Wow, I'm so bored... Stoning in AS7 com cluster... *yawnz*

Anyway I've just read through the NUS Centennial Everest Expedition newsflash.



The most exciting phase of their quest has begun. The Centennial Everest Expedition after a rousing sendoff departs on March 14 for the world's highest peak. The team, comprising NUS faculty, alumni and student, is expected to summit the middle of May and return in June to herald in the NUS Centennial Celebrations. ------NUS Centennial

Their quest really begun more than two years ago, when they started training for the climb. NUS President Professor Shih Choon Fong said at the sendoff: “The journey up Mt Everest is just a beginning. But the journey for every member of the expedition started much earlier. Each of them either consciously or sub-consciously arrived at a point in his life when he knew he wanted to move out of his comfort zone, go beyond the tried and tested route, push the boundaries and break personal barriers. And we would like to think that the NUS environment helped to nurture that spirit.” -------NUS Centennial

Invitations to join the team went out in late November 2002 tio alumni, staff and students. Due to the overwhelming response, applicants were shortlisted based on their previous experience in mountaineering and outdoors. Out of an initial applicant pool of over 100 people, thirty candidates were put through a stringent over-night physical and mental assessment in December, conducted by instructors with experienced in such exercises.

The consultant team then examined the results of the assessment and interviewed all the instructors for feedback on the candidates' performance. After lengthy one-in-one interviews with every candidates, an initial group of 13 were chosen.

A meticulous programme has been drawn up, comprising a strict regime or individual and team training, team-building exercises, mountaineering courses, and training climbs, designed to raise their climbing skills. In the process, candidates are assessed and those deemed not to have reached the desired standard, or failed to gel with the team, are asked to step down.

Ultimately, up to 6 climbers were selected for the team to climb Everest.



Below is the progress of the team since 14th March 2005.

Kathmandu, 14 March 2005:
We arrived at about 1pm local time and was immediately struck by the relatively quiet airport. The capital of this mountainous country at this time of the year is usually crowded with tourists -- mountaineers, trekkers, adventurers or just sightseers. Now, foreigners are few and far between.
At the hotel, our first visitor was the legendary Miss Elizabeth Holly, the journalist who for decades has been documenting every ascent of an 8,000m mountain in Nepal. Now in her 80s, she is fit and alert, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of mountaineering history in Nepal. She took down the details of every team member and interviewed NUS team leader Khong Lean and Singapore Mountaineers team leader Dr Robert Goh.

Kathmandu, 15 March 2005:
At 9am, Kirin from local agents Great Escapes arrived with a van and a minibus to take us to the office. We had left behind some gear after the Cho Oyu climb. We had also shipped over a ton of items from Singapore to cut down on baggage during our flight. We had to sort out the gear to be sent directly to Everest Base Camp and pack separately the things we would need during our Island Peak climb and the trek to base camp.
At Great Escapes, we unpacked and re-packed into boxes, drums and duffles. It is difficult to explain why so much is needed to climb a mountain but try as we might, we wouldn't have been able to reduce the amount. Every piece of equipment is needed, right down to the last muesli bar!

Kathmandu, 16 March 2005:
It is an easy-going day today for all before tomorrow's departure. Just some last minute shopping and packing. All is well and no one has caught a cough or cold, thank goodness! Most of us walk about the city with face masks to filter out the dust, a prime cause of the cough.
We leave for the airport tomorrow at 5.15am, which means getting up at 4am and having breakast at 4.30am. Everyone is raring to go!



Wow, I'm totally impressed by the guys! I've also watched a special tribute program last night about the whole preparation for the expedition. Despite the arduous physical training, some of them even sacrificed and stopped schooling for 2 semesters! They admitted that they were worried of the fluctuating and extreme weather over there and also the death zone but they are confident in completing the expedition! You go guys! We will cheer for all of you and anticipate your return! Three cheers for the NUS team and three cheers for NUS!! =P