The north side of Everest. Changtse is between Everest and the climbers in this shot taken from down near Rongbuk Base Camp at about 16,900'. The Central Rongbuk glacier
wraps around behind Changtse, below the North Face.
The summit ridge descending to the left is the top of the Northeast Ridge. The Second Step is on the ridge crest (hard to see) near the very left edge of the photo. The North Ridge is out of the picture to the left, as is the First Step, Camp 6, etc. The North Col is between Changtse and Everest, so it is not visible here. Above the top of Changtse, you can see the Great Couloir at about 26,000'. The snow patch on the left skyline, above the Great Couloir is the scree terraces between the Second and Third steps.
To the right center of the photo you can see the Hornbein Couloir,
the narrow gully which goes from about 25 to 27K. The right skyline is the West Ridge (the border with Nepal). |
Photo: Art Wolfe