Cho Oyu & Shishapangma Updates

September 17, 2011

Left to right: Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Cho Oyu from the Pang La pass, Tibet. (Photo by Eric Simonson)

Max, Lisa, Markus, Dan and Danuru are sleeping at Camp 2. They will sleep in a bit in the morning and come back down to ABC tomorrow. Walter, Alois, Heidi and Ang Pasang are at Camp 1. Karma Rita will leave ABC early and meet Walter’s team and climb to Camp 2 tomorrow with them and AP will drop down to ABC.

Craig is climbing with Steve, Caroline, Shawn, Patrick and Kumar with Sherpas Danuru I (Dawa), Mingma Dorje and Kancha Nuru. Their plan is to move to Camp 1 tomorrow on their Camp 2 rotation. Mingma Tenzing, Ang Karma and Phinjo Dorje will take a rest day tomorrow here at ABC, and carry to Camp 2 the next day.

It has been snowing down here at ABC this afternoon but it remained clear above Camp 1. The Tibetan/Chinese team carried fixing gear to Camp 2 today and fixed an additional line on the ice cliff.

I talked via sat phone to Mike Hamill at Shishapangma ABC and they are all doing well. The IMG Sherpas are carrying to Camp 2 tomorrow and then Kami and 2 Sherpas from one of the other teams plan to fix to Camp 3 day after tomorrow.

Regards,

Jangbu

More Cho Oyu Climbers Heading To Camp 2

September 16, 2011

: Coming down to C1 (Photo by Shawn Peet)

: Oxygen clinic at ABC (Photo by Ang Jangbu)

Yesterday the climbers did an oxygen clinic at ABC, practicing with the masks, regulators, and tanks.Â This morning Max and his team climbed back to Camp 1 in good time–under 5 hours. Â They are all doing well and are accompanied by Danuru II and Mingma Dorje. Today the rest of the Sherpas made a second carry from Camp 1 to Camp 2, put up some tents for Max’s team, and dropped back to ABC. Â The route to Camp 2 is in good shape.Â Walter and his team, along with one Sherpa, are headed to Camp 1 tomorrow on their Camp 2 rotation. Â The rest of the Sherpas are taking a rest day tomorrow.

Ang Jangbu

Kili team at Barancco Camp.

September 16th, 2011.

The group is settling in for their third night on the mountain.Â They’ve had a big day and everyone is very tired, so they should sleep well tonight!Â The plan tomorrow is to ascend the Breach Wall and traverse below the Southern Glaciers.Â This is our favorite day on the approach, with great scenery and rugged hiking.

~Adam Angel

Climbers on Kilimanjaro (Photo by Adam Angel)

Shira Plateau, Kilimanjaro

September 15th, 2011

Eben Reckord called in this morning to give us an update on the group.Â After a slow and steady climb the group has reached Shira Camp on the edge of the plateau. The group is doing well and is staying healthy, but also feeling the altitude.Â It takes a lot of effort to climb Kilimanjaro and they will have many tough and rewarding days like this one. Tomorrow they head for Baranco Camp, climbing up to 15,000 feet before dropping down to camp at 13,000.Â It sounds like they are all up to the task!

~Adam Angel

Walking through the awesome terrain and flora on the way to Shira Camp. (Photo by Adam Angel)

Shishapangma Climbers Finish Camp 2 Rotation

September 15, 2011

IMG guide Mike Hamill reports by sat phone that the Shishapangma team are all safely back down to ABC, after their Camp 2 rotation.Â Camp 2 is now well established at 22,800 feet.Â Starting tomorrow, the sherpas are heading back up to start working on the route to Camp 3 (about 24,500 feet).Â The members plan a series of rest days now at ABC.Â Mike says that some other teams have now arrived at the mountain, so hopefully some of them can also go up and work on the route.

Rest day at Shishapangma ABC (photo by Eric Simonson)

Right now the weather remains decent, with the jet stream still well to the north and the core of the monsoon to the south of the Himalayas.Â There is some moisture getting sucked up from the south, so some occasional snowfall, but no big storms on the horizon.

Eric Simonson

Sherpas Carry To C2 On Cho Oyu

September 14, 2011

Cho Oyu Climbing Route

Ang Jangbu reports that 6 Sherpas (Ang Pasang, Danuru I (Dawa), Karma Rita, Ang Karma, Phinjo Dorje and Kancha Nuru) Â left ABC at 5 this morning to go to camp 2.Â Their plan is to carry to Camp 2 and then come back to Camp 1 for the night.Â Then, tomorrow, they will make another carry from 1 to 2 and drop down to ABC.Â Tomorrow Danuru II, Mingma Tenzing and Mingma Dorje will go up from ABC to join the rest of the Sherpa team, and a couple of them will wait at Camp 1 for Max and his team climbing up from ABC tomorrow. Craig and his team are at ABC now, enjoying a couple good rest days.

Eric Simonson

2011 JanSport Rainier Climb Video

September 14, 2011

Strong Team on Kilimanjaro.

September 14, 2011.

Day one complete!Â It’s quite the journey from Moshi up to the Machame Gate where the climb begins.Â Here, the group meets their local team of cooks, servers, tent porters and support staff.Â After lots of gear shuffling and a great day on the trail, the team has made it to their first camp (10,000′).Â Eben reports that they are strong and having a great time.Â They are ready for the big elevation gain tomorrow to their next camp on the Shira Plateau.Â Everything is ticking along on schedule.

~Adam Angel

Porters carrying loads to Machame Camp. (Photo by Adam Angel)

Kili Team Preparing for the Climb.

September 13, 2011.

Eben Reckord checked in to let us know that the whole team has arrived safely in Moshi and is resting up from the long flights.Â After a good rest, they’ll check out the local market, visit with our good friends at the Kilimanjaro Porter’s Assistance Project, and get ready for “The Main Event.”Â The team is super excited to start the climb.Â Almost “Go” time!

~Adam Angel

A Cho Oyu Update From Ang Jangbu

September 12, 2011

Morning shot of Cho Oyu from ABC.

Dear Eric,

All is well up here. Craig and his team: Steve, Caroline, Shawn, Kumaran, Patrick plus Walter x 3 and sherpas Danuru II, Mingma Tenzing and Mingma Dorje pulled into Camp 1 in good timing and they are all doing well.Â Â Five Sherpas carried to Camp 1 more oxygen, tents and some member personal gear: Danuru I (Dawa), Karma Tita, Phinjo Dorje, Ang Karma and Kancha Nuru.

The fixing team has started to fix above Camp 1 this afternoon. Their plan is fix high as they can towards Camp 2 tomorrow and drop back down to ABC.

Our team up at Camp 1 plans to climb high up by the Ice Cliff , on the way to Camp 2 and return to Camp 1. They might decide to spend the third night at Camp 1 before returning to ABC on the 15th.

We have 3 more sherpas: Karma Rita, Phinjo Dorje and Kancha carrying again tomorrow to camp 1. Dawa and Ang Karma will take a rest day tomorrow (they came down with Max’s team yesterday).Â Â Max and his team: Lisa, Markus and Dan plans to move up on the 15th.

Regards,

Ang Jangbu Sherpa