from stu in the usa office
May 21, 2010
Fabrizio called in at about 9am local time from C2 to let us know that all was well but that the winds had picked up considerably. Despite somewhat promising forecasts of moderate winds on the 21st for C2 they were in fact experiencing winds strong enough they could not exit their tents!
To consider moving up later in the day was not an option as the 6 hours it takes to reach C3 in good conditions would have been very demanding and drained our crew too much. Additionally with the forecast having not proven as accurate as we needed the expected afternoon drop at C3 became further suspect. We see from reports on explorersweb.com that crowds on Everest are experiencing the same sort of unexpectedly strong winds so looks to have most forecasters and teams and teams a bit surprised.
Nevertheless the winds are expected to abate considerably for the next 4-5 days so there is still ample time for a bid. The challenge is that the winds are not expected to drop down to a "nice" level and any summit bids are going to be demanding work and cast in the light of making prudent choices at all times. At this point it would seem summit winds will be near 40km/hr. Concurrently we expect an increase in precipitation which may complicate any bids after the 24th. When Fabrizio and I spoke it was still uncertain whether they would set out from C3 on the 23rd or from C4 on the 24th for the top. We'll be watching the weather reports very closely today to help us try to decide.
We expect Fabrzio to call in tonight before they retire to the roar of the tents for a second night at C2 with the latest local forecast! A number of teams are now holed up along side of our Field Touring team and we expect a pretty large movement tomorrow up to C3!
According to reports around the Himalaya, signs of early onset of the monsoon abound including clouds and storms in the lower valleys. Perhaps as early as the 27th the season may close so for our team it is really now or never! No "easy" summits this year on Makalu (are there ever any!!).
more news as we have it!
stu
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Makalu 2010 Summit Push Under Way!
From Stu in the USA office
May 20, 2010
Our team has begun the summit push today and already reached C2 in good shape. Fabrzio called in from his tent where he was brewing up supper and making plans for the big day to C3 tomorrow. Everyone in our team is feeling very well and moving strongly so we are hopeful that the winds will allow them a good chance to summit.
The hope is to move to C3 (6400m) on the 21st and then C4 (7600m) on the 22nd with hopes of topping out on the 23rd. Unfortunately the very latest weather reports indicate higher winds on 23 than hoped for so our team will consider a summit bid from C3 on the 22nd. There are teams with plans for summiting on 22, 23 and 24 so no matter what day they go they are likely to have some company!
Fabrizio has left a few audio dispatches but there seems to be a glitch with Gabcast just now and they are being cut short. I have added audio dispatch below and you can enjoy at least the start of a good dispatch! Fabrizio will try to put a few shorter ones up as they make there way so check in often!
Wish our team luck and gentle winds!!
May 20, 2010
Our team has begun the summit push today and already reached C2 in good shape. Fabrzio called in from his tent where he was brewing up supper and making plans for the big day to C3 tomorrow. Everyone in our team is feeling very well and moving strongly so we are hopeful that the winds will allow them a good chance to summit.
The hope is to move to C3 (6400m) on the 21st and then C4 (7600m) on the 22nd with hopes of topping out on the 23rd. Unfortunately the very latest weather reports indicate higher winds on 23 than hoped for so our team will consider a summit bid from C3 on the 22nd. There are teams with plans for summiting on 22, 23 and 24 so no matter what day they go they are likely to have some company!
Fabrizio has left a few audio dispatches but there seems to be a glitch with Gabcast just now and they are being cut short. I have added audio dispatch below and you can enjoy at least the start of a good dispatch! Fabrizio will try to put a few shorter ones up as they make there way so check in often!
Wish our team luck and gentle winds!!
Makalu 2010 Summit Push Under Way!
From Stu in the USA office
May 20, 2010
Our team has begun the summit push today and already reached C2 in good shape. Fabrzio called in from his tent where he was brewing up supper and making plans for the big day to C3 tomorrow. Everyone in our team is feeling very well and moving strongly so we are hopeful that the winds will allow them a good chance to summit.
