Cho Oyu 27th Aug 2011 Expedition News

Leader: Rob Smith | Team: David W, Lloyd H, Jan N, Edita N
View Cho Oyu information and book online

1st Oct – Rob called and left a message today to say that The team made their summit bid today. Jan turned around around before reaching the summit after not feeling so good, everyone else reached the summit. They are now down at Camp 2 and will clear down to ABC tomorrow. Well done to all the team.

30th Sep – Rob rang again and after checking the weather forecast said that they will be making their summit bid tonight – setting off at midnight local time – approximately 17.30h in GB. Adventure Peaks wishes them all a safe and successful climb.

29th Sep – Rob rang to say that they are having a rest day at Camp 2 tomorrow and will make their summit bid for tomorrow evening/night. Everyone is happy and well, and the weather is fantastic with amazing views all round.

28th Sep – The summit bid is on. the team have moved up to Camp 1 today. They have taken up extra rations for camp 2 to allow them to make their bid on either the 30th or the 1st October. All the AP team wish them luck.

27th Sep – The team are having to revise their plans again due to the weather and rope fixing delays. All being well they will leave to Camp 1 tomorrow with the aim of making the summit bid on the 30th Sep.

25th & 26th Sep – Yesterday a collective of Guides made a sensible plan for the coming period, based on current weather and snow conditions, forecasted conditions and available resources in terms of manpower and time left in the season. Checking safety of slopes, fixing remaining ropes, stocking camps with equipment, food, fuel and oxygen, moving into the right position for the right weather window. All with the aim of reaching the summit of Cho Oyu.

Then it began to snow last night and it is still snowing. It’s hard work moving around ABC in the deep snow. Avalanches rumble off the mountain sides at regular intervals, unseen beyond our little world of whiteout, visibility restricted to 50 metres.

All summit plans are now on hold. Groups which left 2 days ago and had reached Camp 2 are now struggling to get lower down the mountain, trying to find fixed ropes which are buried deep in the snow. Sadly, reports of a climber dying between Camp 1 and Camp 2 yesterday have been confirmed, plans to lay his body to rest have also been put on hold.

We are in limbo, with precious time passing before the end of the season. Still this is the world of high altitude mountaineering we have chosen to enter. As said some time ago, patience and endurance are key. However no one can argue they would not rather be in ABC just now, rather than somewhere higher on the mountain.

24th Sep – A later start was made at 0600 to maximise acclimitisation before dropping down again. Winds had been gusting all night, and continued to do so making it a cold morning. A loud rumble accompanied by ‘Avalanche’ had us jumping out of tents to witness the slope directly above camp tumbling towards us. A pair of Italian skiers  planning to ski from the summit, wasted no time, clipped their skis on and disappeared down the mountain side. The rest of us were a bit more pragmatic, without the benefit of a quick getaway, and waited until the debris settled some 100 metres from camp before making our next plan. Dorje and Mingma who had planned a load carry to Camp 3, wisely decided against it and we all returned to ABC via Camp 1. Slopes which had taken hours to ascend the day before were quickly behind us, though the deep fresh snow made it slow going in places.
On the way down we were passed by a Korean team, who had summitted the day before and had come down from Camp 3 this morning, crossing the fan of avalanche debris on the way. They are the first team to summit this season. Well done to them.
Now we are in the rest phase of the expedition before our summit bid. Timings will as ever depend on weather and snow conditions. Some teams were on their way up the mountain today on their summit bids, but might descend again to give snow conditions time  to settle. Weather forecasts are avidly shared between teams as we try and find the most ideal conditions for reaching the summit of Cho Oyu.

23rd Sep – 0430 wake up again. Winds looked calm on the ground above us and off we set. Camp 1 to Camp 2 is a long day with 700 metres of ascent, and considerable distance. We had all sorts of weather, but not the high winds of the day before. At one point, it was intolerably hot and snowing at the same time. 9 hours later a happy team saw Camp 2 appear out of the cloud at 7100 metres.  We wasted no time getting settled into tents and began the routine of melting snow, resting and hydrating. Some slept better than others, given the new altitude to adapt to. Long periods of inactivity are frequent in high mountain climbing, often before or after periods of hard work and it can take some getting used to.

22nd Sep – 0430 wake up in ice encrusted tents, with 2 hours for melting snow and getting ready for another day on Cho Oyo. The warming of the tent is a mixed blessing as the ice formed overnight melts slowly and drips on everything.

Today’s objective was Camp 2 which had already eluded us once. Fine conditions to begin with soon became high winds and stinging temperatures. With hands becoming dangerously cold, only a short way into the day, the difficult decision to turn around was taken. A few seconds of video footage would represent the conditions better than any description, but taking out a camera and removing gloves to use it are far from the mind at the time. So we found ourselves back at Camp 1 early in the morning, digging in for another attempt the following day.

