from stu in the usa office
April 19, 2010
Our team is settled into Hillary BC at 4900m after aother great day of trekking and everyone is feeling well on the team. Fabrizio called in this morning to let us know that they are now just a 5 hour walk to Makalu BC tomorrow where they can settle into their new home for the next month!
They have continued to have some rain each day but mostly after they have arrived at camp so the trekking has been very enjoyable. Fabrizio added that our cook, Ram, has been doing an especially great job and they are eating very well! In the afternoon Fabrizio took an acclimatization walk up to visit the BC of a team attempting a new route on the south. He said the mountain is enormous from up close and sounded very excited to get onto some climbing in few days!
Our weather forecasting from www.meteotest.ch suggests continued afternoon rain likely for another few days and then hopefully a period of drier days. Winds are quite high on the summit still in the 50 km/hr range so we'll be looking for more moderate winds in the weeks ahead!
More news as we have it!
stu
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Makalu update April 15th - Rainy Days!
from stu in the usa office
April 15th, 2010
Fabrizio called in at the end of a big day of trekking to Khongma (3560m) to let us know that all is well. Today's leg is one of the bigger days on the trek with a gain of 1400m but Fabrizio said everyone was feeling great.
Despite 2 days of rain since the last dispatch they have had enough clearings to see the magnificent glimpses of the mountains surrounding them and are appreciating the flora a fauna of the valley. They will begin to break out of the low regions soon and hopefully enjoy some sun and views!
Fabrizio plans an audio dispatch either tomorrow of saturday so tune in for more!
stu
April 15th, 2010
Fabrizio called in at the end of a big day of trekking to Khongma (3560m) to let us know that all is well. Today's leg is one of the bigger days on the trek with a gain of 1400m but Fabrizio said everyone was feeling great.
Despite 2 days of rain since the last dispatch they have had enough clearings to see the magnificent glimpses of the mountains surrounding them and are appreciating the flora a fauna of the valley. They will begin to break out of the low regions soon and hopefully enjoy some sun and views!
Fabrizio plans an audio dispatch either tomorrow of saturday so tune in for more!
stu
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Makalu Update - Team en route to BC!
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
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
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
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