September 25, 2012

IMG leader Mike Hamill reports from Base Camp:  “The team is doing well and in good spirits considering the events of the past few days. We had a lengthy team meeting today and have decided to leave the mountain for several reasons including continued unstable conditions high on the mountain.  The Sherpa are headed up to C2 early tomorrow morning to bring down the remaining gear and they plan to be back to Base Camp around 10am so we can pack before lunch and head down early afternoon. We’ll spend the night in Sama and fly to Kathmandu the next morning”.

Eric Simonson

September 23, 2012

Manaslu Base Camp (Phunuru Sherpa)

IMG leader Mike Hamill reports that the team has now descended from Camp 2 to Base Camp.   Sounds like it was starting to get windy up high, this morning, with blowing snow.

Now that the team is all down, we will discuss their options, and make a final decision about the expedition plans.

Eric Simonson

September 23, 2012

IMG leader Mike Hamill made it back to Camp 2 and rejoined the IMG Team, after helping with the response to the avalanche at Camp 3.  The IMG team is all doing well at Camp 2 and will spend another night there.  Their plan is to descend to Base Camp in the morning, so we’ll have more info after they get down.

This is a very sad accident, apparently caused by a random act of nature.  When a serac (a big ice block) falls on a slope, it will cause the snow to be dislodged.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the climbers and families.

Eric Simonson

September 22, 2012

IMG Manaslu leader Mike Hamill reports that about 4:30am (local time) a serac fell triggering a slide that hit Camp 3. The IMG team is at Camp 2 and they are all safe and sound.  Mike and several other guides are now responding to Camp 3 to assist.   We’ll be waiting for more info.

Eric Simonson

September 22, 2012

IMG climbers between Camp 1 and 2 (Mike Hamill)

Mike just called from Camp 2 to report that they pulled into camp between 11:00-11.30AM and that the team is doing well and the route conditions were good.  He estimates that 150 people have now been up and down this section now, so it is well kicked-in.  Sherpas carried oxygen from Base Camp to Camp I this morning and then carried member personal gear from Camp I to Camp 2 and dropped back down to base camp after setting up the tents at Camp 2.

Sherpas will take a rest day tomorrow and go up the next day.  Mike and the climbers plan to tag Camp 3 and then descent for a second night at Camp 2 tomorrow. Then, they will see how everyone is feeling, weather, etc and make a plan whether to go up and spend a night at Camp 3 or drop down to Base Camp the following day.  Mike also said the route is now open to Camp 3 and he thinks there were at least 40 people between Camp  2 and 3 today.   No one has been to Camp 4 yet.

Eric Simonson