Alpine Ascents Cho Oyu Autumn 2006: Great time at Camp I (21,000ft.)

Friends, family and loved ones, Oh my goodness, what a day! We awoke to a fabulous sunshiny morning. Lhakpa whipped up a scrumptious breakfast of hash browns, eggs and bacon. Members were asking for seconds which is a good indication that we are acclimatizing well especially when you consider that we were at CI (21,000ft.). We reviewed several pertinent fix line climbing techniques and off we went up the West ridge. As we ascended the whole High Himal unfolded below us. Half way to CII we took a photo and turned back to descend all the way to ABC….and oxygen.

Team is happy to be back to the relatively thick air of 18,000ft even though that’s half the oxygen of sea level we are reveling in it’s abundance. Unfortunately, one of our most experienced members, Mustafa, has been stricken with a serious stomach ulcer. We were informed by (no kidding) a 17 doctor expedition that this was a life threatening condition and were advised that he descend immediately. Mustafa prudently is withdrawing from our expedition for safety sake as well as respect for fellow team mates. Our best wishes go with him and we pray for a speedy recovery.

Namaste,
Vern
PS “Team We’ll Cho-Oyu” would like to say Congratulations to Brett and Diana on their wedding day

Resting well at base camp: Friends, family and loved ones,

Another fine day in paradise and a great one to rest up for tomorrows big push. Several of us crossed over the moraine piles on top of the Cho-oyu glacier to get to the Nagpa la glacier. A couple of us continued on up to the Nagpa la pass. We illegally cross over into Nepal to make snow angels. From where ABC is situated, Lhakpa is only about ten miles from his home in Thame, Nepal.

All team members are raring to go but patient enough to let their bodies adapt. A member of another team had a stroke at CI and was evacuated to ABC by 15 Sherpas where there is a medical team. A few days ago a Chinese climber was brought down with HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) . These things do happen but we want to mitigate the chances of it happening to us by maintaining a conservative acclimatization schedule.

Sweet Dreams, Vern

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