EVEREST SKYDIVE - 2016

Everest Skydive 2016 SPRING : Nepal Back on Top of the World 

“Nepal Back on Top of the World” special edition of Everest Skydive undertook on 9th May 2016 at drop zone Syangboche Airport. This special edition, as a part of a massive tourism campaign of Nepal, was organized with an aim to spread the message to the world that tourism is back in business after the devastating earthquake in April 2015. The jumps were performed by legendary crew team which included Omar Allehgan, Wendy Smith, Thomas Noonan, Paul Henry de Baere, Ian Edward Atkins and Jean Phi Audhuy. This spring edition had Fred Williams, Brain Karuse and Fara Barnes as observers; and Michael Tucker, Kim Marsh and Berigette Marsh as clients. This was the second time since 2009 that Everest Skydive was scheduled for Spring.

Crew Members:

  1. Tom Noonan (Leader, Tandem Master)
  2. Wendy Smith (Arial Cinematographer)
  3. Paul Henri (Arial Cinematographer)
  4. Omar Alhegelan (Videographer)
  5. Jean Phillipe (Parachute Packer, Videographer)
  6. Pablo Parazzoli (Tandem Master, Videographer)
  7. Ted Atkins (Oxygen Supervisor)
  8. Fara Barnes (Ground Support)

Participants:

  1. Kim Marsh
  2. Brigette Marsh
  3. Michael Tucker
  4. Brian Krause (Support Trekkers)
  5. Fred William (Support Trekkers)

Our team landed on Lukla airstrip (Tenzing Hillary Airport) on 2nd May 2016. The spirits were high and both crew and participating members were very optimistic for their upcoming adventure. Flying from above the highest point on earth, amidst magnificent views of the Himalayan peaks, will surely be an exciting journey for anyone who dares to take this ultimate challenge.

After the unloading of equipment the hike towards the world’s biggest drop zone began. On the same day the group took off towards the village of Phakding at (2,610m) on 2nd May. Phakding is often the main stopping point for trekkers on their way to Sagarmartha (Mount Everest) via the Gokyo Ri route or Tengboche route. Next day by hiking 3-5 hr our group reached Namche bazaar at (3,450m). Namche Bazaar is popular with trekkers in the Khumbu region, and is also known as the gateway to the high Himalaya. Our team stayed at Namche on 3rd and 4th may for acclimatization before heading to Syangboche at (3,780m). Airstrip on Syangboche region in one of the highest situated airports on earth and has remained the official drop zone for ESD since 2008.

Everest skydive spring 2016 was scheduled for 6th, 7th and 8th May. But unfortunately due to bad weather conditions the event took place after three days after skies finally cleared up and the Mighty Everest revealed itself from its cloud retreat.

With great enthusiasm, Everest Skydive 2016 spring took off with great energy and optimism. Jason Lee from New Zealand was the pilot from Simrik Air in command of B-3 chopper Lema-Papa. On 9th May our ESD team successfully completed five tandem jumps and seven solo jumps. Even though the actual jump dates were postponed, ESD team successfully managed to get all the jumps completed with a limited time frame.

Jump Summary:

S.no

Date

Jump

 

Time

Heli flight/Load

Remarks

 

 

solo

Tandem

 

 

 

1

09 May'16

2

1

7:44 AM

1

Pablo + Jean Phi(Tandem)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Omar (solo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul. Henry (Solo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

09 May'16

1

1

9:00 AM

1

Tom + Kim (Tandem)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Henry (Camera)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

09 May'16

1

1

9:25AM

1

Pablo + Brigatte (Tandem)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wendy (Camera)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

09 May'16

2

1

4:57PM

1

Pablo + Mike Tucker (Tandem)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Hendry (Camera)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jean Phi (Camera)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

09 May'16

1

1

5:25PM

1

Tom + Fara (Tandem)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wendy (Camera)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

09 May'16

 

 

10:AM

 

Baruntse Recce

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fred + Brian

Overall it was a challenging season for Everest Skydiving team due to bad weather conditions. The time frame was less and the risk was high, but with the touch of good luck, ESD 2016 spring was successfully completed. This year’s Everest Skydiving event was dedicated to the “Revival of Tourism in Nepal”. And with the message of “Nepal back on the top of the World “, ESD 2016 spring concluded with high hopes and great optimism.

