Introduction
Mother and daughter from Oz ready to climb Everest
They began this journey back in April 2018 when they trekked to Everest Base Camp together. This came about after Gabby expressed to Jane and I that it is her goal to one day climb Everest. We suggested that she start now.
They came back from that journey with a fire in their belly and the idea to go and do a mountaineering course in New Zealand. They did so that June when Gabby was just 15.
Gabby returned to the Himalayas again that September to summit Island Peak, this time with me. It was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever done. Gabby appeared to do it with ease. She was a pleasure to adventure with!
In April 2019, Jane and Gabby got very serious and went back to the Himalayas to climb Mira Peak. Weather was fierce and it was tough going.
In September 2019, the two went to China (and through Tibet) to climb Cho Oyu. This is the 6th highest mountain in the world. They were successful! On return to their base camp, Gabby was told that she is now the youngest woman in the world to climb Cho Oyu. This put a spring in Gabby’s step.
In March 2020, at 17 years of age, Gabby and her mum Jane, were ready to fly to Nepal to create history and fulfill Gabby’s goal (and now both their dream) of climbing Everest.
But COVID stopped them on a few days before they were to fly.
2021 – COVID (and Gabby’s yr 12) Stopped them again
2022 – they are ready to climb! After flying out of Australia on March 27th, and some 6 weeks of training and acclimatising in the Himalayas (in and around the Everest region), they leave the simple comforts of base camp tomorrow (10th May) at 2am.
15th May 2022 – probable summit day.
They will go at their own pace, working with their Sherpas (Pasang Sherpa and Tendi Sherpa) to get the job done efficiently and safely.
Their dedication and teamwork throughout the years and the recent months and weeks has been nothing short of remarkable. Their energy and focus has been awe inspiring.
We at home are extremely proud of them both. May they both continue to enjoy their journey together, and we hope that the mountain is good to them, and that we see their safe return to Base Camp on Sunday.
Gabby’s Timeline of Everest
March 27 – Arrive Katmandu
April 3 – Lukla
We flew into Lukla on April 3rd.
The weather out of Kathmandu was poor, delaying all flights, so we were forced to get a chopper!
Our second wave of Everest climbers and trekkers made it in to Lukla today and are currently enjoying some rest in Phakding. On to famous Namche tomorrow.
April 8 – Khumbu
Incredible mother and daughter team of Jane and Gabby climbing Everest this season acclimatizing above Tengboche Monastery. Welcome back to the Khumbu and wishing you success on Everest!
April 17 – Ascent Lobuche
That’s a wrap on Lobuche! Our 2 Speed Ascent climbers summited this morning and are back safely to high camp. They will move with our last wave of Everest climbers and trekkers into EBC today and tomorrow. Our Everest and Lhotse climbers use Lobuche as their first high altitude rotation to minimize time and risk in the Khumbu icefall and reduce the monotony of spending over a month at EBC. This strategy has worked immensely well for our teams’ success over the years.
April 18 – Labuche Peak
Huge success on CTSS Laboche peak climbing! So happy to finally back to Everest Base Camp today and will begin our climb soon!
April 23 – Rotation 1 – Camp 1
Up at 2am to leave for a 3am Icefall, to make it to camp one, Gabby super excited for this rotation and to be on the mountain. They’ve been training hard on the ice at Base Camp and today had a private class on how to operate rescues.
April 28 – LHOSTE in her sights
Gabby makes the decision that she is also going to attempt LHOSTE after Everest!
April 29 –Base Camp – Camp 1 – First Rotation leaving at 3am
I am now based at Everest Base Camp (EBC), in my dome (yellow) tent, with an amazing front yard of snow, ice and mountain view. The trek here from Lukla (airport) took 11 days, with a summit of a mountain called Luboche (near 6200 mts).
May 2– May 6 Base Camp – Camp 3 (4 night rotation)
Gabby is high on the mountain today, but will be back at EBC for a coffee in a couple of days.
Lots of action on Mt Everest with teams ascending on their last acclimatization rotation and others descending back to EBC for a rest. Here Gabby crosses one of the famous Khumbu ladders.
May 4 – Camp 3 to Base camp
They are training on Everest today, and we await for their safe arrival back to EBC (Base Camp) from Everest Camp 3.
May 5 – Camp 3
Caroline from Climbing The Seven Summits is our eyes and ears on the mountain. She have said that Gabby and Jane are doing very well. Tendi Sherpa is Gabby’s Sherpa (guide), and they will be side by side all the way to the summit. I will tell you more about him in a later posting. Needless to say, they have to be a formidable team to make everything work. Jane’s guide is Pasang Sherpa. Both of these brilliant mountaineers are well suited to take Gabby and Jane to the summit and safely down.