21st Sep – Everyone made their now familiar way to Camp 1 without incident. The usual faces were either making their way up or down the slope. Climbing teams from all over the world are represented here, from large scale national affairs to small independent groups. We all suffer in common the changeability of the weather and mountain conditions.

20th Sep – Snow, snow, snow. Good if you’re waiting for a White Christmas. Bad if you’re trying to climb a big mountain. It has snowed all last night and all day today at ABC, without even our intermittent sunny spells that we have become used to. Tomorrow we go back up to Camp 1 so we’ll find out if it’s been snowing as much up there. Communications were bad with other groups on the mountain tonight, so it’s not clear how latest conditions are.

Rope fixing has ground to a halt with the fresh snow. The ‘local’ mountain forecast from Lhasa gives snow for the next 5 days. However some teams are hoping to push for the summit before that. Everyone else waits intently as their success or failure will have consequences for the rest of the season.

Tomorrow we return to Camp 1 and the following day hopefully advance to Camp 2 to spend the night at 7100m.

19th Sep – So consider our predicament, deep fresh snow on the mountain, very tired team members from the day before, and the possibility of earthquake aftershocks. We decided to return to ABC, giving the snow and continental plates some time to settle. So I write this again in the welcome comfort of our Advanced Base Camp where Ganyu will shortly be serving another fine meal. But soon we will be returning to the slopes of Cho Oyu, to climb the slopes of the Turquoise Goddess, if conditions allow.

18th Sep – The climb to Camp 2 is a big day from Camp 1, taking 6-8 hours if conditions are good and rucksacks not too heavy. On a bright day the temperatures can become stifling combined with the glare off the snow pack, as early as 10am. So alarms were set for 5am and a planned 7am departure. Other teams were above and below us as we clipped into the fixed ropes and raised weary legs up the steep steps. After some time it was clear Jan was not feeling himself, and both he and I turned around to return to Camp 1. Dorje and Minga were as usual forging ahead with heavy loads. Edita and Lloyd continued towards Camp 2 as they were feeling strong. A few hours later the weather deteriorated with heavy snow and poor visibility. It was important to get the team together, in case Camps were cut off from each other in deep snow and avalanche conditions. Edita and Lloyd dropped their loads in Camp 2 and returned with Dorje and Mingma to Camp 1. The wet snow continued and weighed heavily on the tents.
A few hours later I was fetching a new gas canister from the tent, and the tent began to shake. I thought someone was helpfully shaking the snow off. Then the ground began to shake and I realised all was not well. It felt like the whole slope was moving under me, until I leapt out of the tent and could see familiar tent shapes through the darkness, still in position. Next the unmistakable roar of an avalanche broke through the darkness. Impossible to tell where it was coming from or it’s path of destruction, a tense moment passed between those of us who were standing outside. In less than a minute which seemed much much longer, the noise subsided and radio chatter erupted. Checks between ABC, Camp 1 and Camp 2 assured no one was injured. An earthquake, we later learned originating in Northern India, had triggered major avalanches on Cho Oyu. We were prepared for many scenarios on Cho Oyu, though earthquakes hadn’t been included, until now.

17th Sep – Regrettably Dave has decided to leave the mountain and head home. We wish him all the best for the future and safe climbs.

Meanwhile for the rest of us we set out on the trek from Advanced Base Camp to Camp 1 again. The trip up the glacier, Heartbreak Hill and the never ending scree slope which shall not be named. There had been keen competition to see who had the lightest rucksack in the group, but now the weighing scales are broken, so it’s all a bit more subjective. We settled into camp early and waited for the next day.

16th Sep – Another rest day, with everyone eating well and taking it easy. We are now used to  our strange weather, where we can have bright sunshine one moment, and driving snow the next. Or even stranger both together, which makes drying out kit interesting.
People are sorting out kit for tomorrow’s next trip up the mountain. We already have a good stock of food and equipment at Camp 1, so there’s not so much to carry up, but surprisingly small items all add up. Airline and hotel toothpaste tubes are in demand, being the smallest and lightest available. Fortunately we haven’t reached the stage of sharing toothbrushes!
The next report will be in several days after our rotation through Camp 1, Camp 2 and beyond, breaking the 7000m barrier.

