SKi8000 expedition 2004: Update 4

Update4: After a good night sleep in a colorful Tingri we only needed a two hour drive to Old Chinese Base Camp 4900 m. From here our transportation will be on foot!

The Cho Oyu is now within good sight. Although there is little snow on the mountain we see some promising ski routes. The past few days we have used the binoculars extensively assessing the current conditions on the mountain.

Tomorrow we plan to go to Intermediate Camp, the day after to Base Camp. For this we need many Yaks to carry our loads up the mountain. Our liaison officer told us today that one yak can only carry 40kg. This means that we have a big problem. Normally yaks carry up to 60kg. As we agreed with this guy we ordered 12 yaks who will do two runs to base camp. Today we weighed our loads. As expected this was a lot, 1500 kg. Besides all our personal stuff, tents, ski's and climbing gear including 1000 m rope our cook Kancha would like to bring something to Base Camp. He has amongst others, 330 eggs, 130 kg rice, 65 kg potatoes, 45 kg flour, 2 kg garlic, 20 kg yak meat, 10 bottles of Heinz ketchup, 90 kg gas and 40 kg vegetables.

We cannot get any more yaks as it will take them five days to arrive here. Tomorrow we will have to arrange quite a lot with our liaison officer. We hope to get things sorted out with him. Maybe we will have to leave some things behind, or if possible pay some extras and have the yaks carry more. We hope for the best.

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Dispatches

 

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