Keeping everyone safe

General safety

• When travelling across glaciers and snowfields it is advisable for the team to 'rope up'.
• All team members must have adequate clothing to deal with the rigours of the mountain environment.
• To be safe on the mountain you must have the following equipment once you move beyond 6000 metres:
  • Rucksack
  • Tent
  • Rope
• All teams must comprise at least 4 people when climbing above 6000 metres.

Team number limits on the glacier
The mountain authorities are limiting the number of teams to 10 on any section of the mountain at any one time. Teams need to book their space with the mountain authorities. As one team comes off the mountain another team is allowed on.

Blizzards
Blizzards frequently sweep the mountain. From the time a blizzard warning is received at the team camp there is five minutes before the blizzard strikes on the mountain. The only safe place is inside a tent. Anyone outside is immediately frozen and must evacuate the mountain.

White-outs
White-outs occur when low cloud descends on the mountain. Under these conditions continuing upward is impossible.

Altitude

Altitude	Maximum allowable time
6000m - 7000m	15 minutes
7000m - 8000m	10 minutes
Once over these times teams must immediately return to team camp to recover

Teams have to time and manage this and keep a log of all team members times on the mountain. Anyone over the limit will be struck down with altitude sickness. Time inside a tent resting stops the 'altitude clock'.

Avalanches
Avalanches are random events that can strike even the best climbers. Often they can not be avoided unless you can get to a safe place. Safe places are available on the mountain. Avalanche can occur anywhere on the mountain so it is imperative that your team only communicate in whispers so as not to trigger one.