3×3 And Ama Dablam Update

November 4, 2014

IMG Guide Tye Chapman checked in from Namche with more great photos. The 3 x 3 Team is in the home stretch now. They stopped off in Namche for some last minute souvenir shopping and lunch before heading further down valley to Monjo. They are in Monjo for the night and will take the last leg of their trek to Lukla in the morning for the flight to Kathmandu. All is well and this 3 x 3 Team has had a wonderful trip. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for good flying weather tomorrow.

Over on Ama Dablam, it has been a very busy two days for our Team. After the ice avalanche yesterday that killed one and injured three above Camp 3, the Dablam Glacier section of the route is still very active, with more ice blocks calving off the ice cliff and sweeping the route below. More ice came off last night. Mark, Josh and Phunuru assessed the level of risk high on the mountain and presented all of the information to our climbers. Climbing is inherently dangerous. Each climber must decide what level of risk they are willing to take.

This Team has been working hard towards their goal and took in the information that was given to them. At this time, the members of our team have made the decision that the risk is too great at the Dablam Glacier section of the climb. The team has elected to not go for the summit. They are clearing gear off the mountain and will pack up and head down valley tomorrow.

“This is a great team.” Said Mark Allen. “We all worked so hard to get up there”. The only thing I could say to Mark on the phone was, “When you don’t get the summit, it stings, especially when the team is getting along and working so well together.” This will sting, but I am proud of the team’s decision and the thought each member put into reaching it. The common factor Mark said was that they had friends and family at home that they loved. They are more important to our climbers than the risk of going into such a dangerous terrain.

Greg Vernovage