The true story of a man who met his true youth at the top of Africa.
Since 2015, when I decided to pursue my dreams, mountains have been winking at me, inviting me to meet them like never before. There, is where I discover myself. This is how I become wiser and stronger every day.
Mountains teach us patience; we can’t fight the weather and must wait till we get the nod from the higher forces; Satya had cautioned me long ago, knowing my impulsive and restless nature. During my pre-Everest training phase I had already climbed many summits in Europe and Andes and had my fair share of ‘patience’ in the mountains. Yet the waiting days on Everest were at a completely different level.
Kiki Tsakaldími, Everest Base Camp, May 26th, 2017, 08:11 am.
"At around 2:00 am Nepal time on May 23rd, my Everest summit attempt came to an end". "We were only 600 metres below the summit (at 8,250 mts altitude), gasping and battling to survive through hurricane winds of 100-110 kmh. We were being tossed around like dolls, wind chill of -60 C gnawed our bodies like an ogre". "We could barely stand upright. Every inch we climbed was at the stake of our lives and limbs, a hard fought victory over our own physical limitations.
"One more day of waiting at EBC. We are just waiting patiently for the Sherpas to fix the summit ropes and catch the best weather opportunity for the final push. Today,Chumbi and Pasang will also come down from advanced camps, so Satya will have a conversation with them to see how things are up there". For Nepalese and Indian people today is a big day. They celebrate the full moon and and its holiday for them. Some Sherpas insist that today is a good day for summiting but in reality this is not true.
A few days back I received a mail from a friend that prompted me to write this post. She had politely requested that all my future post I publish in my social media to be written not only in English but also in Greek, since her English is like my Chinese; if you get my drift!
Initially I did admit to myself that this was indeed necessary if I want to share my ideas and experiences with as many people as I can, for sure I should write my posts in both languages, like I do in my website.
Simultaneously another thought occurred to me.
The base camp is at around 5365m and it took few days of rest and recuperation to get our bodies used to the rarefied air. Meanwhile the icefall doctors from SPCC team, who open the route and fix ropes and ladders from EBC to C2 were hard at work. I did some practice on ice seracs with my full climbing gear. The weather was more or less stable. Soon the route to C2 was declared open. And one fine morning we set off for our first acclimatization climb.
This is the final stretch for Kiki Tsakaldimi and our expedition on their way to the top of the world. Following the decision of team leader Satyabrata Dam, the expedition has extended for three days its climbing towards Camp 4, at 7,900 metres altitude, having chosen the tactic of a more gradual climbing towards the so called “death zone”. These moments, all members of Higher than Everest expedition are totally focused, mentally and physically, on their target and this is what will bring them up at 8,848 metres So, let’s be patient, keep our positive energy and C U on top!This is the final stretch for Kiki Tsakaldimi and our expedition on their way to the top of the world.
Time is ticking out and the day for the final push is coming closer and closer. Our Sherpa team is already at the advanced base camps and they are setting up camp 3(7100m) and camp 4(7900m),supplying it with oxygen and climbing food.As soon as the camps will be settled down and our Sherpas will come down to Everest Base Camp we will discuss the chances for the most possible date.
Stage 4 – Summit Attempt
Bristling with anticipation, we strapped our headlamps and left EBC at 2 am. Climbing through the icefall maze in complete darkness was fun, shining our headlamps into the murky depths of the crevasses I felt looking at zillion stars sparkling beneath my feet. At the first ray of dawn we crossed C1 and soon thereafter arrived at C2. We intended to rest at C2 for two nights and then head up.
31rst March.
As my flight took off from Athens, bound for Katmandu, I recalled the words of my trainer and Everest guide, Satya: this will be the hardest physical and mental challenge that you have ever undertaken in your entire life. Nothing, no amount of training can prepare you for the actual climb into the death zone.
All through the long flight I could barely sit still, fidgeting and twitching in anticipation as millions of thoughts zipped through my head.
From Kiki's diary, May 15th, 2015.
Time goes by and I am ready for the final push. What I am thinking these moments is a very special person I never mentioned in personal: Dimitris Politopoulos, the man behind the Tuvunu mountain Greek Tea. Dimitris was one of few to believe in me and my dream and I am so thankful for giving me the opportunity to make my dream come true. Dimitris and his team, some years before, had a vision: to make the Greek tea worldwide famous and spread the Greek magic all around the world.
"Yesterday, it was a very special day for me. My instructor, Archondis, came to see me in EBC, as he had promised me. His presence here with me, before the final push to the summit is too important for me". "I was sleeping in my tent, after lunch, when suddenly I heard a familiar voice calling my last name in Greek. I got up from my sleeping bag and immediately realized that it was him! I got too happy and excited. You know, the last days I have become a bit sensitive, since I have missed more my family and friends back in Greece. His presence here brought into my mind all my beloved ones - his appearance here was too effective to me".
