Photo credit: explorersweb.com
Last year, Tim Howell from the UK attempted to set a record for the highest wingsuit flight by climbing Lhotse. Unfortunately, unfavorable weather conditions forced him to abandon his plans after spending an hour waiting on the summit ridge, battling depleting oxygen levels and encroaching clouds. Since that experience, Howell has been strategizing ways to enhance his prospects for success as he prepares for a second attempt this spring.
Tim Howell. Photo: Tim Howell/Instagram
“Once I realized that last attempt wouldn’t succeed, my thoughts immediately shifted to the next opportunity,” Howell recounted in a conversation with ExplorersWeb.
The Challenge
Howell’s ambition goes beyond merely surpassing existing records for the highest exit point in wingsuit or BASE jumping. He aims to select the utmost launching spot on the planet, ensuring that his achievement remains unrivaled in the future.
The summit of Everest cannot be utilized as a launch pad since it lacks the necessary cliffs for a safe exit. However, a strategic location on the summit ridge of Lhotse presents a viable alternative, accessible only by navigating through a standard climbing route up to approximately 8,000 meters before deviating towards one of three specific points along the ridge. At that juncture, the wingsuit pilot must wait for favorable weather before launching off the steep vertical face of the mountain.
Guide Jon Gupta on the Lhotse Ridge. Photo: Jon Gupta
Jon Gupta, an experienced climbing guide, will again accompany Howell to the target exit point, just as he did the previous year. Their team will include at least two Sherpas, and they are looking to incorporate improvements into their expedition based on previous experiences and challenges encountered in 2024.
Improvements
“While we can’t control the weather, I can optimize our approach and timeline,” Howell noted in a report shared with ExplorersWeb.
Tim Howell in the Khumbu Icefall during an acclimatization round in 2024. Photo: Jon Gupta
During his last attempt, Howell suffered from Khumbu cough, which led to a three-day hospitalization. This time, he plans to adopt a more measured pace, incorporate air-warming masks, and exercise heightened vigilance with his nutrition and hydration.
Additionally, he has acquired crucial insights regarding the exit point. Unlike his previous attempts, where he sought to access the summit of Lhotse—an area known for its instability—Howell and his team will now scale an ice gully situated lower down the mountain.
“This adjustment means that rather than waiting for the completion of the fixed ropes on the summit, which usually happens post-Everest work, we can attempt our jump as soon as Camp 3 is established, potentially saving us up to three weeks,” Howell explained.
The planned traverse on Lhotse to one of three potential wingsuit exit points, marked. Photo: Jon Gupta
Furthermore, Howell is enhancing his team with additional support from outfitter Climbing The 7 Summits. This expansion will include a substantial contingent of Sherpas who can assist in fixing ropes along their alternate route to the Lhotse ridge and provide ample oxygen supplies.
The augmented support will enable Howell to carry equipment for both a wingsuit flight and a conventional BASE jump, giving him the flexibility to choose the most favorable option based on real-time conditions.
Flight Details
Similar to his previous attempts, Howell plans to utilize oxygen during the climbing process but will forego it during the flight. He intends to glide southwest towards Chukhung village, located at 4,730 meters. To adapt to the cold environment, he has modified his wingsuit to be down-filled yet not overly thick.
“I’ll also wear additional down pants and a jacket that I can remove before the flight,” he added.
In addition, he plans to use heated footwear and gloves to combat the chill. For more insights on the technical aspects of his flight, readers can refer to a prior interview.
Howell flies from Kilimanjaro. Photo: Tim Howell
As an experienced BASE and wingsuit pilot, Howell has successfully completed a significant project over the past seven years that involved climbing and BASE jumping all six of the Great North Faces of the Alps. He also achieved the distinction of being the first to execute wingsuit flights from the summits of both Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro.
Source
explorersweb.com