As you begin the climb out of basecamp you immediately have to tackle one of the most dangerous parts of the entire route – the Khumbu Icefall. the Khumbu glacier moves slowly down the western cwm, but suddenly it plunges over an enormous cliff, this causes the ice to rupture, splinter and form a jumble of tottering, towering seracs and deep dark crevasses. Everyone hates going through the icefall because it is unpredictable and people are killed or injured there every year.
Thr rumour circulating amongst the Sherpas and guides this year is that the icefall is much safer, all thanks to another of Mother Nature’s wonders. Last summer a huge earthquake hit Nepal and the surrounding region. Although there was a lot of terrible damage, deaths and injuries, the silver lining for us is that it supposedly shook the icefall “flat” as Dendi described it today.
Now, i’m sure its not “flat”, but I can see that maybe it toppled alot of the dangerous seracs. Or maybe its all wishful thinking, we’ll know in a couple of weeks!
