tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42666889165167369572024-03-12T17:54:53.367-07:00Peak Freaks Everest 2012Follow our expedition to the summit of Mount Everest and back, daily news from the mountainside, YouTube, Facebook and Everest 3D mapping integraded with SPOT GPS Tracking. Very cool!Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-5944010249133761652012-05-30T11:50:00.000-07:002012-05-30T11:50:33.732-07:00We made it but need a change of underwear!May 30, 2012
"We made it... but need to change our underwear."
We made the decision to summon a helicopter from Namche to Kathmandu yesterday, the monsoon has arrived and who knows how long we would be held up here in Namche waiting for a twin-otter flight out of Lukla. As well there are reports of bandits on the trail from Lukla to Jiri robbing trekkers and climbers on the three to four day Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-50206322159202941182012-05-26T11:59:00.000-07:002012-05-26T11:59:05.464-07:00EVEREST WRAP UP and DEBRIEFMay 26: 22:00hrs (NPT) - 19- SAFE SUCCESSFUL SUMMITS-
Once again maintaining our 21 year flawless client safety record. SUMMIT LIST
Mountain Guide - Marty Schmidt - Expedition Debrief on the summit push May 18/19, 2012' read
Our team all made it through the ice fall today in good form and time pulling in to EBC around 2pm. The stability in the ice fall is said to be quite good considering Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-21297050104997072282012-05-25T08:47:00.000-07:002012-05-25T08:47:45.855-07:00Team at Camp 2- Sherpas approaching exhaustedMay 25: 18:00hrs (NP) All members are safe and sound at Camp 2 - Sherpas coming in now: Our Sherpa team has been working through the night. They are super tired so the staff at Camp 2 are heading up right now to bring them in with drink and food, they are about an hour away from Camp 2.
Message from team mate Andreas Breitfuss who is home now in Australia: “Boys… I am so excited and very proud Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-86519841663508288282012-05-24T17:29:00.002-07:002012-05-24T17:29:26.580-07:00PEAK FREAKS SUMMITS 05:15am NPTFirst summit at 05:15 names and details to be advised.
Stay tuned:
peakfreaks.com Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-50641832588700875482012-05-24T15:52:00.000-07:002012-05-24T15:52:36.587-07:00Peak Freaks at the Hillary StepMay 25: 04:30 (NP) Some of our members have reached the Hillary Step others close behind, exciting!
May 25: 04:08hrs (NP) Joshua calls in: Everyone on the South Summit (8690m- 28,500 ft) and moving in good form expecting to be on the summit in about 1.5 hours with the weather and condition of the team being optimal. Nima called in earlier and and his mic stuck on so Tim has been able to listen Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-40709451032848555662012-05-24T15:50:00.001-07:002012-05-24T15:50:11.896-07:00While we waitWhile we wait..
There dark cloud that has been cast on Everest the past few days with regards to the deaths and numbers on Everest should not overshadow the good that has been brought to the people of this country from mountaineering. During the course of the 21 years we've been coming here we've watched families prosper, wear shoes, educate their children, build lodges, own their own businessesTim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-80423517047058409322012-05-24T12:43:00.001-07:002012-05-24T12:43:33.727-07:00Team at the Balcony (8400m) all is good!Team reached the Balcony 8400m (27,600ft) - Next check in will be when they reach the South Summit at 8690m (28,500ft) in about five hours from now. Keep in mind this is the quiet time of an expedition. They are keeping their nose going the same direction as their toes to get the job done.
We have 19 Sherpas up on the upper mountain right now. Below is the roster is our Team #2 members and Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-20117401989421279752012-05-24T09:33:00.001-07:002012-05-24T09:33:30.711-07:00Final Summit Push underwayFinal Summit Push underway for Team #2
I'm happy to report that everyone on our final summit push team left the South Col at 07:00hrs getting out the door nice and early because they are all well rested it was an easy task, they appear to be moving along really well according to SPOTS last signal. However, SPOT for both Ben and Joshua seem to acting up at the moment. We'll see if they can get Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-16168378680210545952012-05-23T11:04:00.000-07:002012-05-23T11:04:10.721-07:00Team at the South Col - Climbing Peak Freaks StyleTeam at the South Col reporting a comfortable night.. Tim lays it all out: We are climbing Peak Freak style - Peak Freaks style is different from low budget and inexperienced operators. We know it's too long of day for the most to go from Camp 3, rest a couple hours at Camp 4 , strap on a mask for the first time and head out for the summit. Some can do this, the majority shouldn't, but some Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-51122635032724713872012-05-22T09:12:00.002-07:002012-05-22T09:12:23.386-07:00Stars, no wind, no peopleMay 21: 21:00hrs (NP) Beautiful night at Camp 3
Team # 2 is so very happy this evening sitting outside their tents at C3 enjoying the view, they're alone up there and zero wind. It was so nice that when Mark spoke out from a distance asking where the party is I could hear every word. I'm pleased that our second wave plan appears to be unfolding nicely. Tim
Peak Freaks Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-51540156176414192492012-05-21T10:34:00.000-07:002012-05-21T10:35:53.088-07:00Gearing up, round two
May 21: 21:00hrs (NP) Gearing up, round two: Team #1 is now at base camp celebrating a successful summit bid and in fine form. Team #2 is experiencing the jitters tonight at Camp 2 as they try to get some sleep in preparation for their next move. The plan is for them to push up to Camp 3 tomorrow and get into position for their crack at it. Now more serious than ever before we try to get an Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-25710822592963327792012-05-20T12:52:00.000-07:002012-05-20T12:52:02.065-07:00"Get the _ _ _ _ out of there"
May 20: 21:00hrs (NP) Just like the above video says... "Get the - - - - out of there!".... they were reminded by Tim's haunt. Tim said it was hard for Team #1 to pull themselves out of their tents this morning at the South Col considering their bodies are trashed and trying to recover after their successful summit and down climb. Marty Schmidt knows better though, this is certainly not new to Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-35429281042471939612012-05-19T09:57:00.002-07:002012-05-19T09:57:44.818-07:00Safe and sounds at the South Col..May 19: 21:00hrs (NP) Safe and sound and exhausted at the South Col
All of us are exhausted for that matter but not as tired as our first wave team is right now. Marty's call came in a bit late from the South Col because in order to reach the radio signal he had to walk about 100 feet or so from his tent and getting himself and the other members organized in their tents and hydrated was priorityTim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-40868230035530908392012-05-18T23:21:00.003-07:002012-05-18T23:21:50.070-07:00Team stuck at the Hillary Step- in good shape though.TEAM STUCK AT THE HILLARY STEP- 11:45hrs (NPT)
Spot watchers: Tashi just called in to say they are held up at the Hillary Step, they are all good and have plenty of oxygen to sit here till things get sorted out with another team. They should be on the move again shortly. Stay tuned!
TEAM APPROACHING THE HILLARY STEP - 09:30hrs (NPT)
Hillary Step is at 8760m and on a good day from Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-8134907800231902522012-05-18T21:01:00.001-07:002012-05-18T21:01:30.987-07:00Hillary Step in our sights.. eye in the skyTEAM APPROACHING THE HILLARY STEP - 09:30hrs (NPT)
Hillary Step is at 8760m and on a good day from here it will take about 45 minutes to the summit.
Team # 1 - Marty Schmidt, George Andreou, Andreas Breitfuss, Tashi Tundu Sherpa, Sange Phuru Sherpa and Chhring Namgel.
Team # 2 - Joshua Jarrin, John Stephen, Stephen Neil, Ben Darlington, Mark Hughes, Chris Cameron and Sherpa guide names TBATim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-26367628737805902002012-05-18T18:37:00.002-07:002012-05-18T18:37:41.468-07:00HIGH WINDS- TEAM 2 POSTPONED SUMMIT BID
High wind reported by various members at the South Col so Tim is turning everyone around to Camp 2 this morning to wait for the next window on the 23rd/24th. This is the same scenario how it played out last season. We have plenty of oxygen in our contingency plan offer two attempts if need be and this is a need be situation in avoiding the potential for frostbite. Marty will be checking in onceTim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-17890977003190089822012-05-18T16:42:00.001-07:002012-05-18T16:42:28.465-07:00SPOT TRACKER on TRACK >SPOT SIGNAL
Everyone following Andreas's SPOT Tracker right now please now that all is good. The deal here is they have to be outside the their pack or clothing in order to transmit the signal. It's too cold for batteries at this stage of the climb so Tim had instructed him to put it inside his suit till he gets to the summit or just before and take it out again, exciting.... Becky
GIVING Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-64204117087518552682012-05-18T10:48:00.000-07:002012-05-18T10:48:10.266-07:00First Summits- Team should reach Balcony in 3 hours.FIRST SUMMITS OF 2012'
Peak Freaks rope fixing Sherpas Phu Tashi and, Palden Namgya along with Ang Kazi, Jyamchang Bhote, Kami Rita, Phura Kancha, Karma Gyaljen Nima Dorje from IMG, AAI, Chilean, 7 Summits reached the top today! Big congratulations out to all of them.
TEAM PEAKS FREAKS ON SUMMIT BID RIGHT NOW!
At 21:00hrs Nepal Time, Marty Schmidt heads up the first group to the summit. If Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-20968410523652642662012-05-18T09:10:00.000-07:002012-05-18T09:10:28.885-07:00Peak Freaks Summit Push in happening now!Peak Freak members leaving the South Col for the summit in a half an hour.
Details coming with Tim's next phone call. I'll be updating here shortly... Becky Rippel
Peak Freaks
Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-13761507652063952672012-05-17T09:53:00.000-07:002012-05-17T09:53:18.436-07:00Rope fixed to the Balcony- Team at Camp 3Balcony (8400 m, 27,600 ft)
Good work Sherpa fixing team!!!
Tomorrow the mission will be complete with ropes fixed to the summit. Marty suggests there are probably 80 or more people at Camp 3 tonight. The plan is for half of them to head up on the 18th and the other half on the 19th which we've taken as our main window but also allowing the 20th as a back up for those opting to layover at theTim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-13439835276410626982012-05-16T10:49:00.000-07:002012-05-16T10:49:03.384-07:00Fixing Team leaving to the summit in 2 hours!Our Sherpa guides did amazing work today up on the mountain. Camp 3 tents are erected and stocked with oxygen and provisions, Camp 4 the South Col is stocked up and ready for tents to erected once the team starts to move up but not before in the event of unexpected wind. We certainly don't see any concerns in the reports we're getting. The window seems to be widening nicely.
The fixing team willTim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-74940276820183963662012-05-15T10:54:00.000-07:002012-05-15T10:54:08.110-07:00SUMMIT PUSH- Day 2 of ?Tim reports that our team had a good day at Camp 2, resting and visiting among the other teams who just arrived. He's impressed with how everyone is working together to space attempts and getting to know each other up there. He also said that the team is pleased that he planned they spend 3 nights minimum at Camp 2: Day 1 to climb - Day 2 to recover - Day 3 to get pumped. The next steps will be Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-4240525701850633002012-05-14T09:53:00.000-07:002012-05-14T10:56:36.673-07:00SUMMIT PUSH IS ON!Our team had a good day in the icefall today, nothing out of the norm and are now peacefully sleeping at Camp 2. The ice fall is doing what it does any given year. We all got up at 2:00am, had a bit of a meal and send off talk. The team got out the door for early to climb through the glacier with no crowds and cool temperatures. Base camp was buzzing with activity today with the sounds of Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-16700287914906047022012-05-11T10:18:00.002-07:002012-05-11T10:18:24.641-07:00Everest powered by the Oyster Revolution
Peak Freaks powered by pacific oysters:. Our hometown "OYSTER MAN" Brent, provider for Nelson B.C. loads up his truck and hits the pavement for the 12 hour delivery bringing us these succulent canned and fresh treats to our in land mountain community in Canada. We are now taking them even further. We believe climbers can truly benefit from the oils, vitamins and minerals that are packed into Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4266688916516736957.post-70279542433207194982012-05-10T10:56:00.000-07:002012-05-10T10:56:11.829-07:00Everest foot by foot, Ground Hog Day and Boot CampClimbing foot by foot, we are chipping away at climbing this mountain. Sherpas were busy today carrying loads to the South Col and are now resting at Camp 2. The fixing team is holding as we've got some snow which is good but some monitoring and stability evaluation should take place in an attempt to prevent a situation where ropes get buried before moving forward and timing it with wind that is Tim Rippelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08541159445289025384noreply@blogger.com0