Mixed reports are coming in about the Chinese team climbing the North Ridge of Everest this season. Though if some are in high camp at 8,200 meters, they are only a day off the top and could be headed for the summit in the next few days.

We are also seeing “Members of a road construction team work on a route” caption several photos. While it does look like they are plowing a trail through deep snow, perhaps it is not quite a road construction team and a touch lost in translation. The photo is most probably of climbers heading up and down from the North Col.

Deep snow was also reported as causing potential avalanche conditions before the North Col, not uncommon any time after it snows and the slopes load up on the leeward side. This is the area the first fatalities occurred on Everest back in the early attempts in the 1920’s and has often proved problematical every since.

It is also reported by one of the Sherpas with the team that they have already reached 8,600 meters and turned back in bad conditions.

It is assumed the first team will summit and complete the rope fixing, and then a larger contingent of the team will follow, taking GPS readings, chatting away on 5G enabled cell phones, and with any luck, posting some more photos and expanding on the story.