from stu in the usa office
April 13, 2010
I have had a few nice notes from Kathmandu from Fabrizio, team members and local staff and just got a great call from Fabrizio on the sat phone from Seduwa (1460m). Sounds like everything is going perfectly so far! All members arrived on time, baggage and cargo arrived without delay, gear purchased and packed and flights went easily to Tumlingtar on the 11th!
On the 10th Fabrizio and Joelle went to the ministry to sign all of the papers for the permit and then joined Stuart back at the Marshyangdi Hotel. After a nice opening supper on the 10th at Fire and Ice pizza the crew got to sleep early to be ready for a sunrise meeting with Miss Elizabeth Hawley before catching the 11am flight to Tumlingtar. The meetings with Miss Hawley are always much anticipated and we enjoy our conversations every year with the legendary figure. To see all the work she has done be sure to visit the himalayan data base.
After arriving in Tumlingtar they made the 3 hour drive on the new road to Chichila (which used to be a two day trek!). From there they made a two day trek to Seduwa and official entrance to the Makalu Consevation area. Along the way they had the great fortune to stay at a lodge on the 11th during a Hindu wedding and were invited to join in all of the festivities. Fabrizio said it was an honor and great fun and has set the tone for the trek.
The first two days have been quite rainy but Fabrizio said everyone is in good spirits and looking forward to great views ahead. Our weather reports suggest good weather for thursday and Friday but perhaps snow and rain perhaps coming their way for the last part of the trek to BC. The trek to BC is by all counts is one of the great remote mountain treks and we look forward to seeing the great pics they take along the way!
Fabrizio also said that this was the fastest and easiest start to an expedition he's ever had...great members, staff and logistics all working in unison. We'll hope it bodes well for the team that they are already off to such a good start!
We expect Fabrizio to call in every 2-3 days and often he will leave a voice dispatch or email and when he does we will post it here. You can see more about our team members on our team page.
More news as we have it!
stu
ps We still have a few spots remaining on the summer trips to Broad Peak and K2 so let us know if you are interested! info@fieldtouring.com
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Broad Peak and K2 both confirmed for June 2010!
Our expeditions to Broad Peak and to K2 are both confirmed for this June with room remaining on both expeditions!
Join us for our 6th expedition to Broad Peak!
Broad Peak at 8047m is the world's 12th highest peak and great first 8000m ascent for experienced climbers. Guides will include Fabrizio Zangrilli and Chris Szymiec.
dates: June 10 to July 31, 2010
read more about Broad Peak on the FTA site
Join us for our third expedition to K2!
K2 is the second highest and needs no introduction! We will be ascending by the Cesen route as we did in 2009 with and encore by lead guide Fabrizio Zangrilli.
dates: June 10 to August 14, 2010
read more about the K2 expedition on the FTA site
Join us for our 6th expedition to Broad Peak!
Broad Peak at 8047m is the world's 12th highest peak and great first 8000m ascent for experienced climbers. Guides will include Fabrizio Zangrilli and Chris Szymiec.
dates: June 10 to July 31, 2010
read more about Broad Peak on the FTA site
Join us for our third expedition to K2!
K2 is the second highest and needs no introduction! We will be ascending by the Cesen route as we did in 2009 with and encore by lead guide Fabrizio Zangrilli.
dates: June 10 to August 14, 2010
read more about the K2 expedition on the FTA site
Makalu April 2010 Confirmed!
FTA Makalu 2010 is confirmed for an April 10 start with Fabrizio Zangrilli!
Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world, is considered one of the most beautiful 8000m peaks; our expedition will ascend the NW ridge. First climbed by a French expedition in 1955, the route comprises mostly snow and ice and averages 50 degrees until the summit gully, which reaches 65 degrees. All of the difficult sections will be fixed with rope to allow a quick passage both up and down the mountain.
Join us for a great trip to one of the less travelled 8000m peaks!
read more about the Makalu expedition
Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world, is considered one of the most beautiful 8000m peaks; our expedition will ascend the NW ridge. First climbed by a French expedition in 1955, the route comprises mostly snow and ice and averages 50 degrees until the summit gully, which reaches 65 degrees. All of the difficult sections will be fixed with rope to allow a quick passage both up and down the mountain.
