October 19, 2014

Our Teams are moving up the Khumbu Valley.  The 3 x 3 and Ama Dablam Teams have moved into Tengboche on a beautiful day.  Great weather and more fantastic scenery.  Mike has moved up the Pheriche where he reports cool and crisp weather with a light dusting of snow on the ground.

These days are great for the Teams.  Their job is to acclimatize and stay healthy.  It doesn’t hurt to have beautiful views, night and day.  The Tengboche Monastery is a fantastic sight.  The teams will visit the inside tomorrow and take a walk up the ridge.

Enjoy the photos!

Greg Vernovage

October 18, 2014

The Teams in Namche started out with another nice day.  Everyone is feeling well and acclimatizing nicely.

Today was the Bazaar…the Namche Bazaar.  This market which occurs on Saturday is probably one of the oldest gatherings for trade and purchase of everything you might need in the Khumbu.

If you followed our Cho Oyu expedition at all, you will remember that I told you about Nangpa La.  This high pass that connects Tibet to Nepal is one of the oldest trade routes in the world.  Tibetans would come through that pass and trek for days into the Khumbu Valley to Namche.  Here the people still sell and trade and from time to time, we can still see Tibetan’s trading goods.

The team will enjoy a nice mellow walk around town and back to the Khumbu Lodge to get off their feet.  They want to take it easy today because tomorrow is what we call the “down and up” day.  They’ll leave Namche behind and head towards Tengboche and the Monastery.  For this, they will descend to the river and then trek up Tengboche hill.  Our Sherpa make it look easy!

Greg Vernovage

October 17, 2014

To say the least, our Ama Dablam Team and 3 X 3 Team had a great day acclimatizing in and around Namche.

The 3 X 3 Team went to the Everest View Hotel and down to the village of Khumjung for lunch.  From the Everest View, the Team gets mesmerized by the sight of Ama Dablam, Lhotse and the top of Everest.  The weather was amazing with only a few puffy clouds.  After lunch, the 3 X 3 Team walked through the Hillary School on their way home.  The Ama Dablam Team walked up to the Sherpa Museum and took in the sights and their objective…Ama Dablam!  For the Ama Dablam Team the focus is now more intense.  This Team is on it!

IMG Guide Mark Allen:

“Sunny fall weather, the bustle of yaks and locals in the stone streets, the surrounding peaks with deep gorges are much to entertain the group.  The cultural aspects of any trip in Nepal are what make this unique to other mountain adventures.  Waking up to the smell of burning juniper, and prayer bells reminds you of how special and different this place is we are visiting.  We got our first glimpse of the peak today and the moral has risen exponentially.  The groups cohesion is great and everyone appears to have a good working relationship.  It obvious is team is seasoned climbers.  Not much is phasing them and most feel right at home.  With the strength I am seeing combined with the growing team aspect that is beginning to form, this team has great potential.”

Between Mark’s words and the photos that were sent home, I think I will let let you enjoy!

Tomorrow is the Namche Bazaar market!

Greg Vernovage

October 16, 2014

The Teams were up early and on the trail from Phakding to Namche this morning.  Tye called in to say that the air was clear and the views amazing. The trek starts with the temperatures cool and the trail rolling up and down along the river. After crossing a couple of bridges and taking a rest, the team will likely take off a layer or two and start up Namche hill. Slow and steady and breathe.

One of the highlights of the trek today is the new suspended bridge leading towards Namche. It is breathtaking, literally. As you go across the bridge you notice the breeze, blowing the prayer flags and the valley below.  Once across the bridge, we get to test our training at altitude for the first time. Up the hill, zig-zagging and winding its way through the trees. A great rest stop half way up and just around the corner, you might catch a glimpse of Everest for the first time.  Another hour and a half finds the team rounding the last bend and the rewarding sight of Namche Bazaar. This is the largest village in the Khumbu Valley.

A great day by everyone. Some hot tea and a good dinner.  Tomorrow, the team will take an acclimatization hike to the Everest View Hotel and the Hillary School at Khumjung.

Mike visited the Sherpa museum on their rest day and will head out in the morning to Deboche.

It is gorgeous in the Khumbu Valley this time of year!

Greg Vernovage

October 15, 2014

Great news from Lukla!  Both teams made it out of Kathmandu and into Lukla this morning.

Everyone was up early this morning with a 4 am wake up call, both teams had a quick breakfast and loaded the bus to go to the airport.

It is quite the scene at KTM airport heading for Lukla.  Organized chaos is the best I can say.  Find the tallest member of the team and group up.  Get through security and wait.  When the team leaves, it is normally a “hurry up and wait” situation.  Once through security this morning, the team sat around for a while as Kathmandu was fogged in.  Once the fog broke, it was time to load the plane and head to Lukla, where the weather was great.  Both teams made it in with all their gear.

Off they went for their first leg of the trek to Phakding.  Their first night on the trail is spent in a little village along the river.

Tomorrow, the weather looks great and the teams will have their first chance to test themselves on the trail.  It should be pleasantly cool in the morning as they trek up to Namche hill.  There is a new bridge they will cross as they head up the hill…it is even higher above the valley than the last bridge.  The key to success?  Take it slow and stop to take in the scenery.  It is a great hike and the reward is worthwhile.

Psyched to have the teams on their way “up valley.”

Greg Vernovage

October 14, 2014

The Ama Dablam and Everest Base Camp Trekkers and Climbers are packed and ready to go.  A day of packing and last minute errands.  The day started on the roof, Jangbu and the Guide Team went over logistics and trip details, protect the airway from the Khumbu cough and stay out of the way of Yaks!

Kathmandu was wet today.  The edge of Cyclone Hudhud is to the West.  That didn’t stop us from having the “welcome dinner.”  A great chance to get to know our teammates!  We are very optimistic that the clouds will part in the morning and the Teams will fly to Lukla.

Up the Valley, Mike called in from Namche to report that it had been raining but the temperatures were tolerable.  His plan is to rest tomorrow and take in the sites of Namche and the Everest View Hotel.

The 3 x 3 and Ama Dablam Team will be up before dawn for breakfast and head towards the airport for their flight.  We are the first two flights scheduled for the morning. Good News! They should have great views on the flight in!

Greg Vernovage

October 13, 2014

The Ama Dablam climbers and 3 X 3 trekkers and climbers are arriving in Kathmandu.  All of their duffels are arriving with them and gear checks are being done!  This is our first big hurdle.  It is always good when everyone arrives on time with their gear.

Josh and Mike went to the Ministry for the Ama Dablam briefing and to receive the IMG Climbing Permit for Ama Dablam.  Mike is already on the trail up valley and is in Phakding today. “Good weather and the flight to Lukla went smooth.”

We are keeping our eyes on the Cyclone Hudhud right now. This Cyclone made landfall in India and is moving North and West of the Khumbu, so not to worry.  What we are keeping our eyes open for is any sign of precipitation in Kathmandu and the Khumbu.  We are looking good and we will know more about what, if any precipitation comes our way.  The best part about this Cyclone is that it is coming now, as we are in Kathmandu and doing gear checks and checking in with the Ministry.  We will let this blow through and clear out for us.

Tomorrow is another day of gear checking, Ministry briefing and then the Welcome Dinner!  First things first, after breakfast, everyone will have a rooftop meeting and get information about the why’s and what-for’s of the trip!

I love the Welcome Dinners.  It means that the trip has finally arrived, we are done training and prepping our gear.  It is time to take a deep breath and meet our new teammates.

We will keep you posted about each Teams progress right here!

Greg Vernovage