Everest | 2005 S Col-SE Ridge

A UK expedition to Everest in 2005 via S Col-SE Ridge, led by Gavin Bate. Summit reached on 30th May 2005. 2 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field Value
ID 4968
Imported 2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID EVER05188
Peak ID EVER
Year 2005
Season 1
Host Country 1
Route 1 S Col-SE Ridge
Route 2 -
Route 3 -
Route 4 -
Nationality UK
Leaders Gavin Bate
Sponsor Moving Mountains to Everest
Success 1 False
Success 2 False
Success 3 False
Success 4 False
Ascent 1 -
Ascent 2 -
Ascent 3 -
Ascent 4 -
Claimed False
Disputed False
Countries -
Approach Lukla->Island Peak->Gorakshep
Basecamp Date 2005-04-23
Summit Date 2005-05-30
Summit Time -
Summit Days 37
Total Days 39
Termination Date 2005-06-01
Termination Reason 7
Termination Notes Abandoned at 8760m due to Ang Nima sickness and bottleneck at Hillary Step
High Point (m) 8760
Traverse False
Ski False
Paraglide False
Camps 1
Fixed Rope (m) 0
Total Members 1
Summit Members 0
Member Deaths 0
Total Hired 1
Summit Hired 0
Hired Deaths 0
No Hired False
O2 Used False
O2 None True
O2 Climb False
O2 Descent False
O2 Sleep False
O2 Medical False
O2 Taken True
O2 Unknown False
Other Summits Climbed Island Peak
Campsites BC(23/04,5160m),TempBC(26/04,5500m),C2(05/05,7100m),xxx(30/05,8760m)
Route Notes Bate used Gorak Shep as BC and only had one camp. He left C2 on 29 May 09:00 am. He arrived C4 (8000m) at 16:00. He and Nima rested in a Japanese tent till 21:30 and got to high point at 6:30 am. They descended to C2 at 15:00. Next day to Gorak Shep. Sherpa: Ang Nima Sherpa from Kharikhola, Solu (Cho Oyu, Xixabangma) Summitting Everest, by Gavin Bate (August 2005) (submitted by email from Kenneth Bate, Gavin's uncle) The sun crept slowly over the Nuptse ridge casting long fingers of yellowish light down the Western Cwm. Far below amongst the huge seracs and ice falls of the Khumbu Glacier a lithe figure leapt amongst the massive boulders in pure alpine style like a chamois goat. Highly visible in his fluorescent green replica Berghaus anorak (Marks & Spencers, Coleraine High Street) and his tiny red Tiso panties Gavin Bate was clearly visible against the snowy vastness of Everest's southern slopes. Carrying only a 2-ounce ultra-lightweight rucksack in which was his favourite bottle of Irish Blarney water and the indispensable NASA Intergalactic Extra Terrestrial Satellite phone (2 channels & on/off switch) ensuring he could radio back every spine chilling minute of his momentous climb to his millions of fans worldwide (Chris Lickspittle, Andy McNab, etc.). Gavin glanced down the ice fall to the far distance where the gaily coloured tents of Base Camp were clustered. His lip curled disdainfully - those fat cat wankers with their $65,000 buying their way up Everest, slugging whisky and watching porno DVD's. What did they know about mountaineering. The mental approach, the purity of spirit, the humility the whole fokkin concept - wankers! He reflected briefly back to 2000 when he was also one of them - a wanker!! How pleased he was now to have realized that he - Gav - was so totally different to all that Base Camp trash. Scrambling behind Gavin was his Sherpa, Angdog Innitforthemoney! Although Gav had advised the world that this was to be the very first totally solo attempt he needed Angdog to take that vital photograph when Gav would stand triumphantly on top of Everest and it would be flashed over the wire services appearing on the front pages of the world's prominent newspapers (Coleraine Times, Ballaghenny Courier, etc.). Solo without oxygen. That was the goal! To the top of the world without breathing and without stopping - alpine style, goat style, leaping, hopping, jumping anyway but not the way those wankers at base Camp were doing it. No way. Thanks to Gav's unbelievable lung capacity and unique metabolism (Thanks Mum & Dad!) this would be a world first. Then the Barringtons, the Barrys, the Hinkes & the Falveys would really have to eat shit. Pausing just briefly to take out his latest Wilbur Smith to check his next move Gav strode on. Within minutes, and breaking all known records in the Guinness Book of Records Gav and the faithful Angdog had arrived at the bottom of the