The last time we heard from Phil Henderson on
this blog, he had returned to Everest base camp with a bad chest cold. He was unable
to heal quickly due to the elevation, so he descended and took over the team’s
communication.
Topics: NOLS, outdoor industry, National Geographic, Everest Days, Everest, National Outdoor Leadership School, travel, communication, Outdoor Festival, Mountain, Educators Notebook, expedition, summit, Phil Henderson, Kathmandu, weather, festival, success, Base Camp
After descending to base camp on Everest, NOLS senior faculty member and Rocky Mountain River Base Manager Phil Henderson writes from base camp about his condition.
Read MoreTopics: NOLS, Everest, National Outdoor Leadership School, Live the Dream, Phil Henderson, Western Cwm, Base Camp, O2 sats
Yes, things are very real up here. Some are unfortunate accidents; other things are risk of being in the mountains. The incident where the Sherpa fell into the crevasse was totally avoidable. I have gone through the Khumbu Icefall four times now, once completely alone. I clipped into almost every fixed rope, which are many, most so that I would not fall into a crevasse, others so that my body could be found at the next fixed anchor should anything cut loose.
Read MoreTopics: Khumbu Icefall, NOLS, decision making, avalanche, Lhotse Face, Everest, skills, communication, Sherpa, Khumbu, Live the Dream, expedition behavior, expedition, Phil Henderson, Camp I, Camp II, judgment, Nuptse
NOLS senior field instructor and Rocky Mountain River Base Manager Phil Henderson is making his way through Nepal this week en route to climbing Mount Everest. He is working with a team of North Face athletes and researchers, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first American ascent to the peak. Learn more about the expedition by on the National Geographic or the North Face blogs. The following is his first note from the field:
Read MoreTopics: NOLS, National Geographic, faculty, Everest, National Outdoor Leadership School, Sherpa, anniversary, Nepal, American, River, Live the Dream, Phil Henderson, Khfu, Utah, Rocky Mountain