KATHMANDU: A small team of scientists and renowned climbers reached the Mt Everest base camp to conduct essential maintenance on weather stations.
A team led by climate scientist Baker Perry from Appalachian State University will carry out essential maintenance on the world's highest weather station at Bishop Rock (8810m) as well as other four stations installed in the Everest region.
Five automatic weather stations were installed during the Perpetual Planet Extreme expedition on Mt Everest organised by the National Geographic Society. Weather stations were installed at Bishop Rock (8,810m), South Col (7,945 m), Camp II (6,464 m), Everest Base Camp (5,315 m) and Phortse (3,810 m).
Baker Perry, a Professor of Geography and a National Geographic Explorer, along with Associate Professor Brian W Raichle and renowned woman climber Dawa Yangzum Sherpa would spend a month in the Everest region to complete maintenance work.
"Excited to be back on #Mt Everest with Tenzing Gyalzen Sherpa, Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, and a small team of climbing Sherpa including Phutasi Sherpa to conduct essential maintenance on weather stations installed during 2019 & 2022 by National Geographic Society & ROLEX Perpetual Planet expeditions," Perry shared on his social media post.
Tenzing Gyalzen has been awarded with the Guinness World Record certificate for leading the Sherpa team in the 2022 expedition. He has been involved in the NatGeo expedition on Everest since 2019. Dawa Yangzum is also the first woman International mountain guide from South Asia.
"Friday, we had 14 cm (5.5 in) of snow, with nearly four hours of continuous heavy thunder snow in the late afternoon and early evening. Today we had a Puja ceremony at Base Camp to request safe passage on the mountain," Baker wrote.
Shangri-La Nepal Trek P. Ltd has provided logistical support to the expedition. According to Perry, Tom Matthews has been keeping the team abreast of the weather. "Excited to welcome Brian Raichle from Appalachian State University to Base Camp very soon to assist with the weather station maintenance," Perry added.
