Everest First Ascent Update: Viesturs and Whittaker Arrive at Camp 2

Text by Tetsuhiko Endo 

Approaching a high mountain is a tricky process. It must be undertaken with great care in order to ensure that climbers will be both physically and mentally prepared when they push into the lethal 8,000-meter realm. With that in mind, the First Ascent team has split up into three separate groups so that each climber can prepare for the summit at his or her own pace. Yesterday, Ed Viesturs and Peter Whittaker hiked out of Camp 1 and into Camp 2 through 60-degree air temps over the Khumbu ice flow. Below them, recovering from an injured ankle, Melissa Arnot moved from base camp to Camp 1. Bringing up the rear, Dave Hahn and Seth Waterfall are still in base camp acclimatizing with a client that they are leading up the mountain. 

You can check out all the daily video blogs as well as cultural tidbits, tech advice and stunning mountain views at adventure.nationalgeographic.com/everest. This is Everest like you have never seen it before, blow by blow, and as close as you are going to get without a down jacket and a pair of crampons.