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Mount Everest as it rises behind Mount Nuptse as seen from Tengboche, in the Himalaya's Khumbu region, Nepal (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

A former Central Washington University professor is among some 200 climbers now attempting to climb the world’s highest peak, but the weather, especially high and incredibly cold winds, have trapped or stopped many climbers in their push to the top.

That many climbers on 29,035 foot high Mount Everest is apparently causing traffic jams and hazardous conditions. Four climbers have died on the mountain, apparently from exhaustion and altitude sickness. Two climbers remain missing.

Jon Kedrowski, 33, who taught at Central Washington University for two years before leaving to pursue more climbing adventures, has helped in four rescue attempts of climbers in trouble, according to a story in the Yakima Herald Republic.

Kedrowski, however, is not deterred.

The Yakima paper quotes dispatches posted on Kredowski’s blog by a friend, Chris Tomer, a Denver meteorologist.

 ”In spite of what has happened, Jon is ready to make a 2nd summit attempt … heading back into the ‘Death Zone’ (above 26,000 ft).”