Scott Parazynski Everest Update: 15 May 2008 – Photos of the Khumbu Icefall
15 May 2008: Latest images from Scott Parazynski at Everest Base Camp
Astronaut and mountaineer Scott Parazynski is resting at Everest Base Camp for a few days after a series of climbs up and down Mt. Everest designed to acclimatize his body – and hone his climbing skills. Scott called me several times on Tuesday – as he has since he arrived a month ago to update me on his progress. I expect several more phone calls in the next several days.
The following photos show Scott’s climbing across the Khumbu Icefall, a glacial feature that begins just above Everest Base Camp. This vast field of ice is constantly moving and is considered to be one of the most dangerous parts of climbing the mountain.
Image below: Scott Parazynski climbing up the Khumbu Icefall, part of the South Col route up the Nepali side of Mt. Everest.
Image below: Looking up at the Khumbu Icefall from Everest Base Camp. There are constant avalanches and loud ice movements during the day – some of which can be rather noisy and leave a light coating of snow across Base Camp.
Image below: Scott Parazynski climbing up the Khumbu Icefall.
Image below: Scott Parazynski climbing up the Khumbu Icefall.
Image below: Scott Parazynski using a fixed laddder to cross a constantly shifting crevasse on the Khumbu Icefall. These ladders are put in place by expert Sherpa “Ice Doctors” and are constantly readjusted as the ice underneath shifts.
Image below: Scott Parazynski using a fixed laddder to climb over large ice chunks or “seracs” that comprise the Khumbu Icefall.
Image bleow: Oxygen cyclinders prepositioned for carrying up the mountain for use by summit teams.
Image below: Scott Parazynski using a fixed ladder to cross a constantly shifting crevasse on the Khumbu Icefall.
