Tag: Nepal

Reflections on the trying circumstances of the 12th Everest expedition of Himalayan Ascent

The 12th expedition of Himalayan Ascent on Mount Everest was a mixed season of personal bests peppered with challenges. As we reflect on the highs and lows of this season, we remain proud of our commitment to safety and teamwork, even in the face of adversity.

Smooth Beginnings and Strong Team Spirit: With excitement and anticipation, we kicked off our expedition with a formidable team consisting of 10 clients, 8 of whom aimed to conquer Everest while 2 set their sights on Lhotse. The group also included 2 climbing without supplemental oxygen. We were well-prepared to take on the world’s highest peak with our experienced team of 12 Sherpas.

Weather Woes and Rescue Missions: After a smooth start, the weather began to play tricks on us during our second rotation. Unpredictable conditions and unfavourable forecasts forced us to make difficult decisions. Our priority shifted from reaching the summit to ensuring the safety of our team members. We had to conduct rescue missions for 2 Sherpa guides from above Camp 2 and base camp. These unexpected events served as poignant reminders of the inherent risks of mountaineering.

When the much-awaited summit weather window finally arrived, we faced yet another unexpected hurdle. Half of our clients, disheartened by the crowds and their experience on the Lhotse face, made the difficult and personal choice to abandon their summit bids. Although they didn’t reach the summit, personal bests were still achieved during a very busy Everest season.

Persistence and Teamwork: Undeterred by the challenges, the remaining team members, along with our dedicated guide, embarked on their summit push on the 22nd of April. However, extreme cold temperatures forced them to turn around at the Balcony. Although we did not stand atop the summit this season, we take immense pride in our commitment to never leave anyone behind.

The Value of Safety and Client Care: Himalayan Ascent has always prioritized safety and client well-being, and this season was no exception. We are proud to have maintained our impeccable record of not losing a single client since our establishment. Our ethos of prioritizing human lives over personal achievements continues to guide us as we learn valuable lessons from this challenging season. We recognize the importance of adapting to unpredictable weather patterns and carefully managing our clients’ expectations. With a commitment to continuous improvement, we aim to make the upcoming seasons safer and more rewarding for all.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our clients, Sherpas, and the entire Himalayan Ascent team for their unwavering spirit throughout this trying season. Planning for our 13th Everest expedition is already underway based on team safety and the preservation of this awe-inspiring mountain.

 

 

End of Spring 2017 wrap up and new beginnings….

Himalayan Ascent and EverestOne shared a great season this past Spring. Sharon Cohrs led a trek to Everest base camp and Allan Cohrs (EverestOne) led a successful expedition on Lhotse. Allan and Raul summited Lhotse on 16th May following the summit rope fixing team. We also had a summit on Everest and climbs on Lobuche so all round a brilliant start to 2017.

The autumn season will start in no time with off the beaten treks in Mustang, Annapurna and a charity treks in the lower and upper parts of the Khumbhu. We also have plans for climbs on Ama Dablam and Mera peak.

New beginnings for us….after 8 years working together as Himalayan Ascent and countless more years before we started this adventure together…Lakpa has now moved onto another business and has left Himalayan Ascent. We wish him well as he pursues his other endeavours. I am sure we will work together again if the opportunity arises. This leaves Himalayan Ascent as now a family owned business of Sumit Joshi and Sabita Rana, and we look forward to continuing to support your adventures in the Himalayas in the future.

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First Myanmar Everest summit and more

We report an awesome day on Everest today, good weather and a strong team effort from everyone. Our team from Myanmar summited Everest this morning at 7.15am, Win Ko Ko and Pyae Phyo Aung, are the first to represent their country on the top of the world today! They were followed by Brazilians, Carlos Santalena and Thais Amadei Pegoraro, who summited at 12.05pm. Both teams were supported by our tireless Sherpas, Lopsang Sherpa, Pasang Gyaljen Sherpa, Ngima Tenzing Sherpa, Fura Chettan Sherpa and Fur Gyaljen Sherpa. Congratulations to everyone!Everyone is on the decent back to EBC… for a very rowdy celebration party!

