HiTop Images - Everest 2009

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This and the next two shots are not actually summit day photos but they directly relate to that important day. At Base Camp, Russ is introducing us to our Sherpas. [_EVE090330]

I am meeting my Sherpa, Lakpa Nuru, for the first time. [_EVE090334]

Lakpa Nuru [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_4976]

The South Col [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5444] Once you reach Camp 4, it's time to prepare for the final push to the summit by resting, drinking, eating and more resting. I shared a tent with one of our guides, Shinji. One thing I noticed about the Japanese climbers is they eat very well up there. Hiro brought us some hot Japanese sticky rice and Shinji added canned teriyaki chicken. They even had miso soup. Shinji and Hiro very kindly shared it with me and I decided to leave my boring granola bars and cheese sticks tucked away in my bag.

In 2007, I had just one picture of me during our summit push on Everest, so I tried to get a few more this time. Here I am at the South Col, hours before leaving for the summit [_EVE090428]

We planned to leave at 1am and let the other teams go ahead of us but I was running behind. At 12:45am, distracted because I discovered my new oxygen bottles were both empty, I was still fiddling with my harness. Phurba replaced my oxygen bottles in lightening speed, because he's Phurba, but I was lagging behind as I crawled out of our tent, put both bottles in my pack and strapped on my crampons, or croutons, as my sister calls them. [_EVE090411]

Lakpa Nuru and I left camp last and late at 1:30am. I waited too long to prepare for the ascent. In the altitude, the simplest things take much longer and we sometimes forget things, like it takes a while to get ready. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5268]

The Balcony - Russ said if you can't reach the Balcony within 4 to 6 hours, then you have no business climbing Mount Everest. I wanted to be in business. We reached the Balcony, changed oxygen, took a swig of water and left the Balcony before 4 hours, so time was going fine. [Photo by Shinji Tamura]

Leaving the Balcony - Hiro, Alec, Dorji and a few others went in front of a long line of climbers. Alec kept his oxygen set at 4 liters per minute, the max, for the entire ascent, so he climbed fast. It was a smart move. They were able to reach the summit two hours before we did. [Photo by Shinji Tamura]

The penalty for leaving last is that you can only go as fast as the person in front of you. It did not take long for Lakpa Nuru and me to catch up to the team because of numerous stops on the way to the Balcony. The guides and Sherpas were helping a climber who got lost the day before. Eventually, Phurba the Magnificent brought that climber down and saved his life. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5271]

Our plan was to set oxygen at 4 liters per minute to the Balcony and then at 2 liters per minute for the duration of the ascent and descent. I stuck to this plan. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5280]

Most of these photos are Hiro's, who was way ahead of me. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5281]

Lakpa Nuru and I were way down there at the end. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5286]

I think that's Robby. As I ascended, I thought most of my teammates were way ahead of me. It was hard to tell who anyone was. It turned out I was right in line with the team. [Photo by Shinji Tamura]

With the clouds rolling in as the night disappeared, it was looking pretty omninous and beautiful at the same time. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5301]

From the Balcony, we moved up toward the South Summit. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5319]

Everest's Shadow - This shadow was not visible on our summit day. John Black took this shot on their summit day, May 21st. [Photo by John Black]

I know I said this in 2007, too, but while up there I often thought, "I cannot believe where I am right now." I wanted to take in as much as I could, knowing that my energy and thoughts were primarily focused on climbing. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5318]

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Lakpa Nuru and I were way down there at the end. [Photo by Hiro Kuraoka IMG_5286]

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Copyright © Megan Delehanty. Contact Megan at megan@hitopimages.com.