Annapurna Trekkers Reach Jomson, Everest Trekkers Climb Kala Pattar

The Team at Thorung-la Pass

Annapurna Trekker Jacqueline found the internet in Jomson and sends this report: “the team is happy and healthy at a hotel in Jomson, right by the airport. We had a very windy stroll in, but it was a great final day of walking. We’re all hoping the climbers are having similar success up on Chulu. Please find attached a photo of the trekkers up at Thorung-La Pass. Counter clockwise: Phinjo, David, Jacqueline, Rebecca, Beth, Charlotte, Laura, Lobsong and Harka. Lobsong can’t quit talking about how wonderful our weather was up there. Perfectly sunny, with almost no wind. Everyone had a great experience.”

On Chulu Peak, Eben Reckord reports that the team climbed today to about 17,500 feet, a little below Camp 1. They fixed some rope in the rock band and scouted the route above, then descended to BC.Â The plan is to take a rest day tomorrow, then move up to Camp 1 the following day.

Summit of Kala Pattar

Over on the Everest Trek, Justin Merle reports that the team made it to Gorak Shep today and climbed Kala Pattar (18,192 ft / 5,545 m ).Â Tomorrow morning some of the group will continue up to Everest BC to check that out (though there are no Everest climbers up there now), and then they will start heading back down the valley.

Eric Simonson

Weather Improves, Annapurna Team Over Thorung La

October 22, 2011

October 22 Satellite Image

Eben Reckord reports by sat phone that the weather today was greatly improved after the snowstorm that came through yesterday.Â The Annapurna Trekkers were able to successfully cross east to west over the famous Thorung La pass (17,769 ft / 5416m) which links the Manang area with Muktinath.Â The trekkers started before dawn at Thorung Phedi (14,500 ft / 4420 m) and climbed to the pass, then dropped all the way down to Muktinath (12,160 ft / 3710m).Â Geographically, the west side of the pass is much drier, very much like Tibet.Â Also today, Eben and the team moved up to Chulu Base Camp.

On the Everest side, Justin Merle reports that the Everest/Lobuche/Ama Dablam team also enjoyed a nice sunny acclimatization day at Lobuche BC, which melted some of the snow that fell yesterday.Â The team is doing well and they will be moving on schedule tomorrow to Gorak Shep.

Attached is the current weather map, showing the strong band of clouds and moisture that currently sits just to the north of the Himalayas.Â While the autumn is normally a pretty stable time for weather, there have been some big snowstorms at this time.Â For example, an all-time epic storm, in autumn 1987Â dumped several meters of snow at this time of the year. With several meters of fresh snow at Everest Base Camp and in Tibet and on other Himalayan peaks, many teams and trekkers were stranded, forced to abandon their camps, and literally walk out with the clothes on their backs.

Eric Simonson

Lamithang To Laya, Bhutan Team Doing Well

October 21, 2011

Prayer flags at the pass.

Phil called in with another great report from the Kingdom of Bhutan. The team made it up and over Shingela pass yesterday, which sits at roughly 16,500ft. The weather was “great for walkin”.Â Herds of blue sheep were one of the many highlights as was hanging prayer flags as they crested the pass.

After a nice break they descended into Lamithang for the night where it rained and snowed a bit – not to worry they were tucked into their tents for the night as it began to snow.

Today will be a relatively short day as they make their way from Lamithang to Laya. A well deserved rest-day in Laya follows on Sunday.

All is well in Bhutan.

Tye Chapman

Snow Day In Nepal

October 21, 2011

Snowy day on the trail. (Photo by Ang Jangbu)

We heard overnight from Justin Merle and the Everest/Lobuche/Ama Dablam team.Â They all moved to Lobuche Base Camp today.Â Sounds like some weather has moved in and it was snowing in Khumbu today, and they have 8 inches of fresh snow on the ground.

The Annapurna/Chulu team also checked in, and they have also picked up several inches of snow today, but it is clearing in the evening.Â Charlotte, Lobsang, and the trekkers made it to Thorung Phedi today, below the pass.Â Tomorrow morning the trekkers will get an early start to make it over the pass, and Charlotte will head back to rejoin the Chulu team (who took another acclimatization day today at Yak Kharka.Â prior to moving to Chulu BC tomorrow).

Eric Simonson

Ama Dablam Up Close

October 20, 2011

To Wade Or Not To Wade

October 19, 2011

Phil called in to report that all continues to go well in Bhutan. In fact, he called this one the luckiest crews he’s had in quite awhile as the weather continues to cooperate. Most recently the team crossed Jarila pass at 4600m then descended to the river where several members of the team braved the frigid waters on foot while others hopped on the horses they have with them.

