Planning to make history
The flight plan aims to minimise the risks involved in an inevitably dangerous mission. Having taken off and flown through the valleys into the shadow of the Everest massif, the pilot’s altitude is then gained by circling above the Dingboche valley, south of the Nuptse Wall. This means that there should be enough space and altitude in an emergency to be able to reach a reasonably safe altitude and accessible rescue position. It also keeps the paramotors further from the dangerous downdraft of Everest’s lee side – although it does expose them to the danger of being blown towards the windward face should the wind suddenly pick up. The flight into the history books should take three hours – just within the paragliders’ fuel capacities.

NG Maps/National Geographic Image Collection