including tents, sleeping bags and boots. The cost also covers the medical care, food and support from Sherpa guides and bottled oxygen for them, which is mandatory for every foreign climber, according to a CNN report.