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Boys with Toys – Bolting the Summit Ridge of Everest
24 April 2005 GPS-pos: °' | °' | Alt: 0 M
Kari Kobbler and Russell Brice are pictured at ABC (Tibet) with the best of Hilti bolting technology a 36V cordless hammer drill capable sinking a 16mm diameter bolt into the summit ridge of Everest. A battery pack can be worn under the down suit allowing the battery to stay warm and should be good for 100+ holes. The plan is to use the drill to fix 10mm bolts for fixing rope to and Karri wants to fix “Via Ferrate Style” 16mm 150mm long “step bolts” onto the second and first step to speed up the climbing for everyone. Hmmm this is a new level to the commercialisation of Everest. Already we have ladders, fixed lines, pitons, Sherpas and oxygen – now we are looking at metal steps for the tricky parts…
Currently there are no plans to develop the worlds highest crag by bolting routes on the side of the third step but there are runours that Himex is considering fixing a lader on the Hillary step -from the Tibetan side - the exytremely strong Himex Sherpa team has almost finished it's work on the North side and it is still April.
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Russell Brice and Karri Kobbler - "The Boys"
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The Toys
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The Boys with Everest behind - summit ridge in view
