Everest 2012: The Story of Lhotse
Mike and Sherpa Chewang Lindu at the summit of Lhotse
In Mike’s own words:
I’m happy to report back-to-back 8,000 meter summits of Everest and Lhotse (4th highest mountain in the world)!!! The summits were only 24 hours apart. We left at 2:15 am from Lhotse high camp and reached the summit of at 5:30 this morning. Perfect weather and fabulous views of Everest.
What made Lhotse so special was the dramatic alpine summit, steep climbing, surrounded by the legendary 8,000 meter peaks of the Himalaya. Best of all we had the mountain 100% all to ourselves – not a soul, my remarkable Sherpa Chewang Lindu and me. What a remarkable juxtaposition to 24 hours earlier on Everest!
Both Chewang and I were so much looking forward to seeing our family and friends and getting home we capped the day with a 10,000 ft descent from the top of Lhotse to Base Camp. I was back in time to joined the IMG Classic Team (whom I can’t say enough great things about) for a fun celebration.
Lhotse - as seen from Everest
The route up the Lhotse Couloir is the white line that diagonals left and straight to the summit. Spectacular and steep!!