Chu Tian Metropolis Daily News, Report from Everest Base Camp (Special Correspondent Chen Bolei Correspondent Cao Zhikai) The day before yesterday, good news arrived: the long-awaited road to 8,300 meters on Everest has finally been cleared. Yesterday, the Diyu Mountaineering Team, which had been "stranded" at Everest Base Camp for days due to weather and road conditions, began making arrangements for the next phase of the climb. Team leader Ciluo explained that after stages of training and camp construction, the climb is now entering the third phase — summiting.
Every year, all climbers ascending the North Ridge of Everest must wait until the road to the summit is cleared. Due to this year’s harsh weather on Everest — cold temperatures and strong winds — the road-clearing team had been held up at Camp 7,790 meters. From the end of April to early May, they attempted four or five times but were unable to clear the road to 8,300 meters.
After a night of severe weather with heavy snow and strong winds, the Diyu Mountaineering Team woke up to the sunniest day since arriving at Everest Base Camp. The road-clearing team seized the opportunity and managed to extend the route all the way to 8,300 meters. “Only when the path to 8,300 is cleared, and then to the summit, can our summit attempt truly begin,” said Ciluo. The team members who have been waiting patiently at base camp are eager to move forward. In the next couple of days, after the first group of transport team members ascend, the summit team and support team will begin their upward assaults in succession.
Yesterday at noon, leaders from the Wuhan Sports Bureau also came to Everest Base Camp to offer their condolences. The deputy director of the bureau, Yan [name garbled], stated that they have the “Winter Sports Development Plan,” and that they closely follow the progress of major expeditions through this plan. Due to media coverage, many citizens in Wuhan have shown great interest in the mountain and the expedition team.