October 30, 2014

Lobuche Summit (Eben Reckord)

Lobuche Summits!

Climbers topping out on Lobuche (Greg Vernovage)

Senior Sherpa Guide, Phinjo called from the summit of Lobuche.  All is well and the Team had a great day climbing and taking in the views from the summit of Lobuche.  Congratulations to the Lobuche climbers!  They are all back at Base Camp enjoying hot drinks and food…and a good night sleep.

From Lobuche High Camp the Team bends around a small lake and hits the rock slabs up to Crampon point.  From Crampon Point, they are on snow and steeper terrain.  Tashi was up early, fixing the route to the summit.

The view of EBC and the Khumbu Ice Fall are amazing.  Everest and Lhotse tower over the entire valley.  It is amazing to take in the enormity and vastness of the Valley from on top of Lobuche.

3 x 3 Trekkers in Gokyo

Tye checked in from Gokyo.  That team is out there.  Just more great weather.  The trail to Gokyo is up and down though high passes.  Tye was able to send in a few more great pictures from out there.  As always, I will let those pictures tell most of the story.

The 3 x 3 trekkers are earning it with snow on the ground but are very happy with the scenery.

Ama Dablam update

Mike Hamill called in from Base Camp on Ama Dablam.  All is well with our Team.  Mike is back at BC and will rest for a couple days before heading up on their summit bid.

Ama Dablam Camp 2 (Justin Merle)

Mark and his group are at Yak camp and will head to Camp 1 tomorrow.

Josh is at Camp 1 and will head to Camp 2 before returning to BC.

Word from higher on the mountain is that the route is in great condition.  It is time to start looking closely at the weather and find that summit window.

Greg Vernovage

October 29, 2014

Looking West to Khumbu Glacier and Lobuche Peak from Khongma La (Tye Chapman)

Another great night in the Khumbu has our Teams moving!

Our Lobuche climbing team has done their training and is ready to test themselves on Lobuche Peak tonight.  Tye Chapman called in from Thagnak after an up and down day on the trail for the 3 x 3 Team.  Tye called just as night was falling and said the sky was bright with stars and thinks the Lobuche Team will have a cool and clear night for their climb.  Go get Lobuche!  We are all pulling for you!

Tye and the 3 x 3 Trekking Team has been earning every step.  They went over Chola Pass and into Thagnak.  Conditions are good and the Team is looking forward to checking out Gokyo tomorrow.

On Ama Dablam, Mark Allen sent in a few photos and wanted to let us know that the Team is doing great and working hard towards their last rotation before the summit bid.

Mike has been to Camp 2 and is now back at BC.  Josh took off for a couple nights up high.  They will spend a night around 18,000 feet and then two more at Camp 2.  This will put them in position to go for the summit.  Mark and his team are right behind Josh, Mark notes, “following in their footsteps.”

Greg Vernovage

October 28, 2014

Everyone checked in this morning!

Stay with me here….Mark checked in from Yak Camp this morning.  All is well and the Team is climbing well and working together.  They will touch Camp 1 tomorrow and head back down.

Mike Hamill is at Camp 1 and will touch Camp 2 and return to Ama Dablam Base Camp tomorrow as well.

Josh checked in from Ama Dablam Base Camp and will head up on their Camp 2 rotation in the morning.

Phunuru also called and said that everything is going as planned with logistics, and he and the Sherpa team are having a good time and are impressed with all of the climbers.

It is always nice to hear from the Teams and get some laughter over the phone.  Mark said that the weather has been just great.  Beautiful days and a ton of stars at night.

Tye Chapman checked in from Dzongla.  Great tea house!  Of course, they dropped in altitude and will get a good night sleep.  The 3 x 3 Team made a stop at Lobuche Base Camp to say hello to our Lobuche Climbing Team and see what the set up looked like.  They will continue up valley tomorrow to Thagnak.

Our Lobuche Climbing Team will do fixed line training tomorrow at Lobuche Base Camp and will take some rest.  The following day will take them to High Camp and line them up for a summit bid of Lobuche!

Greg Vernovage