Friday 28 November 2014

Not quite summit success but ...

Well, it wasn't perhaps summit success for Will & Di, but the magic definitely happens above Camp 2.






So proud of Andy who summitted 2 days earlier with Phurba.

Drinking overpriced coke, paying over the odds for internet but worth every penny.

Sunday 23 November 2014

Bad Ass Mountain

Enough said ...





Poised at base camp in preparation of summit day :)

Thursday 13 November 2014

First views of Ama Dablam

Well, looks like I'll be ok on the boob holder front if my kit bag goes missing:


Trekking in Nepal is a somewhat strange experience.   Here we are, 4 members who are about to embark on climbing Ama Dablam but for some strange reason, we have to have a Sherpa at the front and a Sherpa at the back of the group.  I think they are slowly learning that we are competent and we are capable of following an extremely well worn path, littered by porters, trekking groups, horses and yaks.


So we have been trekking for 2 days up to the capital of the Solu Khumbu, Namche Bazaar, where we have had a relaxing acclimatisation day.  Phurba is obviously happy with us, because he was confident to let us walk up to the Everest View Hotel armed with a quality Nepalese map:


Today we managed to see our peak for the first time.  Needless to say that the group are having to contain their excitement.


If technology works, next update will be from Ama Dablam Base Camp.  If technology doesn't work, keep up to date via the Adventure Peaks Ama Dablam page.




Monday 10 November 2014

Adventure Peaks are in town

Team AP have arrived in Kathmandu.

Nothing has changed except for more traffic and wifi.


There are still many years left in the electrical wiring and the biggest hazard by far is not getting squashed by bike, rickshaw, putt putt, car, people carrier or bus.


The pavements are guarded by dogs, and you certainly don't want to get bitten by them and locals still phlegm everywhere.


As much as I love Kathmandu, I will be very glad to leave to constant beeping of horns and smog behind.

Next stop Lukhla.

Wednesday 5 November 2014

A change of tack

For the last 4 hills days that I have had, I haven't been brave enough to take the camera out of its bag in fear of it physically drowning.  So, it is with a very light heart that I think the next time I will be on a hill it will be in Nepal.

This really is a good job, since after yesterday it is going to take the whole winter season to dry my summer hill walking boots out.


So, for the next 2 days I will be ensuring that crampons straps do fit over Scarpa Phantom 8000 boots; sterilising a pee bottle; deciding how many pairs of pants I really need to pack for 4 weeks; deciding how many pairs of socks I need; deciding what music to upload onto the iPod; putting on silly autoresponders onto the email and eating as much cake that is humanly possible before making myself sick.

I will be envious that my friends will have the first turns of the season without me and will have probably ticked off the first few winter routes.

I on the other hand am bracing myself for spending far too much time on the toilet;


thinking that I am going to die;


and will be eating food that I wouldn't normally be eating.


When will I be too old to enjoy the adventures that life throws at us?  Probably never :)  Can't wait ...