Hillary Step - an awesome vertical rock face of at least 150 feet, its wall pitted with steps, ladders, handholds, rest stops. Happy Eaters. This was the final obstacle before he achieved his goal - but what was this? What were all these Base Camp wankers doing here, jesting and skylarking as they playfully queued for the next escalator - his face blanched - no way could he stand with these tosspots and wait meekly in line just like one of them. But did it matter - by now he was only 2765 inches from the summit so what the hell - he had as good as done it, but may be not, maybe someone might notice that he failed to conquer those final inches - he had to find a way out which would maintain his supreme position as the Great Leader but at the same time provide a valid excuse for turning back those last few inches which would be accepted unequivocally by his millions of fans world wide (Chris Lickspittle, Andy McNab -that's enough Ed.) He glanced round & quickly took a slug of Blarney water - there was Angdog his loyal Sherpa still faithfully clutching the vital Minox Digital 88 pixels camera (Currys, 8 pounds 99), but retching violently from altitude sickness at the side of the track. That was it. Of course! He, Gav, the world's almost only Seasoned Accomplished Renowned (for further expressions see Roget Thesaurus p. 265) mountaineer would make the supreme sacrifice. He would jeopardize the whole trip for the sake of his beloved and faithful Angdog who was now patently unable to climb further. What would the mountaineering world say. What courage, what selflessness. Already he could see the headlines emblazoned across the great climbing magazines (Walking World, 8 Bogstandard Road, Dooblin circulation 18 - on a good day!). As Gavin turned to go down 106 happy wankers strolled casually to the summit of the worlds highest mountain!! But Gav didn't mind. Far better to sacrifice a successful summit than commit the heinous mountaineering crime of all times - to leave the loyal Angdog - and anyway, according to Gav's solar Public Relations calculator (Xmas cracker 1995) there would be much greater publicity mileage in this heroic act than all that silly nonsense of climbing solo without oxygen. And how right he was - arriving at Base Camp he was immediately surrounded by ecstatic Sherpas who for the life of them hadn't the faintest idea why Gav should want to set up his Base Camp in a field of yak shit 2 miles away rather than enjoy all the pleasures and facilities of the usual Base Camp. Consequently all the Sherpas jointly decided to award Gav a special order and named him therefore Ang Gav Chumpolange which is Nepalese for "What a prat." Eventually Gav arrived back at his Myrtledene Road emporium (rental courtesy Mrs. Lickspittle) and mused on his latest venture. Yes - he had failed - but so what. He failed in 2000 and again in 2002 - at least he was consistent. But already his mind was on yet another unique world capturing project - leafing rapidly though 27 Wilbur Smith books he at last struck on a brilliant theme for his next daring event. Gav, The Great Leader, Accomplished Writer, Explorer, Photographer (I already said that's enough Ed.) would actually attempt to climb up the North side of Everest, have a drink of Blarney Water on the summit and then run down the South side - alpine style of course and solo and without oxygen. Fantastic - this would be a first in British climbing - he switched on his computer - I must tell the world he thought!!
Accidents Nima had food poisoning
Achievement -
Agency High Country Trekking
Commercial Route True
Standard Route True
Primary Route False
Primary Member False
Primary Reference False
Primary ID -
Checksum 2459666
Year 2005
Summit Success False
O2 Summary None
Route (lowercase) s col-se ridge

Members

2 recorded members.

Name Sex Year of Birth Citizenship Status Residence Occupation
Gavin Clifford Bate M 1966 UK Leader Belfast, Northern Ireland Professional alpinist Details Other expeditions
Nima (Ngima, Maila) Sherpa M 1972 Nepal H-A Worker Sikli, Jubing, Solukhumbu - Details Other expeditions

References

1 recorded references.

Expedition ID Journal Author Title Publisher Citation Yak 94
EVER05188 CLMB - - - 7:21 (Sept 2005) -