The hope is to move to C3 (6400m) on the 21st and then C4 (7600m) on the 22nd with hopes of topping out on the 23rd. Unfortunately the very latest weather reports indicate higher winds on 23 than hoped for so our team will consider a summit bid from C3 on the 22nd. There are teams with plans for summiting on 22, 23 and 24 so no matter what day they go they are likely to have some company!
Fabrizio has left a few audio dispatches but there seems to be a glitch with Gabcast just now and they are being cut short. I have added audio dispatch below and you can enjoy at least the start of a good dispatch! Fabrizio will try to put a few shorter ones up as they make there way so check in often!
Wish our team luck and gentle winds!!
May 20, 2010
Our team has begun the summit push today and already reached C2 in good shape. Fabrzio called in from his tent where he was brewing up supper and making plans for the big day to C3 tomorrow. Everyone in our team is feeling very well and moving strongly so we are hopeful that the winds will allow them a good chance to summit.
The hope is to move to C3 (6400m) on the 21st and then C4 (7600m) on the 22nd with hopes of topping out on the 23rd. Unfortunately the very latest weather reports indicate higher winds on 23 than hoped for so our team will consider a summit bid from C3 on the 22nd. There are teams with plans for summiting on 22, 23 and 24 so no matter what day they go they are likely to have some company!
Fabrizio has left a few audio dispatches but there seems to be a glitch with Gabcast just now and they are being cut short. I have added audio dispatch below and you can enjoy at least the start of a good dispatch! Fabrizio will try to put a few shorter ones up as they make there way so check in often!
Wish our team luck and gentle winds!!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Makalu Update - Back in BC!
from stu in the usa office
17 May, 2010
Our team is back in BC safe and sound and will use the next 3 days to rest up before a definitive summit push to come starting around the 21st. They returned from a run up to C2 at 6700m where they got in some good additional acclimatization but did not waste energy or reserves trying to gain height in very strong winds. As predicted by Meteotest the winds rose quite a bit on the 16th as our team made their way back to BC and more nights up high would certainly have been very demanding if not dangerous.
They were greeted at BC by a well deserved and highly anticipated reinforcement of fresh food and Fabrizio noted that the improvement in the variety of the meals has done wonders to the moral of our entire team! This is certainly the time in an expedition when one begins to have dreams of great feasts back in Kathmandu at the Everest Steak House, Fire & Ice Pizza, Third Eye Indian food and the countless cuisines represented around Thamel!
A large number of teams are holding up in BC now all looking to the large window of lower winds expected to arrive shortly and it looks as though it will be a strong contingent headed for the top in the week ahead.
Fabrizio has left a voice dispatch from BC - enjoy!
Listen to all the Field Touring Alpine Audio Dispatches at Gabcast
17 May, 2010
Our team is back in BC safe and sound and will use the next 3 days to rest up before a definitive summit push to come starting around the 21st. They returned from a run up to C2 at 6700m where they got in some good additional acclimatization but did not waste energy or reserves trying to gain height in very strong winds. As predicted by Meteotest the winds rose quite a bit on the 16th as our team made their way back to BC and more nights up high would certainly have been very demanding if not dangerous.
They were greeted at BC by a well deserved and highly anticipated reinforcement of fresh food and Fabrizio noted that the improvement in the variety of the meals has done wonders to the moral of our entire team! This is certainly the time in an expedition when one begins to have dreams of great feasts back in Kathmandu at the Everest Steak House, Fire & Ice Pizza, Third Eye Indian food and the countless cuisines represented around Thamel!
A large number of teams are holding up in BC now all looking to the large window of lower winds expected to arrive shortly and it looks as though it will be a strong contingent headed for the top in the week ahead.
Fabrizio has left a voice dispatch from BC - enjoy!
Listen to all the Field Touring Alpine Audio Dispatches at Gabcast
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Makalu Audio Dispatch Update From C2
Field Touring Alpine Audio Dispatches #57 - Makalu Summmit Push Update
Fabrizio calls in with the latest on the push from C2.
Fabrizio calls in with the latest on the push from C2.
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