Everyone in the team topped out including Christine Burke (Australia/NZ), Vance Cook (USA), Lakpa Sherpa, Ngima Sherpa and Galden Sherpa.
The team are already back at Camp 3 and they will drop to Camp 2 later today to rest for the night. Everyone is feeling well. Celebrations back at base camp tomorrow!!!
Fortunately another window has opened so the Makalu team are presently climbing to camp 4. Once they get there, they’ll rest in preparation for their summit bid starting tonight. It’s a bit busy up there with lots of teams also climbing on the same schedule. Go team!
Chris and Vance have completed their camp 3 rotation on Makalu with Lakpa, Ngima and Galden. At the moment the winds aren’t looking great at the summit so they’re patiently sitting tight at base camp for the window to open.
Once the winds ease, the team will make their summit push. Meanwhile most of our teams in the Khumbu have returned or are on their way back.
Despite Bobby’s multiple sclerosis, the team managed to climb in good time for sunrise views over Everest. He is unofficially the first person with MS to have reached at altitude of 5550m. It took four years of training for this important event, and Bobby is an amazing MS role model to prove that physical goals are still achievable. Congratulations Bobby! Read more about Bobby’s journey here:
http://www.everestone.com.au/#!blog/c242y
Tomorrow at 3am, our support Sherpas and staff will make their first foray through the icefall to carry loads to Camp 1 and Camp 2. The team includes Ankaji, Dendi, Anil the Camp 2 cook and others.
Carlos, Cid, Jangbu and Chirring returned to Lobuche enroute to climb Island Peak. Our trekkers and other Island Peak climbers have also departed Everest base camp so the camp site is quiet again.
Tomorrow morning the non Everest climbers will head back out to climb Kala Pattar, whilst our Everest climbers will sit in on a puja ceremony. After the puja, Carlos and Cid will head down towards Island peak base camp. This season they will do their early acclimatisation rounds on this trekking peak to limit their rotations through the ice fall.
Our Sherpa guides will begin rotations to establish higher camps from Friday. The guys are itching to get moving after spending the last week setting up Everest base camp in the snow.
The Grade 6 team arrived into Lobuche just in time to miss an afternoon of snowfall. Fortunately the weather broke for a lovely sunset by evening. The team will head straight to Everest base camp tomorrow for one of Rabin’s special lunches.
Yas (UK), William (Australia) and Canadians, Jane and Daniel, left for the Khumbu today and are in Monjo with Galden and Sonam. Yas and William are heading to Camp 3 of Everest, whilst Jane and Daniel are out to climb Island Peak.
Lakpa leading the Makalu team are resting in Khongma tonight. From tomorrow they will enter the more remote Barun valley.
Spring season is well underway despite some early minor setbacks due to flights…our teams are on the trail!
Sumit, Chhirring and Wangda are in the Khumbu with Brazilian outfit Grade 6 and their guides, Everest client, Island peak climbers and merry EBC trekkers (stinky clothes and bodies –due to delayed luggage– haven’t dented this mob’s enthusiasm). They are currently in Tengboche where it is lightly snowing. In a few days they will join up with Angkaji, Rabin and others who arrived a week earlier to establish the home away from home at Everest base camp.
Jangbu is also trekking in with Sumit & co. He’s feeling fresh after just completing a circuit of the Khumbu with climbs on Lobuche and Island Peak with Robert Savoye and Laurelyn Sayah (USA). Special cheers to techie Robert for sorting out our solar set up and radios!! Deepak is touring with Wayne and his niece (NZ) at the moment also in the Khumbu. He guided Clay and Katie (Australia) earlier this season, and has another trip booked with Allan and Bobby soon…fortunately he does not tire of the Khumbu.
Although Makalu is just around the corner from Everest, the trek to base camp follows a separate route through the Makalu-Barun national park. The Makalu team of Lakpa, Christine Burke (Australia/NZ) and Vance Cook (USA) left just today beginning with a flight to Tumlingtar and drive/trek to Khadbari. Base camp for them is also a few days away with lots of hilly ups and downs.
Mike, Meg and Sumit are currently camped at Nico de Condores (camp 2). They made the 1250m climb from base camp in good time under snowy conditions.
Nico de Condores has stunning 360 degree views includes the northern and southern peaks of Aconcagua. Tomorrow the team will depart for Camp 3.
After yesterday’s first load carry to Camp 1 (4938m) and return to BC, Meg, Mike and Sumit are feeling quite good and confident.
So instead of resting today, they are climbing to Camp 2 (5600m) and will return to Camp 1 to sleep. The team will then rest before the summit push.
Speedy Angkaji and Dendi went up from base camp this morning to set up Camp 2. Following them was the team, who had a good rotation to Camp 2 today. Without any crowds, they reached there in good time.
Angkaji and Dendi dropped back to base camp. The others are continuing their acclimatisation programme at Camp 1. Also there is Jack, who climbed up earlier today.
Tomorrow Sumit and the gang of Team A will return to base camp to rest. Whilst Tom and Noel will join Jack at Camp 1 for their acclimatisation round (Team B).