Everest team at South col, ready for the summit

The team are on their summit push and are currently resting at C4 (South col). It was windy at C3 last night and they did well to reach the South col in good time this morning. We are an 11 person team, 4 clients and 7 Sherpa guides. Weather being all good they will start at 9pm tonight for a summit in the early morning.

Another year of new challenges in the Himalayas

Here at Himalayan Ascent, we are gearing up for another exciting Spring season. The boys are busy shopping, packing….and repacking as we squeeze equipment and food into sacks for flights heading east.

This season Lakpa is leading an expedition on Kanchenjunga (8586m), the 3rd highest mountain in the world, which is located between the borders of Nepal and India in the east. Not many people attempt this mountain so Lakpa and his team will enjoy some solitude on the expedition. In contrast, Sumit will be back in the thick of Everest and Lhotse fever starting in early April to manage operations. Allan Cohrs (Everest One) will lead the climb on Lhotse, Dendi Sherpa will lead the Everest climb and Sharon Cohrs (Everest One) will lead an Everest base camp trekking group.

It’s going to be an awesome season, we can’t wait to get started.

Ready for summit, waiting for a good weather window

Well we’re all set to go, our Sherpas have finished stocking the South Col and are now taking a rest at EBC. We’re aiming for a date soon after the 19th as the next good weather window for the summit. Everest was summited first this season by the Sherpa line fixers on the 11th, and there have already been a few summits after them. Next week we should be up there if all goes to plan. Everyone is well and healthy at EBC. We’ll update you on the summit push.

First summit of the season on Annapurna!

News just in that Lakpa and team have summited on Annapurna ! We will update more once the team is back at base camp.

We are also making steady progress on Everest, all the teams are out on the mountain at the moment on their third rotation. Some are currently sleeping at C2 and others are at C1. The plan is to touch C3 and to spend 5 nights acclimatising on the mountain. Sumit has just also arrived at base camp to support the final stage of the expedition.

First rotation to Camp 2 complete!

Our Everest team took a break on April 18. It was a resting day, we burnt juniper and quietly contemplated the events of 2 years past when we lost some good friends and guides. We miss you Ankaji.

On April 19 the Everest climbers set off for their first rotation cycle. First climbing and sleeping at C1, then next morning climbed to C2, returned to C1 for the night, and finally returned to BC. They are all safely back at BC, and every excited to climb higher. The days were good with some windy nights. The team will start their next rotation to touch C3 on the 28th. Lakpa and his team are patiently waiting for another chance at the summit at Annapurna base camp, which should be soon. Keep posted.

Everest and Annapurna update 17.04.16

After spending 2 nights in C3 on Annapurna, strong winds have yet again delayed summit aspirations for Lakpa and his team. They are safely back in BC waiting for another summit opportunity. Over at Everest BC, we held our main pujaon the 14th with all climbers and gear. Our Sherpas are busy now stocking C1 and C2, while our other climbers are practicing ladder crossings in preparation for their first foraythrough the icefall on the 20th.

Tomorrow marks the 2nd anniversary of the tragic ice fall avalanche. Our team will take a break tomorrow to remember the event and the men who died.

Annapurna and Everest update

Lakpa and the Annapurna team are currently healthy but are stuck at EBC due to bad weather.They are sitting tight waiting for the weather to be kind for their summit push. Our Everest teams start to arrive at BC today after enjoying lovely trekking weather heading up. The camp is all set up thanks to the hard work of Rabin and our climbing Sherpas.

Base camp is bustling, we are expecting more than 300 climbers for the big 3 mountains this season. The vibe is positive and morale is high to have a good season this year. Whilst waiting for our Everest teams to arrive, our Sherpas have already taken a break back to their homes and have returned to camp. As advised by a local lama, we conducted a small puja yesterday. Once the teams are settled in, we will conduct our major pre climbing puja on the 14th.