Everest 2003: EVEREST SPEED EXPEDITION®

Update

Attempts at two new Everest records

Update Two 4/3/2003: April 2 - The great Everest Speed Expedition adventure kicked off today with Manuela Di Centa and Fabio Meraldi and the Team on their way to Kathmandu where they will organize logistics and transport of their equipment and instruments by yak along the Khumbu valley to Base Camp situated at 5350m.

Update One: Note this is a press release from the team.

Fabio Meraldi attempts the Everest ascent and descent in 24 hours [from the south]

Manuela Di Centa, olympic medallist, wants to be the first Italian woman to climb the mountain

Milan, March 27, 2003.  Fabio Meraldi – skyrunning and ski mountaineering champion and Manuela Di Centa – Olympic medallist and World Champion cross country skier, aim  to establish two new records in honour of Hillary and Tenzing’s 50th anniversary of the conquist of Everest.

Meraldi will attempt to ascend and descend the world’s highest mountain in 24 hours along the historical route of the first pioneers, using only his physical and mental energy and without the use of oxygen.

A new strategy characterises the ascent:  from Base Camp to the South Col at 7,950m Meraldi will adopt the skyrunning technique  - wearing lightweight clothing and trail running shoes.  From the South Col to the summit at 8,850m and back down to Base Camp, he will wear traditional mountaineering equipment in special, lightweight high-tech materials, created by Sensitive, Montura, Kayland and Camp.

Manuela Di Centa, on her way to becoming Italy’s first woman to climb Everest, will recount their adventures in a film:  three mountain guides skilled in high altitude filming and a director will be the “third eye” of the Everest Speed Expedition. 

For the first time in such a record attempt, scientific means will be used to certify Merald’s exploit and for the first time, carried out by a sports federation, the Federation of Sport at Altitude with timekeeping endorsed by Sector Official Timing.

Nothing has been left to chance: his athletic preparation in Italy in collaboration with the Isokinetic Reconditioning Center;  a programme of acclimatization for two weeks from  the beginning of May in camps between 5,300m and 7,500m.  However, the key to success will ultimately depend on Meraldi’s ability to adapt to the mountain.  

Meticulous attention has been dedicated to nutrition,  where natural products from Valtellina are backed up with special supplements to impede physical deterioration due to the high altitude.

As a mountain-friendly enterprise, clean energy will be supplied by a photovoltaic panel for battery charging and low consumption light sources;  hot water for showers and cooking will be available thanks to the sun’s energy;  wind turbines will drive the generator and refuse will be graded for recycling.

Dispatches