 PICS: HIGH & WILD DROP ZONE: Jumping off a helicopter near Thamersku from 5,000m during a recce dive in May, and cruising over Namche. |
A team of 32 people are poised to jump out of a plane flying higher than Chomolungma at 8,990m and land on the world's highest dropzone at Syangboche at 3,833m.
"It began with an idea, which then became a dream and now it is reality," said Nigel Gifford of High & Wild, the organiser of the event. The British ex-mountaineer and skydiver never thought that this could ever be possible. He got the idea in 1975 when he saw a Pilatus Porter plane land on the airstrip at Syangboche.
"Organising this event has taken me more than two years and it would not have been possible without the help and support of the people of Nepal," Gifford told Nepali Times. In May, a team of skydivers did four reconnaissance jumps from 5,000m, testing the special gear that is needed at this altitude.
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Ryan Jackson, the team's doctor and professional skydiver.
Jackson's other worry is altitude sickness, and he says the skydivers will acclimatise by first walking to Pheriche at 4,250m. But jumping off a plane over Everest doesn't come cheap. Depending on the type of jump, it can cost anything between ?12,675 and ?16,870.
"The thing I'm looking forward to most is just seeing Everest, it will be amazing," says Holly Budge, a 29-year-old professional filmmaker and skydiver from the UK. The solo jumpers are required to have made at least 200 skydives.
Most of the support team, which include astronaut Andy Elson and world skydiving champion Omar Alhegelan, are setting up base at Syangboche. The Pilatus Turboporter will be in Syangboche by the weekend.
Billi Bierling
www.highandwild.com
adventures(at)highandwild.co.uk