Another big day awaits tomorrow as they’ll cross the Shingela pass (4960m) then drop down to Lamithang

Tye Chapman

Nepal Teams Making Good Progress

October 19, 2011

: Looking up the valley at Lobuche Peak from Pheriche. (Photo by Eric Simonson)

: Annapurna III. (Photo by Eric Simonson)

We heard overnight from both Justin Merle and his EBC/Lobuch/Ama Dablam team,Â and Eben Reckord and the Annapurna team, and it sounds like everyone is doing well!

Justin says his team had a good hike today from Deboche to Pangboche, where they visited Lama Geshe at the monastery.Â After lunch, they pushed on up to Pheriche (about 14,000 feet), where they are now.Â Tomorrow they will take another acclimatization day, and do some hiking in the area.

Eben and the Annapurna and Chulu team headed up past Manang today, and had great views of Annapurna II and Gangapurna along the way.Â They made it to Yak Kharka (about 13,200 feet) where the sherpas have a nice camp set up.

Tomorrow they will also take an acclimatization day, and do some hiking in the area.Â Today the team had their first good view of Chulu Peak, and Eben says it looks big!Â Today they also sent Mingma Dorje up to Annapurna 4 base camp with his camera, and he took 200 photos along the way and then caught up with the team at Yak Kharka!Â We wanted to get some good new shots for our Annapurna IV trip next spring, so weâ€™ll look forward to seeing his photography.

So far, so good!

Eric Simonson

Get Thee To A Nunnery…Or A Bakery

October 18, 2011

Bakery at Tengboche, with Ama Dablam behind. (Photo by Eric Simonson)

IMG guide Justin Merle reports that his team spent a nice rest/acclimatization day today in Deboche.Â Everyone is doing well and having fun.Â This morning they visited the Nunnery, then hiked back up to Tengboche for the afternoon prayers and cake at the bakery.Â He reports that this morning they could see what appeared to be 7 folks climbing to the summit on Ama Dablam, and 3 tents at Camp 3.Â Hopefully the early season groups are able to get to the summit and the mountain is a bit less crowded when we get there!

Eric Simonson

Big Mountains On The Annapurna Trek

October 18, 2011

: Manaslu from Timang. (Photo by Eben Reckord)

: Annapurna 2 and 4 from Upper Pisang Monastery. (Photo by Eben Reckord)

IMG guide Eben Reckord managed to send a couple nice shots to us today, including one of Manaslu (26,759 ft, the 8th highest)â€‰ and also of Annapurna IIÂ (26,040 ft, the 16th highest) and Annapurna IV (24,688 ft).

The team is doing well, and they are currently exploring the Tibetan style village of Manang.Â Our sirdar,Â Lopsang Sherpa, is setting up a blessing ceremony for the team this afternoon at the ancient monastery in Bhraga, which is over 700 years old!

Eric Simonson

Weekend Update From Bhutan

October 17, 2011

IMG Partner Phil Ershler called in via sat phone throughout the weekend with updates from the Bhutan Trekking team.Â Hereâ€™s a summary of whatâ€™s been happening:

10/15/11:Â The group had a nice rest day at Chomolhari on Saturday. Weather was in and out, but decent overall.

10/16/11:Â Sunday, the team trekked over their first pass – Nyelela Pass, at nearly 16,000â€™ – and then descended into Lingshi camp, at 13,200â€™.

10/17/11:Â Today (Monday) was another reasonably good day.Â After a night of camping near the village of Lingshi, the team enjoyed a hearty breakfast before making a 45 minute climb uphill to see the Lingshi Dzong.Â The Dzong has been vacated since suffering significant damage earlier this year due to the earthquake in Sikkim.Â After a visit to the village school, the group departed Lingshi and made their way down towards their next camp at Chebisa (12,700â€™).Â The team experienced intermittent sun, clouds and occasional rain spurts, but all in all good weather for trekking.

Tomorrow will be a big day with two passes to cross â€“ Gobula pass and another unnamed pass with about a 3000â€™ gain.Â Theyâ€™ll drop some altitude as they descend to their next camp at Shomuthang, about 13,900â€™.

All is well!

: Prayer flags strung across mountain pass in Bhutan (photo: Karl Lundgren)

: Monks in Lingshi (Photo: John Dahlem)