15th Sep – Rest, rest, rest. The order of the day. Unsettled weather all afternoon has kept most indoors, with the early risers snatching a local walk this morning. Oddly we have bright sunshine with strong snow showers, one after the other. Camp life continues unabated, the local porters  come around the various base camps, enticing climbers to buy local jewellery when they’re not load carrying. We see the same faces as we ourselves make the journey to Camp 1 and back. Friendly greetings are passed and our few Tibetan phrases. The local decoration of choice is the Zee stone, which is worn as a lucky stone. All of the group are now wearing them, believing any good fortune to be had on Cho Oyu is a good thing. So professional are the salesmen that out comes a calculator, when the buyer isn’t sure about currency exchange!

14th Sep – I had set an early alarm in case the heavy snow forecast didn’t arrive and we could use the day to our advantage. Sure enough the sky was clear at 6am and I proceeded to wake everyone up. Easier said than done when some pretend not to hear, no names mentioned. However all admitted our early start was pretty tame when Mingma, one of our climbing Sherpas arrived at Camp 1 at 7am, having left ABC at 4am. From there he continued on to Camp 2 another 700 metres higher. Very impressive. Camp 1 provides impressive views for the hard work of reaching it. You definitely feel like you’re progressing up the mountain and have a chance to look down in several directions to glaciers below, and across to impressive moutain faces. Above the route to the summit of Cho Oyu stretches on and on.
Our goal for the day was to progress above Camp 1, as fixed lines  were now in place. The clear sky meant when the sun got higher, so did the temperatures. It became incredibly hot, to the point where a stop to take off thermal layers was needed. Many climbers were on the same route, keen to progress up the mountain, now the route was open. We stopped at a high point of 6600 metres and rested (or flaked out) to aid acclimitisation. Up ahead the serac barrier was visible which will be our next milestone to pass, en route to Camp 2.  a strenuous jumar up the steep face at 6800 metres awaits us. Meanwhile there is a lot of snow on the slopes above, and so a few days rest lower down will coincide well with allowing the snow pack to settle.

13th Sep – The group remains divided whether or not the tortuous ascent to Camp 1 gets any easier. It should feel easier after the first ascent, to a new altitude, though on our second ascent we carried heavier loads needed to progress higher still. Big boots, crampons, ice axes, harnesses, warm clothing all amounted to considerable loads
between 16 – 18 kgs. Next time you nip into Morrisons, buy a sack of tatties and carry it up your nearest scree slope for several hours, and just to make it feel like you’re at altitude cover your mouth and nose with a scarf, making it difficult to breathe. However the group did all arrive at Camp 1, where we spent the night. Even the afternoon’s bad weather cleared just before sunset and gave wonderful views, though most were firmly settled into sleeping bags by then.

10th Sep – Today we climbed higher part of the way to Camp 1, reaching 6050m. From ABC the route weaves it’s way through the glacial moraine for several hours, slipping and sliding up and down loose rock covered ice slopes. After that a steep scree slope is climbed to the old Lake Camp. This hill has already been christened ‘Heartbreak Hill’ due to it’s unrelenting nature, and location after the hard work of advancing up the moraine. Unfortunately the brief rest at Lake Camp is followed by another near identical slope to gain the snowline, but we left that for another day satisfied with our progress up to 6050m. We had a long lunch stop at our high point to maximise our acclimitisation, but as the afternoon weather closed in with low clouds and snow we packed up and returned to ABC.

Tomorrow, weather depending, we’ll be back on the same route, but continuing to Camp 1 at 6400m for a load carry. Many teams are following the same schedule of climbing high, sleeping low, and bit by bit preparing their bodies and minds to climb higher up the mountain. Patience and endurance are key to tackling a Himalayan 8000m peak.

Dorje, the Lead Climbing Sherpa had found a good training venue 30 minutes walk  from ABC which we visited after breakfast. As it had been some time for all since they used fixed ropes, it was a good opportunity to practice before we start on the mountain proper, and it’s upper snow slopes. Soon the group were jumaring up 1 rope to the top of an icy slope before a quick change of gear and abseiling down a second rope. Several practices later and everyone was feeling the effects of the strenuous activity at 5700m, but it was an essential activity. High on an 8000m mountain is not the place to try and remember how best to get yourself up or down a steep slope. These skills need to be so familiar, that they can be done without thinking, as there is precious little oxygen for figuring things out at high altitude.

8th Sep – Meanwhile we are settling into ABC for the next part of the programme, some rest followed by training before heading higher up the mountain to Camp 1, firstly to carry loads and then to sleep there. However we’ve had some snow overnight, and heavier snow forecast, up to 20 inches. It’s easy to forget as we sit here in our comfortable dining tent, we are already well above an altitude where permanent settlements exist, and our existence is at the mercy of the weather. In the next few days before we progress higher up the mountain, our Sherpas and a visiting Llama will hold a Puja ceremony, to appease the mountain Gods. We are all looking forward to experiencing an important piece of Himalayan culture.

