Alpine Ascents Cho Oyu 2005: multi-million dollar road project

Intermediate Camp; Tashi Delek from Intermediate Camp. Yes, we’re still here and we have a quick update. Our momentum came to a grinding halt today as we encountered the Chinese PLA as we left camp en route to ABC. The border military would not let any of the Tibetan yak drivers we had with us near the Nangpa La pass. We spent a fair amount of time trying to work out a deal with the military to allow us to pass to ABC but in the end we returned to Intermediate Camp. Things seem to have been cleared up this afternoon and we are all set to proceed tomorrow a.m. onward to ABC.

The Chinese have began a multi-million dollar road project in order to be able to better patrol this historic pass. Many Tibetan refugees escape across this pass into Nepal and many times onwards to India. The Chinese government has made a great effort to keep Tibetans from leaving Tibet over the years and the infrastructure that has been built recently has increased their presence here at the border dramatically. We could see multiple patrols in the hills surrounding our camp this morning. This is also the “40th Anniversary” of the “agreement” to create the Autonomous Region of Tibet and the government has stepped up security throughout Tibet. There was heavy military presence in Lhasa as well in case of any uprisings.

With the immediate issue apparently resolved we hope to be settled into ABC by late afternoon tomorrow.

We’ve heard brief reports on the Nepali radio regarding the disaster in Louisiana and New Orleans. Our thoughts are with those enduring the loss.

We’ll be in touch soon.

All the best,  Dave

Sept. 1- Intermediate Camp: Night has fallen here at Intermediate Camp. The only sounds to be heard are those of our staff chatting in the cook tent over the static heavy signal of their short wave radio. I can barely make out the faint chimes of yak bells off in the distance.

It's 7 pm on Thursday. We left Chinese BC at around 10 am this morning in a long procession of yaks. Last night we had quite a bit of rain but were lucky this morning to have a lull to pack up camp. By the time we arrived at Intermediate Camp it was raining steadily again. We piled into a Tibetan trader's tent near camp to get out of the rain and wait for the yaks. Camp went up quickly and dinner was again excellent. It's all about good food and good conversation at dinnertime around here.

Suzanne, Don, Kevin, Tony and Mike are all doing well and we're all excited to arrive at ABC tomorrow. It'll take a bit of time to get used to camp at over 18,000 feet. We will have a few days to adjust before venturing much above that altitude.

We'll be off again tomorrow at around the same time and hope to be in camp well before dark. We are thinking of all of you back home.

All the best, Dave

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