A new focus while waiting for Mt Everest

IF MOUNT EVEREST is going to be summited, it typically happens during April and May. It’s the only time of year when weather conditions are favourable enough for an expedition. And, as we reported in our April issue, this was the plan for four brave South African women – they were to set off on the adventure of their lives.

But, as we all know, the coronavirus pandemic caused a global shutdown, forcing mountaineers Deshun Deysel, Lisa Gering, Tumi Mphahlele and Alda Waddell to hang up their highly specialised K-Way down expedition suits until at least next year’s Everest summit climbing window.

Not only did COVID-19 interrupt travel plans, but it’s caused dire financial consequences for world economies, and placed an immense burden on countries’ healthcare systems. No more acutely are financial burdens felt than on an Everest trip, which can cost upwards of $50 000 (±R920 000) to fund (a rate that doesn’t include flights or gear). Just two weeks prior to the women’s departure date for Nepal, only Lisa had secured all the funding needed.

‘I was all good to go when it was announced that Nepal was closing the mountain,’ says

Lisa. ‘The impact on Nepal is immense – they rely heavily on the trekking and climbing season, which brings tens of thousands of tourists, and that was all closed off.’ Many of the trekking and climbing guides in Nepal earn upwards of

80 per cent of their annual income during this period.

Lisa says she often daydreams about where she would be at certain points of the trek had it not been for the derailment of their plans. She will begin planning again to try and make the trip next year, but the heartbreak of losing the funding she already spent lingers on. ‘I suppose the one upside is more time to get sponsorship. It’s never something that’s easy to secure, especially with mountain climbing, which isn’t too prominent.’

K-Way developed the suits that would have been worn 24/7 by the Everest climbers. The clothing manufacturer has a long-standing history

in developing some of the best expedition apparel for explorers and mountain climbers alike. The garment guru over at K-Way, Stevie Hector, says the suit design has largely remained the same for Everest expeditions since 2014. But refinements have taken place, depending on the climber’s needs, and advancements in K-Way’s technical capabilities.

The down suits were manufactured using each mountaineer’s specific measurements, and tailored to their bodies. Pertex Endurance makes up the outer fabric, which is highly abrasion resistant. The entire suit weighs almost 3 kg.

Stevie says that K-Way shifted focus during South Africa’s national lockdown, converting the factory, based in Ottery in Cape Town, into a mask- and personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing business. The team produced more than 250 000 cloth face masks and developed a specialised disposable hazmat suit for workers on the front line.

K-Way’s development and design teams had to think outside the box during the lockdown to come up with new ways of working. ‘In doing so, we were able to bring our staff in under emergency services permits,’ says Stevie. ‘We’ve also been able to provide muchneeded work to our smaller CMT operators who are struggling to sustain paying their staff if they’re not working.’

The factory transformation meant the layout had to be rejigged to increase the physical space between workers, and strict hygiene standards and checks were also implemented. These included wearing masks at all times, as well as regular hand sanitising. While K-Way hasn’t traditionally focussed on products in the PPE sector, its skilled workforce and highly technical machines have enabled the company to adapt and realign to the needs of the community. The global pandemic has indeed had devastating consequences, but the K-Way team has shown that they can rise to the greatest of challenges.

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Above: Posing in their K-Way expedition suits earlier this year, these are three of the four members of the team that were meant to take on Mount Everest before the global coronavirus pandemic interrupted their plans.

Left and above: During South Africa’s national lockdown, the K-Way factory in Ottery, Cape Town, was adapted to manufacture much-needed personal protective equipment that is required by essential workers. With its machinery and skilled staff, it was well prepared and equipped to assist the nation.