September 19, 2011

Climbers above the Ice Cliff, on the way to Camp 2. (Photo by Ryan Dahlem taken through the telescope at ABC).

The snow stopped soon after the earthquake last night and its a beautiful morning here at Cho Oyu.   Walter, Alois, Heidi and Karma Rita spent last night at Camp 2 and are now making good progress on their way down to ABC. Craig, Steve, Caroline, Shawn, Kumar and Patrick left Camp 1 at 6 this morning.   They are already above the Ice Cliff and are making good progress to Camp 2 where they plan to spend the night.  Mingma Tenzing, Ang Karma and Phinjo Dorje left ABC at 5:15 am to make a carry to Camp 2, and then they will return to ABC.  The Tibetan fixing team is planning to open up the route and carry to Camp 3 on 9/21, and there is a Korean team who are in a rush and they are hoping to fix the Yellow Band and summit on 9/23.  We’ll see how they do — our summit teams should be a few days behind them if all goes well.

Regards,

Jangbu

September 18, 2011

Watching the climbers up on the mountain from Cho Oyu ABC (Eric Simonson)

Ang Jangbu reports that the climbers felt the earthquake today that hit northeastern India (centered in Sikkim).  He says the ground shook for some time, and there were a few avalanches triggered on some of the various slopes around the area, but no ill effects for climbers on Cho Oyu.

Jangbu says that some of the sherpas have now checked with their families back in Kathmandu, and everything is ok there.  For the climbers,  everything continues on schedule, with Max’s team coming down from Camp 2 in good shape after their overnight. Walter’s team is at Camp 2 now, and Craig’s team will be going up to Camp 2 tomorrow.

Eric Simonson

September 16, 2011

Yesterday the climbers did an oxygen clinic at ABC, practicing with the masks, regulators, and tanks.  This morning Max and his team climbed back to Camp 1 in good time–under 5 hours.  They are all doing well and are accompanied by Danuru II and Mingma Dorje. Today the rest of the Sherpas made a second carry from Camp 1 to Camp 2, put up some tents for Max’s team, and dropped back to ABC.  The route to Camp 2 is in good shape.  Walter and his team, along with one Sherpa, are headed to Camp 1 tomorrow on their Camp 2 rotation.  The rest of the Sherpas are taking a rest day tomorrow.

Ang Jangbu

September 14, 2011

Cho Oyu Climbing Route

Ang Jangbu reports that 6 Sherpas (Ang Pasang, Danuru I (Dawa), Karma Rita, Ang Karma, Phinjo Dorje and Kancha Nuru)  left ABC at 5 this morning to go to camp 2.  Their plan is to carry to Camp 2 and then come back to Camp 1 for the night.  Then, tomorrow, they will make another carry from 1 to 2 and drop down to ABC.  Tomorrow Danuru II, Mingma Tenzing and Mingma Dorje will go up from ABC to join the rest of the Sherpa team, and a couple of them will wait at Camp 1 for Max and his team climbing up from ABC tomorrow. Craig and his team are at ABC now, enjoying a couple good rest days.

Eric Simonson

September 12, 2011

Morning shot of Cho Oyu from ABC.

Dear Eric,

All is well up here. Craig and his team: Steve, Caroline, Shawn, Kumaran, Patrick plus Walter x 3 and sherpas Danuru II, Mingma Tenzing and Mingma Dorje pulled into Camp 1 in good timing and they are all doing well.   Five Sherpas carried to Camp 1 more oxygen, tents and some member personal gear: Danuru I (Dawa), Karma Tita, Phinjo Dorje, Ang Karma and Kancha Nuru.

The fixing team has started to fix above Camp 1 this afternoon. Their plan is fix high as they can towards Camp 2 tomorrow and drop back down to ABC.

Our team up at Camp 1 plans to climb high up by the Ice Cliff , on the way to Camp 2 and return to Camp 1. They might decide to spend the third night at Camp 1 before returning to ABC on the 15th.

We have 3 more sherpas: Karma Rita, Phinjo Dorje and Kancha carrying again tomorrow to camp 1. Dawa and Ang Karma will take a rest day tomorrow (they came down with Max’s team yesterday).   Max and his team: Lisa, Markus and Dan plans to move up on the 15th.

Regards,

Ang Jangbu Sherpa

September 6, 2011

A number of the IMG climbers moved up to Camp 1 today for an overnight stay for acclimatization, and the other members will be moving up tomorrow or the next day.  Ang Jangbu accompanied them and got some nice photos from Camp 1!

Eric Simonson