Climbing Everest: The Khumbu Icefall

I'm completely fascinated with Mount Everest climbing. In fact, one of my life goals is to go to Base Camp. (No way I can climb it...I've never climbed a thing in my life...I barely make it up the stairs.) The 2006 climb is going on right now.

One of the most challenging parts of climbing Everest is the Khumbu Icefall, a full-day climb through shifting ice and seracs. Here's one of the best descriptions I've ever read about that part of the climb (where, just yesterday, three Sherpas were killed when an ice wall collapsed and buried a group). Considering that I get wobbly on my step-ladder, consider what Alan Arnette writes:

After an hour in a "normal" year you reach the first ladder. For most climbers this is a moment of truth. You can prepare, read, talk and dream about this moment but when it comes time to actually placing your cramponed boot on the first rung of a ladder crossing a crevasse that is 100' deep ... well I think you get the idea.