Cool shades: Kenton with Sherpas at base camp. Photo: Kenton Cool
Record-breaking British mountaineer Kenton Cool has had the traditional blessing for his upcoming attempt on Everest.
Cool arrived at base camp late on Friday after a solo trek from Pheriche lasting six hours – and immediately suffered for his rapid ascent to the camp from Kathmandu.
The mountaineer, who has summited the world’s highest mountain 10 times, is readying himself for an 11th ascent, which will push his record as the European climber with the most successful climbs of Everest.
He suffered a night of poor sleep and headaches after the quick ascent to camp at 5,300m (17,388ft).
Writing on his blog from base camp, he said: “It’s not something that I would recommend to anyone.
“Such a rapid ascent profile is potentially dangerous and the only reason I did such a thing was down to years of experience and being very honest with myself. If I was feeling any worse I would have immediately dropped down a few hundred metres in order to let my body recover.”
Everest base camp. Photo: Kenton Cool
There has been heavy snowfall in the area, but his obligatory ceremony to bless the expedition saw a break in the bad weather.
“The Puja was blessed with great weather and the Sherpas were in high spirits as ever,” Cool said. “It normally lasts for an hour or so and is all done in great humour even though there are serious undertones to the affair.”
He plans to head back up the mountain on Wednesday. “The snowfall over the last few days has meant large quantities of snow have built up between Camps One and Two with some of the tents up there being totally buried,” he wrote. “I suppose I’ll find out for myself tomorrow.”
Last year the Gloucestershire-based mountaineer carried to Everest’s summit the Olympic gold medal of Arthur Wakefield, awarded in recognition of his part in the unsuccessful 1922 attempt on the mountain.
The modern Olympics’ instigator, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, originally intended mountaineering to be included as a participating sport.
More details of Kenton Cool’s preparations are on his blog.
