Everest 2006: British West Ridge Expedition: Dave Bunting Expedition leader reports in and more

Jude Humphries

Everest West Ridge Update....What have they been up to since they left the UK?!

We have spoken to the team and they are all safely at Roadhead and setting up to stay for a couple of days. They will be leaving for Tillmans today but this will take four or five days for the yaks to do a few round trips!!

Everyone is in good health. All feeling a little fuzzy brained with the Altitude but mainly good. Neil had to stay in Tingri and extra night as he was feeling a bit poorly but has caught them up today.

The Development Team are still in Tingri. Apparently they have suffered a little more but then they weren’t afforded the luxury of hypoxic tents before leaving so are a few steps behind the Main Team acclimatizing.

It’s freezing cold and snowing, but they now have the most amazing view of Everest and are all completely awe struck!

Dave Bunting expedition Leader reports:

Dave Bunting – Naylam 27/03/06 

Having arrived on Thursday 24th March early evening we had just enough time to settle into The Summit Hotel and relax a little before getting suited and booted for a cocktail party at the Embassy that evening.

Most members of the team attended along with Embassy staff, consulate staff and the military who have been helping us with the freight and logistics over the last few months.

Standing outside the Embassy eating canapes there was a lot of excitment and talk of the journey. A stark contrast to what lies ahead of us! It was a very pleasant start to our trip and continued for a few more drinks once back at the hotel bar.

I was woken Friday morning in the hotel at 7:30 with a birthday cake from the Summit Hotel. 28 again!

Although it was my birthday today, not the first in Kathmandu!, it was also a very bust day in terms of the expedition. We had a very full briefing with the teams in the morning which went very well and we all sat down to watch the various good luck wishes from various dignatories and celebrities that had  been recorded for us in London. Tony Blair, David Cameron,Simon Cowell and Davina McCall top name a few!

Myself, Dave Wilson, Malcolm Russel, Kevin Edwards and Glynn Sheppard then went off for another  briefing at the Embassy for general info on the country’s situation, Maoist movements, emergency transportation etc. I’m very glad to say that the Emabssy was very onside with the whole expedition and there were no major issues.

We then went on to meet with Himalayan Ecstasy who are the ground agency for the Junior Team’s trek in Nepal to Island Peak.

A final Brief to the rest of the team back at the Hotel rounded off everone’s day and most then went up for an early night. We had a very early start the next day.

However it seems an expedition leaders work is never done and I had a few more phone calls to attend to  and letters to write back to the UK before leaving the comfort of Kathmandu. A few hours sleep and then up again at 3:30am for the big off.

We crossed the border with relatively no hassle and travelled through Zangmu to Naylam to start our trekking. We decided to stay in a Hotel at Naylam but compromised by having our own cooks so as not to risk any severe bouts of food posioning. It’s been realtive comfort but there has been the odd encounter with Tibetan Rats (known for their big teeth!) The Teams have all been in very good spirits.which is such an amazing thing for to see after three years of everyones hard work to get us here.

I have been really enjoying the treks so far and have been able to spend some time just taking it all in. It has been a very long journey to get us this far and in reality we have only just begun!

Eveyone is very excited about tomorrow now which (Tuesday 28th). We start our journey up to Nache Bazaar in the morning and weather permitting this will be the majority of the team’s first glimpse of Everest and what lies ahead!

We just have to survive one more night with the possibility of encountering the Tibetan Rats!

Everest 2006: The British Army West Ridge Expedition Dispatches

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

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