143 posts, 2012 to today.
The time has stopped, each second is pure bliss, the view is breathtaking. But the clouds pass over our heads at incredible speeds and it is not a good sign. I have never seen such fast clouds and so close. I guess its a normal sight at over 7000 meters. Lakpa points at the clouds […]
How to describe the feeling of hearing the alarm go off at midnight? Our minds did not drift very far anyway, our brains know that something special is about to happen and focus is coming right back. No snoozing allowed there is no time for that. It’s straight into gear, we get dressed and look […]
1 year of planning, intense training, triathlon, gym, weight training with my trainer Derek, to be in best possible shape, a charity for raising money for Nepal, great support from friends and family, almost 3 weeks on the mountain and the day has finally arrived. You know the feeling when you have been longing for […]
On this early morning, the clouds float at around 5000 meters. They are far under us at 6000 meter camp 2 and it makes for a beautiful scenery. From our tent (proper altitude tent this time), we can see perfectly Manasulu scrapping the sky at more than 8000 meters as well as Annapurna, made famous […]
I slept fine surprising myself for not feeling the slightest headache at such high altitude. I open the door to the outside world and see beautiful weather, blue skies and sun slowly coming down to our camp 1. The period between 6-7am when we wake up and 8-830am when the sun hits the camp always […]
Breakfast is served at 730am, we are aiming to leave base camp at 8am. We all meet in the mess tent. Xav is pretty much done with his packing, Glenn seems to be as well, I feel a little behind in selecting the gear and what to take, what to leave behind. There is already […]
The pressure is slowly increasing. Today is our second rest day but we all know that tomorrow we start the final push. We have to start packing tonight to make sure all the critical gear is in the bag without carrying too much. 1 item forgotten could compromise the summit push.
Today is a rest day (as well as tomorrow) in order to recover from the past 3 days of very high altitude, and to build red blood cells, it’s a critical step of the acclimatisation and an important milestone of the expedition. I like the way Chris puts it: "your body has taken a hit […]
it’s 9am and we are packing. The usual morning routine (by now you all know it): melt snow, drink hot, eat a freeze-dried porridge or cereal of your choice, freeze your ass when you get out of the 32 degree inner sleeping back to the outside -10 degree world in your undies and t-shirt, get […]
Today is the real deal. We wake up and start the morning routine of melting snow, preparing ’breakfast in a bag’, eating, packing our huge down sleeping bags, stuffing our backpacks, dressing for the weather (sunny but cold). We hit the slope for a 600m / 5 hours ascent. Ice axes are not required for […]
9am start to camp 1. It’s a long day of walking in altitude towards camp 1. I think I make it in 4:58′ a little after Chris and just before Xavier and Glenn who follow around 20 minutes later. We all have our rhythm and pace and it’s important to listen to our body in […]
Today is a very sad day for all our team as we are loosing Patrick. He has been sick for the past couple days and is helicoptered out of base camp to Kathmandu. Patrick has been the coordination leader of our group of four guys, has done an awesome job liaising with Adv Peaks and […]
I want to share with you an inspiring letter from Lorraine. She has followed us from the beginning of this trip, supported our efforts, donated to our charity campaign and been cheering for us all along. Thank you so much for your support Lorraine! — Dear guys, I take this opportunity to congratulate you all […]
Beautiful day out, great dark blue skies. First section down the Moraine is tricky with a rope and icy slope. Then 2 hours to cross the moraine, which is very tricky, slippery and windy path. Patrick leaves us at the end of the moraine, he is feeling sick and has had headaches for the past […]
Puja in the morning, the local Lama comes from Phu village with his assistant. After setting up the offerings around the altar, the lama starts singing the prayers. We are all gathered around, surrounded by 6-7000m mountains. It is surreal. The clouds and sun mix together in an atmosphere far from our own worlds. We […]
4200m – 4885m Morning screw up, after a night snowing the mountains and the village are covered in snow and some of the porters decide to turn around afraid of the risks of Avalanche. Mules need to be loaded more to make up for the extra equipment. Junga (base camp manager) does not inform us […]
Probably the most beautiful trek on this trip so far. Canyons and rock formations towering over us. The start of the path is treacherous with a huge drop to our left overlooking a river and deep canyon. Half way in the trek, we come across a rock fall couloir, we wait patiently until lakpa Sherpa […]
Beautiful trek sun is shining. Mules are packed early morning and one of them seems to enjoy the GoPro. We agree to not stop for lunch and push in since it is only a 4-5 hours trek to the destination. Around lunch time we meet the kitchen team that has stopped to prepare lunch. Prob […]