October 30, 2011

Guides Eben Reckord and Charlotte Austin reported from Muktinath, where they are taking a rest day after crossing the Thorung La Pass yesterday.  Today they visited the famous temple, which is a sacred place for both Buddhists and Hindus, and the goal of many pilgrims.  They had great views of Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest mountain at  8,167 m (26,795 ft).

Over in the Khumbu, guides Justin Merle and Peter Anderson report that the team made it to Base Camp and today had their expedition puja.  The sherpas have already established Camp 1, so everything should be ready for them to move up in the next day or two.

Eric Simonson

October 27, 2011

Justin Merle called last night from the summit of Lobuche Peak to report that the weather was perfect, the view fantastic, and the team 100% on the top.  Way to go gang!

Since that call, we later heard from Justin that the climbers were all back to Lobuche Base Camp (and the trekkers flew today from Lukla to KTM).  Tomorrow the Ama Dablam climbers will head for Pangboche, where they link up with Ang Pasang and the Ama Dablam Sherpa team (who have been getting the BC set up over there).

Over on Chulu Peak, Eben Reckord called on the sat phone to report that the team took a summit shot today, but got turned back just shy of 20,000.  Sounds like they had an avalanche hazard concern, and decided to play it safe.   The team is back to BC now and getting ready to continue their trek to Thoroung La, tomorrow.  Good job, team!

Eric Simonson

October 25, 2011

IMG guide Justin Merle reports that the Lobuche team had a nice rest day today, and are moving up to high camp tomorrow. Everyone is doing well.  Among the EBC trekkers we had Phil, Ray, and Greg fly this morning from Pheriche by helicopter to Lukla, then on to Kathmandu, while the rest of the team descended to Namche.

The Annapurna Trekkers flew from Jomson to Pohkara yesterday and then today flew to Kathmandu.   Eben reports from Chulu Peak that the climbers moved up to Camp 1 today (about 18,100 ft).  Tomorrow Eben, Charlotte, Dawa, and Mingma Dorje are going as high as they can to scout the route, while the climbers take a rest day at high camp.

Eric Simonson

Taboche and Cholatse from above Dingboche

October 22, 2011

October 22 Satellite Image

Eben Reckord reports by sat phone that the weather today was greatly improved after the snowstorm that came through yesterday.  The Annapurna Trekkers were able to successfully cross east to west over the famous Thorung La pass (17,769 ft / 5416m) which links the Manang area with Muktinath.  The trekkers started before dawn at Thorung Phedi (14,500 ft / 4420 m) and climbed to the pass, then dropped all the way down to Muktinath (12,160 ft / 3710m).  Geographically, the west side of the pass is much drier, very much like Tibet.  Also today, Eben and the team moved up to Chulu Base Camp.

October 21, 2011

Snowy day on the trail. (Photo by Ang Jangbu)

We heard overnight from Justin Merle and the Everest/Lobuche/Ama Dablam team.  They all moved to Lobuche Base Camp today.  Sounds like some weather has moved in and it was snowing in Khumbu today, and they have 8 inches of fresh snow on the ground.

The Annapurna/Chulu team also checked in, and they have also picked up several inches of snow today, but it is clearing in the evening.  Charlotte, Lobsang, and the trekkers made it to Thorung Phedi today, below the pass.  Tomorrow morning the trekkers will get an early start to make it over the pass, and Charlotte will head back to rejoin the Chulu team (who took another acclimatization day today at Yak Kharka. prior to moving to Chulu BC tomorrow).

Eric Simonson

October 19, 2011

We heard overnight from both Justin Merle and his EBC/Lobuch/Ama Dablam team,  and Eben Reckord and the Annapurna team, and it sounds like everyone is doing well!

Justin says his team had a good hike today from Deboche to Pangboche, where they visited Lama Geshe at the monastery.  After lunch, they pushed on up to Pheriche (about 14,000 feet), where they are now.  Tomorrow they will take another acclimatization day, and do some hiking in the area.

Eben and the Annapurna and Chulu team headed up past Manang today, and had great views of Annapurna II and Gangapurna along the way.  They made it to Yak Kharka (about 13,200 feet) where the sherpas have a nice camp set up.

Tomorrow they will also take an acclimatization day, and do some hiking in the area.  Today the team had their first good view of Chulu Peak, and Eben says it looks big!  Today they also sent Mingma Dorje up to Annapurna 4 base camp with his camera, and he took 200 photos along the way and then caught up with the team at Yak Kharka!  We wanted to get some good new shots for our Annapurna IV trip next spring, so we’ll look forward to seeing his photography.

So far, so good!

Eric Simonson