.jpg "Image") Panoramic view from the top of the Everest, 24th May - Photo: Mustafa Cihan |
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Latest News
Advanced Base Camp
 We returned to 6400 meters two days ago. This time, we saw the difficulties of the climb almost in all aspects. The way from the camp at 7000 meters up to the camp at 7900 meters requires a very backbreaking climb. Long and steep snow couloir and the decreasing amount of oxygen available to human body in every step, is straining the body. Shortly, we fully understood that we are climbing to the highest point of the world once more. Three of us have reached to the camp at 7900 meters, and the most of the rest have reached to 7500 meters. After we concluded our climb, we returned to 7000 meters, stayed there a night and returned back to the advanced base camp the next day.
 We will spend the next few days by resting and observing the weather conditions. When we and the weather will be ready, the conditions will be ready to try for the summit. The route and the camps at the high altitudes are ready. In other words, the fixed rope lines are reached up to the summit, the tents are put at the camping sites and the oxygen bottles are assembled at the 8300 meters. When the team and the weather is ready, our plan shortly is; firstly, to reach up to the North Col at 7000 meters, then the next day to climb up to the camp at 7900 meters and the next day to reach up to 8300 meters. We are thinking that we will need oxygen support from then on. For this reason we will start using oxygen support from the hours we will spend at the 8300 camp. The ones who will try the summit without the oxygen support will be determined by then. As we have repeated a several times before, the main issue in this decision will be the safety of all the members of the team. If the decision to climb without the oxygen support appears in a way to risk the climb of the rest, our priority will be to reach the summit in a safe way. After spending a few hours at the 8300 meters, we will depart for the summit at midnight.
All these really mean a few tough days. We have to rest very well, eat very well, and concentrate mentally very well. We have already taken some support from the Chinese team today. We were invited for the lunch to the Chinese camp. We had some good food and chat. We are solving the resting part in our tents. As for the real part, we mean the mental preparation; we will need your support at that point…
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 On May 6th, the team climbed up to North Col, and spent the night there. Their backpacks were rather heavy since they were carrying, but haven't used, oxygen bottles. Today, May 7th, they went to Camp 2 and then returned back to North Col to sleep. Tomorrow, they will return back to advanced base camp. We are constantly in radio contact and everyone is in great condition.
Hakan Kocakulak
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Advanced Base Camp
 We came to our higher altitudes back again… The happy days at the lower altitudes did not last long. We again started to deal with the climbing plans, the breathing techniques and the amount of liquid to take. This time the plans are a little more tensing. From now on, all the plans are towards the summit! There are many things that we have to consider. Once again the oxygen bottles, that were are not very familiar with, are in. All the bottles are carried to the advanced base camp; now, they have to be carried to upper camps gradually. We all tried our facemasks and the regulators before the bottles are taken to the upper camps. Connecting and removing the regulators to the bottles is a troublesome task, it has to be learned very well. And also we have to be good at fitting the facemasks to our faces. It is a little hard to fit the balaclava, the facemask and the oxygen facemask all on a single face! The climbing and the upper camp usage plans also have to be settled very well other than the oxygen usage and the calculations. We will have upper camps at the 7900 and 8300 meters. The sites for the tents at these altitudes are cramped; therefore we will be closely pressed together on those nights. As for the climbing programme, we will all be climbing on the same day, but still we will be moving in pairs of two. This also has to be planned. Today we will have one or two meetings for discussing all these.
By the way, we started to be followed by the camera on our back also at the advanced base camp finally! Mustafa Temiztaş has come to 6400 meters with us. Most probably, he is the cameraman who climbed to the highest altitude from Turkey, by the time yesterday!
Tonight, we will organise a collective birthday party in order to celebrate Mustafa Temiztaş’s (May 3rd), Soner’s (May 5th) and Mustafa Cihan’s (May 8th) birthdays. But please do not tell them, cause it will be a surprise for them!!
PS: Muharrem Ertunç, all the team members are saying hello to you and to your students, please give them our regards!!
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Base Camp
 Pepe, who was a part of our team for days has completed his climb and left today. We have mentioned about Pepe before. He was our great-hearted friend who determinedly continued his sports life without any interruption after his legs were disabled in a paragliding accident, years ago. He is a very good sportsman who has won the silver medal in the bicycle race, in the 2004 Sydney Paraolympic Games. This time, he aimed to climb the top of the world by straining his limits, but it did not come true. He reached up to 7000 meters with us, but the problem in his legs prevented him from ascending more. The shoes he was using were giving serious pain to him; none of the few alternatives did work. In the end, Pepe made his decision which is the most appropriate one for him, however which is an upsetting one for us and he returned to his home today.
 We saw him off early in the morning. Good bye Pepe, good bye our intelligent, cheerful and heartfelt friend. Hasta Luego!
Tomorrow we are departing for the advanced base camp again. The second phase is starting. There may again be an interruption in transferring the news for a few days. In the meanwhile, with the particular request of the young members of our team, we would like to send our compliments to the METU Spring Festival…! Participate in the activities also for us.
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