Mount Everest 29,029' (8848m) - Highest mountain on Earth      March 15th - May 30th,  2017

Ricardo spent 2 and a half months in Nepal, first guiding an Everest Base camp Trek and then attempting to summit Everest. While acclimatizing Ricardo did a solo ascent of Island Peak 20,300' and two ascents of Kala Patthar 18,192'. After making a rotation up to camp 3 and back down to Base camp Ricardo got pneumonia and it took him two weeks and two different courses of antibiotics to finally get better just in time to attempt the summit. On May 23rd Ricardo arrived at camp 4 (Everest's high camp on the south col at 25,938') for his summit attempt. The forecast called for the jet stream to move off Everest but Ricardo encountered 100+ mile per hour winds. These conditions made it impossible to attempt the summit for all the climbers at the south col that night. Given that there wasn't enough oxygen to spend 3 nights at the south col Ricardo had to descend and give up his Everest attempt. Read all about the expedition on the captions of the photos.

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Photos from the expedition

Ricardo at Everest's high camp

Ricardo shot this video the afternoon they arrived at high camp (26,000'). Near the end of the video Ricardo opens the tent and shows the summit of Everest also being blasted by the jet stream.

SONGS: The Boxer

During the trek Ricardo guided a stop was made to rest and eat. Since Ricardo was carrying his guitar he took it out to do a song. Dawa Dendi (who climbed Everest with Ricardo is sitting next to him). Alberto (Ricardo's borther) shot this great video of the song!

Ricardo is raising money to get a chance to go back and summit Everest. If you'd like to make a donation and be part of this Summits, Songs and Science project click here for more information.