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Xinhua News Agency, Everest Base Camp, May 9, wired Question: News Analysis: Mount Everest elevation measurement postponed. When is a good time to climb to the summit?
Xinhua News Agency reporter
On the 9th, the 2020 Everest Height Survey Mountaineering Team announced that due to snow on the climbing route, the date of the summit survey will be later than planned.
It is understood that the mountaineering team originally planned to choose the upper part of the weather window on May 12, so they decided to climb from the base camp on the 5th. On the 8th, the Tibet Holy Mountain Company guide, responsible for measuring the logistics and safety of mountaineering, he tried to explore and transport from the advanced camp at an altitude of 6,500 meters to the North Col ice wall at an altitude of 7,028 meters. When climbing to an altitude of approximately 6,700 meters, the guide discovered that the snow on the climbing route was deep and that there was a danger of snow drift, and then descended.
Previously, many trainers from the China Mountaineering Association and guides from the Tibet Sacred Mountain Company who participated in the climb told reporters that the “way” to the summit is expected to be repaired from 9-10, which which means that the protective rope will be placed up to Summit of Everest. Once the lanyards are in place, the mountaineering gear measurement will be just around the corner.
But just a day later, the situation on the mountain suddenly changed. In this regard, relevant meteorology and mountaineering experts said: The plan cannot keep up with the changes, which is the normal state of mountaineering activities. Snow conditions on the climbing route, peak weather, and even material safety will affect the timing of the summit. The mountainous climate is changeable and climbing is not risky. The mountaineering team must adjust the plan according to various factors at any time.
Everest 2020 elevation survey mountaineering activity leader and vice president of the China Mountaineering Association Wang Yongfeng said the previous weather forecast showed May 12 to be a suitable window for the summit, but only It lasts a day and requires a very tight climbing schedule. This time, the climbing route from the camp at 6,500 meters above sea level to Bei’ao was blocked, preventing the mountaineering team from catching up with this window.
“A few days ago, there was a lot of snow in the front camp and in Beiao, so the snow on the mountain was very deep. The guide considered that if it was strong, an avalanche could occur,” said Wang Yongfeng.
Several guides from the Holy Mountain Company stationed at Qianjin Camp confirmed Wang Yongfeng’s statement. They said that after several consecutive snowfalls on the mountain, the new and old snow did not mix well and the snow conditions were weak. A guide said that due to this year’s epidemic, all foreign commercial mountaineering teams canceled the climbing plan on the north slope and the number of people on the mountain became smaller. “No one stepped on it after the snow fell, which is false.”
Reporters from the Xinhua News Agency personally experienced the unpredictable weather of Mount Everest during the interview on March 9 from the hiking camp at an altitude of 5800 meters at an altitude of 6500 meters. The camp was bright in the morning when he left in the morning, but it was already full of wind and snow when he went to camp. Some climbers said, “Except that there is no summer, you can experience” three seasons a day “on Mount Everest.”
“The local weather in the mountain area is changeable, and it is common to make changes to the climbing plan within a day.” Wang Yongfeng said that this year, mountaineering organizers are also referring to mountaineering weather forecasts provided by the Tibet Autonomous Region Meteorology Department and Swiss professional agencies, which can usually be done five or six days in advance . Forecast “Generally speaking, what we value most is the forecast at an altitude of more than 8,000 meters, because it is directly related to the weather at the top,” he said.
The head of the surveying meteorological support service, Shi Lei, deputy director of the Shigatse Meteorological Office, said the meteorological department will provide the mountaineering team with forecasts for different heights and different time periods at base camp and in the mountains. The temperature of 8,000 meters above sea level in recent days is understood to be close to minus 30 degrees Celsius, and the wind speed can reach about 20 meters per second.
Wang Yongfeng introduced that the proper weather window for the summit of Mount Everest is best free from strong winds and blizzards. Among them, the wind has a greater impact on the summit, which will cause the temperature to drop linearly, hinder the ride and easily cause freezing, snow blindness and other dangers.
“Generally speaking, the windows of the summit of Mount Everest in spring usually appear in May. After June, the monsoon season enters and the snow continues to rise on the mountain. It is difficult to climb; although the weather improves in autumn The previous snowfall will make the altitude seven to eight thousand. The snow in the area is more than two meters thick, and in the long winter of Mount Everest, the strong wind on the mountain will prevent climbers from advancing. therefore, most climbers will choose to reach the top in May, “said Wang Yongfeng.
Some professional guides who have been climbing Mount Everest for many years feel that the snowfall on Mount Everest this spring is more than in previous years. Wang Yongfeng said that in the past, snow was rarely found to be blocked from 6,500 meters above sea level to Bei’ao, and that bad weather often affected the peak stage from 8300 meters above sea level. .
In this regard, Shi Lei said that the trend of climate change needs to compare long-term weather data. Currently, there is no research conclusion on this aspect in local meteorology.
It is understood that on the 10th, the Shengshan Company road construction team will go at an altitude of 7028 meters to explore the road to determine the risk of snow drift in the section below Beiao and determine the next schedule. A mountaineering guide said: “Mountaineering cannot be in a hurry. The good weather will definitely come, we just have to adapt to the changes and wait patiently” (Reporter Duoji Zhandui, Bianba Ciren, Wang Qinou, Sun Fei, Tenzinima Music). Zhu, Tian Jinwen)
