Dolpo Trekkers Reach Shimen

October 1, 2013

Heading up the Panjyan Khola valley (Lobsang Sherpa)

Adam Angel reports that the Dolpo team had a shorter day today, reaching Shimen in time to take bucket showers this afternoon and wash some laundry.Â The team has now travelled from Saldang in the Nankhong Valley over into the Panjyan valley.Â These valleys are north of the Himalayan watershed and drain west into the Karnali River.Â The small villages in the area are all in the midst of the harvest season, with lots of barley being cut, dried, and threshed.Â Tomorrow they continue up theÂ Panjyan Khola (river) past the old trading village of Tingue (Tinje), from the days when salt mined in Tibet was the main trading commodity.Â Nowadays it is mainly Chinese hardgoods being carried across the nearby border by mules and porters.

Eric Simonson

Kili Climbers Relaxing On Safari

October 1, 2013

: Heading out in the pop top vehicle to look for wildlife

: Hanging out at the safari camp with the their Maasai camp guard

: Pride of lions on a Kopje (rocky outcrop) in the Serengeti

Chris Meder reports that the group has done a good job mastering the techniques of relaxation.Â Today they spent a second day of game viewing on the Serengeti, then tomorrow they head over to Ngorongoro Crater.Â The weather has been good and the critters have been cooperative, and Chris reports they have enjoyed some excellent wildlife viewing. After a hard climb, the safari is a great way to decompress, enjoy the sights, and have some fun with new friends made on the mountain.

Eric Simonson

Cho Oyu Team Back To C1

October 1, 2013

From: Ang Jangbu Sherpa
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 5:36 AM
To: Eric Simonson
Subject: Re: Cho Oyu update Summit!!!

Dear Eric,

Yaks on way to ABC (Ang Jangbu)

Just got off the phone with Phunuru. All members are safely back down at Camp 1. They have finished dinner and everyone in tents. Sherpas managed to clear Camp 3 & 2 and all dropped all the way to ABC. They arrived ABC awhile ago.Â Members will come down in time for lunch and Sherpas are taking a rest day tomorrow. They will go to Camp 1 day after to bring everything down. Pack on 4th. Yaks arrive same day. They will leave early on 5th and come all the way to Zhangmu. Â Kathmandu on 6th.

Jangbu

Cho Oyu Summits!

September 30, 2013

Ang Jangbu reports: “Just talked to Kaji at Base Camp.Â The team reached the summit early this morning and are now descending through the Yellow Band on their way down. They will regroup at Camp 3, and Mike and Peter will continue down with members while the Sherpas take down Camp 3 and carry it down. Everyone plans to come down to Camp 1 tonight.

The Sherpas will stay at Camp 1 tonight also and go back and bring down Camp 2 tomorrow while the climbers head down to ABC.”

Eric Simonson

Mt. Rainier Shut The Door Early This Year

September 30, 2013

Paradise parking lot today.

The Mt. Rainier climbing season came to a screeching halt last week with the arrival of a couple (yes a couple) premature winter storms and â€œWinter Storm Warningsâ€. We donâ€™t normally get these winter storms in September, in fact, most years we could guide Rainier well into October. So, with the winds at Camp Muir forecasted at 90-100+mph, the freezing level called to drop to 5000ft, and several inches of rain (feet of snow) predicted, the decision to cancel our last climb of the season was a tough, but necessary decision. Thankfully all the climbers who were on that climb were incredibly understanding, with most having already rescheduled for next year.

As we officially wrap-up the season the storms are still dumping snow on the slopes of Mt. Rainier. For some additional perspective the snowplows are out at Paradise making their second and likely third laps of the parking lot.

Eventually the storms will push through and weâ€™ll probably get more warm-up, but Mt. Rainier shut the door early this year; who are we not to listen?

Tye Chapman

Dolpo Trekkers Cross Komas Pass

September 30, 2013

Soldang village in Google. Earth

Adam Angel reports that the team really enjoyed their stay in Soldang, a very attractive little village up close to the Nepal-Tibet border.Â He said the local people were harvesting barley, and singing in the fields as they worked.Â Today they climbed up over the Komas Pass (about 15,500 feet) and dropped down to Komas village (about 14,100 feet).Â They had some sleet and rain today as they crossed the pass, but the weather has improved as they dropped back down.Â The overall weather trend is improving so hopefully they will not have any further issues in the high passes to come.

Eric Simonson

Kili Team Going On A Lion Hunt

September 30, 2013

The terminal at Serengeti airport (Eric Simonson)

Chris Meder reports that the Kili team wrapped up their climb with a nice BBQ dinner back at the hotel, and a well-deserved sleep in a soft bed.Â All their dirty climbing clothes go in a duffel, to be forgotten till they get home.Â Now, itâ€™s time to put on the safari gear, grab the binoculars and camera, and head for the bush!Â The team flew to Seronera (Serengeti) today and headed out to go find some critters.Â Tonight they will be in their luxury camp, enjoying a tall cool one.

Eric Simonson

Cho Oyu Climbers Reach Camp 3

September 30, 2013

: Satellite photo for September 30

: Camp 3 and the view up towards the Yellow Band (Phunuru Sherpa)

Ang Jangbu reports that yesterday Chewang Lendu, Nima Karma, Mingma Tenzing and Ang Karma made it up to Camp 3 to dig out platforms and get the high camp set up at about 24,500 feet.Â Then, today, the climbers moved up from Camp 2 to Camp 3, where they are currently resting, brewing, and getting ready for a big day tomorrow!Â They will also be getting plugged in to their oxygen up at C3, which will help get some decent â€œrestâ€ up there.

The plan for tomorrow is to start climbing in the wee hours of the morning and try to be on the summit early in the morning.Â Some high clouds today but the weather seems to be holding and the most recent satellite photo shows that most of the moisture has moved out of the area. Weâ€™ll keep our fingers crossed!

Eric Simonson

Carstensz Team Heading For The Barn

September 30, 2013

: Members of the local Sugapa porter crew.

: Dropping off the Plateau back into the forest.

Dan Zokaites reports by sat phone that the team hiked yesterday from Base Camp back over new Zealand Pass to the site of Camp 5 (sometimes referred to as Nasidomaâ€¦this is also near the place on the route where the trail from Illaga joins in).Â They were joined by about a dozen of the local Sugapa guys who had stayed at Base Camp to wait for them while climbing.Â Then, today, they all hiked to Camp 4, re-crossing a good chunk of the Plateau.Â The goal for tomorrow is Camp 2.5â€¦they will be back in the forest.Â Everyone is getting pretty tired, but they are grinding it out.Â So far, so good!

Eric Simonson

Dolpo Trekkers Cross Sela Pass

September 28, 2013

Adam Angel reports that the Dolpo trekkers had a great rest day at yesterday, and spent a second night at Shey Gompa.Â During the night they had heavy rain, but now it has cleared.Â Today they crossed over the Sela Pass (16,750 feet) and dropped down to Namgung Gompa (14,530 feet), another fantastic old monastery… with a Facebook Page!

Adam says the scenery is really fantastic and he is taking tons of good photos (Adam is a great photographer, so we’ll look forward to seeing his shots).Â Tomorrow, the reach Soldang, the major village in the area.

Eric Simonson