7th Sep – Overnight snow coated our tents and all the surroundings at Interim Camp, including the many yaks, as we looked out of tent doors first thing in the morning.

Fresh snow was still falling and the visibility was reduced to 50 metres. Not the most enticing start to the day, but it was clear from the behaviour of the yak herders and Tea House owners, this was not unusual or enough to stop their daily routine. After breakfast we waited until our yaks were almost ready to leave as at Interim Camp we had the benefit of shelter in the Tea House, whereas if we reached Advanced Base Camp before the yaks carrying our tents and equipment we would be sitting in the open, at 5700m possibly in bad weather. As it turned out, the yaks passed during our lunch stop, and timing was very good. The route from Interim Camp is now an impressively engineered vehicle track,  leading part way towards Advanced Base Camp. The road cuts a swathe through glacial  ice core moraine, some of the embankments revealing solid ice. The purpose or end point of the road seem a mystery here, will it lead to ABC or even over the nearby pass leading into Nepal? Presumably time will tell.

6th Sep – Edita, Lloyd, Dave and Jan left with Gyanu while Dorje and myself stayed behind to weigh all our camp equipment and get it loaded onto yaks. In the end everything was loaded onto a truck and driven to Interim Camp, as it would take less time. Yaks would follow and carry the loads the following day from Interim Camp to Advanced Base Camp. Hot weather made the trail seem harder than expected, and the team were happily waiting in the Tea House at Interim Camp when I arrived. Many other climbing teams were already at Interim Camp heading up the mountain.

4th Sep – Rob emailed the following update from Chinese base camp:

We left home just over a week ago, and now find ourselves in Tibet, sitting in the Base Camp of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world.

Dave and myself flew from London together, met Edita in Delhi where we changed flights, and flew onward to Kathmandu where Lloyd and Jan had arrived the day before. Our ‘United Nations’ team from England, Scotland, New Zealand, Denmark and Lithuania was assembled.  We had a busy day of preparations, arranging Chinese / Tibetan Visas, buying food, medical supplies and any last minute equipment people needed in Kathmandu The next day we boarded a bus to drive to Friendship Bridge to cross the border from Nepal into Tibet. The border was hectic with lorries parked on each side of the locked gate and people manually carrying huge loads of produce across to be re-loaded into empty lorries in a different country. Our kit bags disappeared amongst everything else and it was a relief to spot them again while we waited in line to clear passport control and customs. Once in Tibet we were in the hands of the Chinese Tibet Mountaineering Association and they arranged transport to Xangmu, a 20 minute drive from the border, for our first night in Tibet. The following day an impressive drive higher up the gorge past  huge waterfalls, swollen from the heavy rain overnight, took us to Nylam at 3700m. Two days walking in the local hills up to 4500m for acclimatisation, and dodging the packs of feral dogs occupied our days. Moving on  our bus climbed the road onto the Tibetan plateau crossing a high pass of 5050m. Unfortunately the views of Shishapangma were obscured by cloud. We spent one night in Tingri, a one street town with a ‘frontier’ feel to it, where the wild dogs beat their Nylam neighbours and kept us awake most of the night barking in the streets. As compensation we had spectacular morning views of Cho Oyu, before driving to Base Camp. We arrived at our established camp, thanks to Gyanu (Cook), Mingma (Climbing Sherpa)and Tashi (Cookboy)who had arrived a day earlier. Dorje our lead Climbing Sherpa had traveled with us from Kathmandu. Lloyd’s dreams were answered as chips were served with lunch. Small things can make a big difference on an expedition. The rest of the day was spent resting and sorting out stores and personal equipment. Radio briefings and a Portable Altitude Chamber demonstration filled the afternoon. The evening meal surpassed lunch as sizzling hot plates appeared turning the dining tent into a sauna. Most of us confessed to not eating as well at home! Today we had another acclimatisation walk up to 5600m,with everyone feeling well. Base Camp is an evolving community, as groups come and go every day. Our German neighbours left this morning, to be quickly replaced by New Zealanders. It’s a busy place here. Many climbers have returned from last season, when dangerous snow conditions forced all groups off the mountain, before a chance to summit. On top of those folks are the groups who are here for the first time. Tomorrow we prepare more kit and Yak proof it. The day after tomorrow hired Yaks will move our stores and equipment from Base Camp up the mountain, to our next stop at Interim Camp 5100m.

2nd Sep – Rob emailed today to say the team have had two good acclimatisation days in Nylam and will head over to Tingri tomorrow.

30th Aug – Rob Phoned in yesterday to say the team arrived safely into Nepal. They have made their final preparations and will leave for the border today.