Join us for a great trip to one of the less travelled 8000m peaks!
read more about the Makalu expedition
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Rest Day in Namche, Lukla Bound Tomorrow!
From Ian in Namche
Nov. 24, 2009
Hi from Namche!
So everyone is now in Namche Bazaar resting after the last few hectic days. It is good to be down low where the air is thick!
The summit day itself was a long day for all, with Chris going all the way back to base camp after the early summit due to the cold. Whilst Henrik, Pemba and Mama made good time and arrived in camp 2 in the day light, Sam and I took a little longer and ended up descending the Grey Tower in the dark. We were only to hear of the horrors that other teams had suffered the next day. Some teams had suffered from the cold and the wind and ended up with frostbitten fingers and toes, whilst another had badly hurt his ankle after he took a fall high on the hill.
For those of us that slept at camp 2 the following day promised a long descent with many teams moving off the mountain. the Yellow Tower proved to be as exhausting going down as it was going up but the views seemed that little bit better. Camp 1 could be seen as we traversed towards it with the boulder field dropping away below. Mama and Pemba pushed on to strike camp 1 and then descend in rapid fashion. Slowly behind, and by now already tired, we followed. Our bags were now a little heavier although Sam seemed to have taken everything with him on the mountain including the kitchen sink and so had a huge pack towering over his head. Our descent was slow due to this and our fatigue, but the weather was kind and we tottered into camp in the early afternoon.
Ratna served up a feast for dinner including a summit celebration chocolate cream cake that was shared between all the team and the staff. In a sugar-high and exhaustion induced haze everyone retired to their tents to collapse comatose for a well-earned sleep.
The decision had been made to break base camp and head for Namche, a walk that would normally take 5 hours, passing through Pangboche, Debuche, Thengboche and finally up a long hill into Namche itself. Chris and Henrik blasted off with myself Sam and Mike bumbling along together at the back. In all it took about 6-7 hours for us all to reach Namche but the reward was a yak sizzler on Chris, very tasty after a long day.
As we had neared Namche we were treated to final views of the incredible Ama Dablam summit where only days ago we had stood. Ama Dablam's upper slopes, which were once unfamiliar and awe-inspiring terrain, are a vertical world we now know intimately and respect deeply. Then all of a sudden we rounded a corner and stark and snowy vista gave way to green slopes and houses and then the bustling enclave of Namche.
Now we are all recovering on a rest day as the shaggy yaks catch up and head to Lukla. Chris is indulging in a combination of beer and 18 hours of sleep, whilst everyone else is trying to rehydrate properly and catch up on deprived energy stocks - Sam's diet of Gummy bears and pizza seems to be helping him!
Tomorrow we head down the valley to Lukla to catch our flights to Kathmandu on the 26th. It will be great to amble along the Dudh Khosi river, stop for hot lemons at the myriad of tea houses we pass by. All the while we'll day dream of soft beds and hot showers in the hotel and celebration meals in the Rum Doodle and Everest Steak House restaurants!
When we get back to town and upload speeds are better we'll post some of our best images from the trip so check back in a few days for more!
Nov. 24, 2009
Hi from Namche!
So everyone is now in Namche Bazaar resting after the last few hectic days. It is good to be down low where the air is thick!
The summit day itself was a long day for all, with Chris going all the way back to base camp after the early summit due to the cold. Whilst Henrik, Pemba and Mama made good time and arrived in camp 2 in the day light, Sam and I took a little longer and ended up descending the Grey Tower in the dark. We were only to hear of the horrors that other teams had suffered the next day. Some teams had suffered from the cold and the wind and ended up with frostbitten fingers and toes, whilst another had badly hurt his ankle after he took a fall high on the hill.
