Skydive Everest -- World's Highest DZ
From
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081005/tod-skydivers-plunge-past-mount-everest-7f81b96.html :
KATHMANDU (AFP) - Three skydivers in Nepal entered the record books on
Sunday, plunging from above the height of Mount Everest to land at the
world's highest drop zone.
The daredevil adventurers -- from Britain, New Zealand and Canada -- said
they had magnificent views as they rocketed past the world's highest peak.
"It was amazing, just spectacular," Holly Budge told AFP by telephone after
making a safe landing at 3,900 metres (12,870 feet).
"We had one minute of freefall and while we were above the clouds you could
see Everest and the other high mountains popping out of the top."
The skydivers faced sub zero temperatures and fast changing weather when
they jumped in front of Everest to touch down in the foothills of the
mountain.
The trip, organised by British adventure travel company High and Wild, has
cost 32 clients around 24,000 dollars each.
"It was worth the money. It is something that has never been done before,"
said Budge, a 29-year-old British camerawoman who has completed 2,500
skydives and who jumped to raise money for charities in Britain and Nepal.
Skydiving at altitudes just higher than the summit of Mount Everest created
numerous challenges for the project.
Due to the thin air, their parachutes were three times the size of regular
ones, and the jumpers used oxygen tanks strapped to their waists.
They also wore neoprene undersuits and thermal gear to keep out the freezing
temperatures as they leapt out at about 8,940 metres (29,500 feet).
"The organisers have brought a plane over from Switzerland, and the permits
have been very expensive, as has getting everyone to the jump site," said
Budge.
The oldest client slated to make the jump in the coming days is Alan Walton,
a 72-year-old British partner in a bioscience company, organiser Nigel
Gifford said.
"Although many are very experienced, others are making their first ever
skydive and will be going in tandem with experts," said Gifford, whose
company has permission to operate in the area for another 13 days.
The "Everest Skydive" is an event that has been 15 years in the making for
Gifford.
"It came about because I have been a Himalayan mountaineer and took up
skydiving. I love doing both and I thought it would be good to marry the
two," he said.
date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 20:04:42 -0700
author: ynotssor
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