September 27, 2016

The Team is prepared and ready to make their summit push on Cho Oyu.  During the rest days at ABC, the Team did the oxygen clinic and then practiced and practiced and practiced!  With the rest days came some snow and Mike decided to hang tight for an additional day at ABC.

Now the weather has cleared up and the Team is feeling strong.  The last little piece to the puzzle is the fixing team.  With no movement high on the mountain, Mike wants to make sure the fixing team has enough time to do the job right.  With good weather and word from up high that the route is fixed, our climbers will head up hill in in the morning!

Have a great climb everyone!

Greg Vernovage

September 21, 2016

Mike checked in from Camp 1 today.  “All is well up here at Camp 1.  The team was strong today and will hike to the base of the ice cliff in the morning to stretch their legs.  The following day, the plan is to head for Camp 2 if weather permits.”  The weather forecast has a little precipitation for the team to keep their eyes on over the next few days.  We are watching the monsoon retreat right now and will likely see a little spike in wind to help move it out of the region.

The Tibet Trek woke up to overcast skies and light snow at Rongbuk.  After stretching their legs and touring the Monastery, the team jumped in the 4 X 4 and headed to Shigatse.  They will be up early to head back to Lhasa!

Greg Vernovage

September 20, 2016

The Climbing Team has reached Camp 1 and is tucked in for the night.  With good weather in the forecast and a strong team, Mike and Dallas want to take advantage of everything.  They are going to spend the night at Camp 1 and then head up the ice cliff to Camp 2.  The Sherpa Team has been to Camp 2 and has reported the route is in great shape.  Our Sherpa Team wants to put an additional rappel line in at the ice cliff to reduce congestion.  All is well above ABC!

Let’s talk about the Tibet Trek as they head to the North Side of Mount Everest and Rongbuk.  Jangbu and the Tibet Trekking Team left Tingri early this morning and have arrived at Rongbuk.  In route, Jangbu had cell signal and was able to send a few pictures back.  These triggered memories for Eric Simonson back home.  Eric pulled a couple pictures out from the 1982 expedition.  I have heard more than once, stories of the 1982 North Side Team and talk about crossing rivers with the trucks and cutting the road through ice!  The North Side is a little more accessible now.  The Tibet Trek is doing great and will visit the Rongbuk Monastery and the North Side of Mount Everest Base Camp tomorrow.  This Team is having a great trip!

Greg Vernovage

September 18, 2016

The Tibet Trek and Cho Oyu Climbing Teams will take a rest day today at ABC.  Starting tomorrow, the Tibet Trek will head downhill to Tingri while the Cho Oyu Climbing Team stays on the mountain and continues to climb.

The next destination for the Tibet Trek is the North Side of Everest and for the Climbing Team another day or two of rest and back up for their Camp 2 rotation.

All is well on Cho Oyu!

Greg Vernovage

September 17, 2016

Camp 1 on Cho Oyu (Mike Hamill)

Mike just called from ABC after a successful rotation to Camp 1 on Cho Oyu.  One night at over 6000 meters is enough for the first trip up the mountain.  They arrived at Camp 1 just after lunch and had all afternoon to acclimatize and look at the route above.  After a cool night, the Team went downhill just after breakfast and was back at ABC by lunchtime.

With the first rotation in the books, the team can evaluate the mountain and their schedule.  The forecast is calling for a little bit of precipitation over the next couple days.  We are getting stronger and more acclimatized every day!

Greg Vernovage