For those of us that slept at camp 2 the following day promised a long descent with many teams moving off the mountain. the Yellow Tower proved to be as exhausting going down as it was going up but the views seemed that little bit better. Camp 1 could be seen as we traversed towards it with the boulder field dropping away below. Mama and Pemba pushed on to strike camp 1 and then descend in rapid fashion. Slowly behind, and by now already tired, we followed. Our bags were now a little heavier although Sam seemed to have taken everything with him on the mountain including the kitchen sink and so had a huge pack towering over his head. Our descent was slow due to this and our fatigue, but the weather was kind and we tottered into camp in the early afternoon.
Ratna served up a feast for dinner including a summit celebration chocolate cream cake that was shared between all the team and the staff. In a sugar-high and exhaustion induced haze everyone retired to their tents to collapse comatose for a well-earned sleep.
The decision had been made to break base camp and head for Namche, a walk that would normally take 5 hours, passing through Pangboche, Debuche, Thengboche and finally up a long hill into Namche itself. Chris and Henrik blasted off with myself Sam and Mike bumbling along together at the back. In all it took about 6-7 hours for us all to reach Namche but the reward was a yak sizzler on Chris, very tasty after a long day.
As we had neared Namche we were treated to final views of the incredible Ama Dablam summit where only days ago we had stood. Ama Dablam's upper slopes, which were once unfamiliar and awe-inspiring terrain, are a vertical world we now know intimately and respect deeply. Then all of a sudden we rounded a corner and stark and snowy vista gave way to green slopes and houses and then the bustling enclave of Namche.
Now we are all recovering on a rest day as the shaggy yaks catch up and head to Lukla. Chris is indulging in a combination of beer and 18 hours of sleep, whilst everyone else is trying to rehydrate properly and catch up on deprived energy stocks - Sam's diet of Gummy bears and pizza seems to be helping him!
Tomorrow we head down the valley to Lukla to catch our flights to Kathmandu on the 26th. It will be great to amble along the Dudh Khosi river, stop for hot lemons at the myriad of tea houses we pass by. All the while we'll day dream of soft beds and hot showers in the hotel and celebration meals in the Rum Doodle and Everest Steak House restaurants!
When we get back to town and upload speeds are better we'll post some of our best images from the trip so check back in a few days for more!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
All safe in Ama Dablam BC
From stu in the USA office
Nov 22, 2009
Chris called in today to let us know that everyone is back in BC safe and sound. Apparently it was extremely cold on the summit day and it was a big effort on everyone's part to stay warm enough.
Official Summiteers are
Sam Tyler
Ian Blessley
Siddhi Tamang
Pemba Sherpa
Chris Szymiec
Henrik Olsen
In the audio dispatch below you can hear more details about summit timing and the return to BC. You can also hear in Chris's voice that this kind of cold high climbing takes a toll on the vocal cords!
Chris and the entire team and BC staff are breaking camp tomorrow and will go down to Namche for two nights of R&R, pool matches, celebration Yak Sizzlers and now that they are on the way down likely quite a few beers! There are several excellent poolhalls in Namche and often teams on the hill will enjoy a friendly but well contested match complemented with a musical backdrop of Pearl Jam or Bob Marley!
We'll look forward to more dispatches from Namche and Kathamndu along with some pics from the trip!
Field Touring Alpine Audio Dispatches
Nov 22, 2009
Chris called in today to let us know that everyone is back in BC safe and sound. Apparently it was extremely cold on the summit day and it was a big effort on everyone's part to stay warm enough.
Official Summiteers are
Sam Tyler
Ian Blessley
Siddhi Tamang
Pemba Sherpa
Chris Szymiec
Henrik Olsen
In the audio dispatch below you can hear more details about summit timing and the return to BC. You can also hear in Chris's voice that this kind of cold high climbing takes a toll on the vocal cords!
Chris and the entire team and BC staff are breaking camp tomorrow and will go down to Namche for two nights of R&R, pool matches, celebration Yak Sizzlers and now that they are on the way down likely quite a few beers! There are several excellent poolhalls in Namche and often teams on the hill will enjoy a friendly but well contested match complemented with a musical backdrop of Pearl Jam or Bob Marley!
We'll look forward to more dispatches from Namche and Kathamndu along with some pics from the trip!
Field Touring Alpine Audio Dispatches
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