Everest Skydive – 2016 AUTUMN

The Everest Skydive, ranked as no. 8 best Adventure Events organized over the world under the title “Try before you die” events is one of the most adventurous activity being held in Nepal since 2008. The major highlight of the event was the jump from 29,500 ft. (above Mt. Everest) and the highest drop zone in the world (Syangboche, 12350 ft.). Previously, the event was carried out with the help of Pilatus porter but now the jumps are all carried out from Fishtail air’s B3 helicopter from the raising elevation of 23,000 ft.

Like every year from its inception, the Everest Skydive Expedition 2016 that was the tenth edition of the event became a huge success. This year the event was conducted in two different phases, one in which the ESD crew and the clients made the jumps and the second one which was a separate expedition of Complete Parachute Solutions (CPS), an alliance of parachute market leaders who provide training, parachute systems, and related equipment for U.S. and international allied military and governmental entities all set to set something new in the record books. A former U.S. Navy SEAL Fred Williams who also serves as the President of CPS lead the team which comprised members of U.S. Marine Corps, Army veterans and other professional skydivers.

The regular Everest Skydive crew lead by Tom Noonan consisted of three more members, Dr. Ryan Jackson, team Doctor and also a veteran skydiver, Paul Henry de Baère leading the photography and cinematography with Ted Atkins, the Oxygen Supervisor of the event. Mark Procos and Candace Procos from Vigil aero were also invited in the expedition in honor of their continuous support for ESD from 2008 till date. Our sister company Fishtail air supported us for this elite adventure and it was Captain Maurizio Folini, a reputed name in the flying world who flew most of the jump and the recce loads. Another, Pilot from Fishtail air Timothy Field also gave a shot in few of the jump loads.

For the first phase of the Jump, the jumpers landed in Syangboche (12350 ft) similarly like in the past years. The jump was conducted on 4th of November where the crew and members made a total of 17 jumps, 14 solo jumps and 3 tandem jumps. All these jumps were completed in 6 heli lifts.

Participants of the 1st phase of Jumps:
1. Tom Noonan
2. Ryan Jackson
3. Paul Henry de Baère
4. Ted Atkins
5. James Charles Wigginton
6. Jennifer MC Cord
7. Noah Watts
8. Luc Belg
9. Mark Procos
10. CandaceProcos

The CPS expedition had aimed four different drop zones; Syangboche (12350 ft), Gorakshep (17,530 ft), AmaDablam Base Camp (13,750 ft) and the West Col of Mt. Baruntse, which is situated at an altitude above 20,000 ft and were all set to achieve the highest parachute landing in the world for both Solo and Tandem jumps. The CPS Expedition started their jump from the 8th November with 19 jumps for the drop zone Syangboche, 17 of which were Solo jumps and 2
tandems. Fishtails air B3 took 8 lifts to complete these jumps.

The following day on 9th of November, the jumpers took lift and aimed to land at the Ama Dablam Base Camp (13,750 ft) and succeeded with 8 jumps, 6 Solo and 2 tandems. This landing was marked as the highest parachute landing in the World for both Solo and Tandem jumps. The next day was a rest day as well as celebration day for the group. On November 22 they were on to breaking their own feat and marking a much more higher record for highest parachute landing. 6 total jumps, 4 Solos and 2tandems were made in Gorakshep (17,530 ft), which was also the most outstanding feature of the expedition.

The CPS made successful landings both Solo and tandem in Syangboche (12350 ft)and Gorakshep (17,530 ft) but was very unlucky as they were not able to land in the West Col (20,000 ft) because of very strong winds. The team made 3 recce trips to check the possibilities at the West Col but the conditions did not change. Later, the teams had a group meeting and decided to pull of the West Col expedition for this year but were very hopeful that this mission could be achieved next year.

Participants of the 2nd phase of Jumps:
1. Fred Williams
2. Hunter Williams
3. Cody Caroll
4. Jacob Blick
5. Christopher Dillon
6. CaylenWojcik
7. Jeffery Schultz
8. Joshua Seagrave
9. Martin Rhett
10. Shawn Conley