Here is some essential reading, not only for those of you interested in Everest history, but as a salutary lesson in human psychology. It will also be of interest to potential Everest climbers wondering which operators to avoid when the pandemic is over.
Read moreGlobal Health
Everest and COVID-19: Why don’t operators donate their oxygen to hospitals in Nepal?
There have been calls for Everest operators to cancel their expeditions and donate their oxygen to hospitals to help with the COVID-19 outbreak in Nepal. So far, there is little evidence of this happening. Here are some of the reasons why.
Read moreEverest and COVID-19: climbers and operators need to come clean
We know that climbers and Sherpas have been flown out of Everest Base Camp with COVID-19, but we don’t know the extent of the outbreak. All climbers and operators need to take a hard look at 2021 and decide if the positives of their impact outweigh the negatives.
Read moreWhy did a Chinese team climb Everest during the coronavirus pandemic?
Last week a team of Chinese surveyors climbed Everest and were among only a handful of people to climb it during the coronavirus pandemic. But aren’t we all supposed to be in lockdown? Not all of us, it turns out. I will try to explain.
Read moreCan you really see Mount Everest from Kathmandu?
One of the side effects of coronavirus lockdown that many people have been talking about is the clarity of the air. Less traffic means less pollution. Nowhere illustrates this better than Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. Last week the Nepali Times posted a photo that purported to show a view of Everest from the city. Could it be true?
Read moreWhat a box of mountaineering books tells me about our post-coronavirus future
Publishing is one of the industries that could adapt to a new world that might emerge in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. But traditional publishers and indie authors share a common threat that promises an uncertain future.
Read moreCool Conversations: experience the mountains during lockdown by social distancing Kenton Cool-style
So far I’ve not been finding lockdown too bad. I don’t know whether this makes me unusual. I know I’m lucky in many respects. We have a nice garden beside the river here in the Cotswolds and we’re able to
Read moreWhy the outdoor community should not ignore coronavirus restrictions
I’m posting early this week, because this is an important message that can no longer be delayed. There are no jokes in this week’s blog post. Normal service will be resumed next week with more light-hearted banter to see us
Read moreKeep safe from coronavirus with namaste, the ‘Nepali handshake’
There is no shortage of advice at the moment about how to protect yourself from COVID-19, a.k.a. the coronavirus. Since many of you are regular travellers, I’m going to chip in with some simple advice of my own that will be familiar to anyone who has trekked a lot in Nepal.
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