Valerio Massimo Everest Expedition 2009

Me on the summit of Cho Oyu with Everest in the background

2009 Everest Expedition (8,850m)

I will be joing Russell Brice’s Himex team again this year after my successful Cho Oyu expedition with him in 2004.

The Himex Everest team currently consists of 28 climbers (3 women). They come from all over the world: the United States (6), Australia (1, living in US), Belgium (1), China (1, living in US), France (2, 1 living in US), Germany (1, living in Nepal), Ireland (1), Italy (Me!), Japan (2), Mexico (2), Norway (3), South Africa (3), and the United Kingdom (4).

There are 28 high altitude Sherpas, 7 guides in addition to leader, Russell Brice, a doctor (Monica, who has been on two previous Everest expeditions), and numerous staff and trekkers. This group will likely go through a few changes between now and our Kathmandu arrival date of March 29.

Ellen Miller (Colorado), the only American woman to reach the summit of Everest from both the north and the south, will be joining us to climb Lhotse (8,516m).

Guides
Leader – Russell Brice (NZ) – 2x Everest summit
Dean Staples (NZ) – 6x Everest summit
Mark Woodward (NZ) – 5x Everest summit
Dave McKinley (NZ)
Shaun Hutson (UK, living in France) – 1x Everest summit
Adrian Ballinger (UK, living in US)
Hiro Kuraoka (Japan) – 2x Everest summit
Shinji Tamura (Japan, living in Switzerland)

Doctor – Monica Piris Chavarri (SP)

Chef – Haydon Fisher (NZ)

Base Camp Leader – Lachhu Basnet

Film Crew
Kirsty Mitchell (UK)
Ken Sauls (US) – 3x Everest summit
Edward Wardle (UK) – 1x Everest summit
Mark Whetu (NZ) – 5x Everest summit

High Altitude Sherpas
Phurba Tashi (Sirdar) – 14x Everest summit
Lopsang Temba (2nd Sirdar) – 8x Everest summit
Ang Karma
Ang Nuru
Ang Tshiring
Dawa Temba
Dorji Sonam Gyalgen – 10x Everest summit
Gnima Tenzing
Kami Chhiring
Karsang Namgel – 7x Everest summit
Knima Sona
Knima Tshiring
Lakpa Nuru – 4x Everest summit
Nigima Chhiri – 1x Everest summit
Ngima Chiri – 2x Everest summit
Nima
Nuru Gyalzen – 2x Everest summit
Pasang Kami
Pasang Knima – 1x Everest summit
Pemba Nuru
Phurba Naugyu
Rita Dorji
Shera Syalzen
Son Dorgee – 3x Everest summit
Tashi Tshering 1
Tashi Tshering 2
Tshering Tashi – 1x Everest summit
Yonden Nuru

Our itinerary is as follows:

March

29 – I arrive in Kathmandu (1,317m)
31 – Kathmandu – Lukla (2,840m) – Phakding (2,610m)

April

01 – Phakding – Namche Bazar (3,440m)
02 – Namche Bazar – Khumjung (3,780m)
03 – Khumjung
04 – Khumjung – Tengboche (3,860m)
05 – Tengboche – Dingboche (4,410)
06 – Dingboche – Lobuche (4,910m)
07 – Lobuche
08 – Lobuche
09 – Lobuche – Everest BC (5,140m)
10 – Everest BC

11 April – June TBC – Everest Climbing