Joseba Sanz assault on Everest without oxygen

The flags of Athletic and Diputación wave on Camp 2 at 7,500 meters

In a phone conversation from Advanced Base Camp at 6,500 meters, Joseba Sanz said his last impressions while waiting for a window of good weather to start the definitive attack to the summit.

The job of mounting intermediate camps and carry material has been delayed much more that expected.  He wants to attack the summit in alpine style from Camp 2 at 7,500 meters when he sees a good weather forecast of 3 to 4 days.

In case this attempt fails, he plans to have a permit for one more week for a second attack. 

Each season only 2 or 3 people make the summit without oxygen in contrast to more that 100 that use it, so it gives you an idea of how much effort is needed.

These summits can not be compared to Messner's in 1980.  He did not only climbed alone with no oxygen but he did it without support or high altitude camps, doing it in alpine style, on the North face, opening a new route (in 78 it was from the South).  And he did it "out of season", in August in full monsoon.  This is considered by many experts by the ascent with the most merit in the history of mountain climbing.

This can't be done today because the mountain is full of people and ropes. Goran Kopp rode on a bicycle from Stockholm to Everest and back but said he was not alone all the way to the summit.

Sponsors for this adventure : Fundacion Athletic Club, Diputacion Foral de Bizkaia, Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, Euskaltel, Euskal Telebista, Bilvending, FORUM, TNT, Eroski-Bilbondo, Ikatz, Serval, Artiach, Chiruca, Calcetines Mund, Isdin, Coleman.

Joseba Sanz Basque Country Spain

Translated from Spanish by Jorge Rivera

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