Everest isn't just about the grand adventure to the top. It's also about the lull in between and the ordinary moments that wedge themselves between the extraordinary times when man competes with nature and himself.
Palestinian Ali Bushnaq shares his mountain climbing experience.
Welcome to base camp
Is climbing all they ever think of up in Everest? Not really, Ali says. Especially in base camp. This is where climbers park their hiking boots for a day - or more, depending on their stamina - so that they can prepare for the next climb, he says.
He plans to spend this "time out" reading. "I'm not much of a reader but during this expedition I plan to bring books to read, like business management and first aid."
He will also bring a "question and answer" board game so he can play with the guys and a laptop so he can update the team's website and send e-mail to his family.
Taking a load off
Nowadays, you don't go up Everest with all your gear and equipment in tow. "The most you will carry is your sleeping bag, extra clothing at least one oxygen canister, ropes and climbing axe," Ali says. The sherpas (Nepal natives used to climbing Everest) and yaks will carry the rest.
On a food trip
It's a misconception that Everest climbers can't eat too much. True, you have to watch your cholesterol, but you also have to bulk up, Ali says.
"I eat a lot of steak nowadays because up there I won't get to eat all my favourite food. Also, I need to gain some weight because in high-altitude climbs, you tend to lose your appetite and lose a lot of weight in the process," Ali says.
"I've been trying all the crackers in the supermarket to see which ones I'll take with me during the climb," he says. He also plans to bring energy bars and chocolates. Lots of it. "I like dark Swiss chocolates. That's what I'm going to bring. One hundred bars of it!" he says, grinning.
Cooking is not a problem as there is a sherpa-cook for the expedition. "They will mostly dish out dal and vegetable soup and you could get bored, so it's best to bring food that you like to eat."
Hygiene
Two things: a razor and deodorant. Ali says he will bring these essentials up the mountain. "The smell of deodorant would be the best thing you'll ever smell up there – and the closest you can imagine to feeling clean." Despite freezing conditions, he also vows to "get a decent shave so that I'll look at least human." Taking a bath is possible with melted snow.
Nature calls
And what happens when nature calls? There's a makeshift potty made out of a wooden platform with a hole and a bucket underneath, says Ali. You get the picture. "Nothing special, but it serves its purposes," he says with a grin. The contents will be buried under snow. And if you need to go between climbs, make sure to cover your tracks.
"Some climbers are not very considerate of nature," Ali says. In fact, there are parts of Everest that is yellow with urine and feces. A clean-up campaign by authorities and environmentalists is on the works, however.
Mountain doctors
No one goes blindly up the mountain with today's organised expeditions, says Ali. Who decides the route? "We leave them to the 'mountain doctors'. That's the name of the person who lives in Nepal or Tibet, and whose job is to organise the route for us in advance before we arrive in base camp. He supervises a team of sherpas. They anchor ropes on the mountains pre-hand to show us the route. Sometimes snow covers these routes so it is not always easy. So we rely on our sherpa guides."
Top of the world
When you are already at the summit, then what? Think about how you will go down, Ali says. "You never climb a mountain and then not think about that. Everyone will advice you ‘when you reach the top – think about coming down'. Some people celebrate when they reach the top and then make a mistake coming down. So always think about safety during ascent and descent. And when you reach the foot of the mountain, then celebrate."
