Cho Oyu Spring 2013: news of our expedition

21 April to 28 May

 

Blog post: Please click one of the links below to go directly to that Blog post or just scroll down.

• 27 May
• 25 May
• 22 May
• 21 May
• 20 May
• 19 May
• 18 May
• 17 May
• 14 May
• 12 May
• 10 May
• 6 May
• 3 May
• 29 April
• 27 April
• 25 April
• 22 April

27 May-

Hey everyone this is Scott Patch with a spring Cho Oyu Dispatch.

It's May 27th and our expedition arrived back in Kathmandu yesterday afternoon.  It was an early morning at the Tibet border and a long drive back to Kathmandu.  But we are here enjoying the rain showers, heat and humidity.

It was a great expedition and many thanks to all for making it truly wonderful.

Today we tie up loose ends here and start to say farewell to our new friends.  May everyone have safe travels and we look forward to hearing about your next adventure!!!

Thanks for following our expedition. back to top

 

Everest from summit of Cho Oyu. Photo Scott Patch Tenji Sherpa, Lakpa Sherpa and Scott Patch at camp 1 after summit. