CALGARY- Calgary climber Raphael Slawinski is now at base camp on the north side of Everest where he will stay to acclimatize for up to ten days.
“We are at 5,100 metres. It’s super windy this morning, just outside the tent I can see a giant plume blowing off Everest. It’s about minus five, not too cold, but still it’s not spring,” said Slawinski from a crackling satellite phone outside his tent.
The MRU professor left Canada on April 6 and is about to set off on a journey that could take him to the top of the world.
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“The mountain looks huge and yeah I guess I’m nervous about how my body adapts to altitude. I’ve never been this high,” he said.
Slawinski and two German climbers will attempt a new route on Earth’s tallest peak without the help of extra oxygen or high altitude Sherpas.
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Slawinski said he’s been “battling a cold” which is “never a good thing at altitude.” The climber says he’s on the mend and very excited about the huge task that stands in front of him.
“In my mind it will come down to two things: acclimatization and weather. A lot needs to happen, a lot of stars need to align, but those two stars need to align for sure.”
The climbers will move to advanced base camp and then acclimatize and train on a regular route. They will “drop down as low as they can,” then “rest and recover” before making the final push to the top sometime in May. You can read more on Slawinski’s blog here.
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