Climbers tagging C3 on the Lhotse Face as I write! Clayton, Gabby, Jane, Pascal, and their guides are moving well up high and reporting perfect conditions. This is probably the best weather day we have seen so far this season. Casey and Sean tagged the bergschrund and are currently descending to EBC in good style. Manal is moving up to C2 on her final rotation. The rest of our climbers are resting at EBC or below in preparation for their summit bids. All is well on Everest!
May 6 – Arrive back at Everest Base Camp
We are safely back to Everest Base camp today from the final acclimatization rotation to Everest’s camp 3 with Gabby.
Couple days of good rest at EBC and we will be ready for our Everest and Lhotse summit push!
Just in from Gabby:
“they were hard days, very physically demanding. steep terrain, snow and ice. I felt strong and Tendi was amazing (as always)… always pushing me to be my best, at the same time ensuring that I’m comfortable with the pace and that my body is feeling good. This was a very successful rotation, surrounded by amazing people and beautiful sights.”
Back at base camp now before heading back up the mountain for the summit push… probably in 3 days time.
Resting up and feeling great.
May 7 – Base Camp
As our summit push is nearing all ctss members and Sherpas are taking refreshment training on oxygen, mask and regulators system and how to use and take care of them properly.
May 9 – Eve of Everest Push
On the eve of her ‘Everest push’, Gabby has a message of thanks for all of her supporters. Ever so close now!
May 10 – It’s Happening!
Gabby leaves base camp at 6:15am Australian time
C2 = Everest Camp 2
Staying at Camp 2 tonight and tomorrow night.
The Summit Plan :
Sleep Camp 2 for 2 nights
Sleep Camp 3
Sleep Camp 4, Summit Everest
Sleep Camp 4
Summit Lhoste
Sleep Camp 2
Camp 2 to Base Camp
(6 nights in total)
May 12 – Camp 2 to Camp 3
Our team has started to summit.
Gabby and Jane will be there in 2 days time.
Gabby & Jane with Guides Tendi & Pasang have moved up from Camp 2 to Camp 3 today. They will sleep on oxygen at C3 before moving up to the South Col (Camp 4) tomorrow and onwards for their planned summit bid on Saturday 14th May summit .
We continue to watch the weather for them but at the moment the forecast is looking good.
May 13 – Camp 4
At the (Camp 4) South Col: Jane & Gabby Kanizay are now safely at the South Col with Guides Tendi and Pasang, having climbed up the remainder of the Lhotse Face today in great weather.
They will take a well deserved rest, steal a cat nap, rehydrate and refuel before setting off this evening (9.45pm Nepal time) on their summit push. They intend to climb through the night and summit early tomorrow morning.
Forecast looks very good.
May 14 – Summit Everest
They made it. Right at this moment they are standing on the top of Everest. Freaking amazing!
At 8:45am Australian time (4:30am Nepal time) Gabby and Jane reached the summit of Everest (8850mts). They were reportedly on the summit for 15-25 minutes to take in the enormity of their achievements, and the sunrise.
HOW AWESOME!
They are ecstatic, elated, healthy and quite literally ‘on top of the world’.
2:25pm (10:10am Nepal time) Saturday 14th May
Gabby back at the South Col and resting
With sunrise this morning Tendi has reached the summit of Everest for the 14th time! He guided his 19 year old Australian client, Gabby, to the end of her dream! The exploit continues with a double Everest – Lhotse
May 15 – Lhotse here she comes!
Gabby leaving with Tendi at 1am for Lhotse.
5:30am (Nepal Time)
Gabby Kanizay safely reached the summit of Lhotse – the World’s 4th highest mountain (at 8516 mts)
WOOHOO!!!
A MONSTER EFFORT.
GABBY’S 3rd 8000 metre peak!
It is not ‘easy’ – no 8000 meter mountain is easy. It is a serious high-altitude mountain where climbers lose their lives every year. The crux of climbing Lhotse is the last 300 meters which follows a steep rock filled gully that is prone for dangerous rock fall.
Gabby is currently passing Camp 3 (at 9:20am Nepal time) en route to 2 to join Jane
MORE LHOTSE SUMMITS! Gabby, Kusang Tamang and Guide Tendi stood on top of Lhotse this morning at 5:30am completing the Everest/Lhotse double. They are now descending the Lhotse face and will be back to C2 shortly.
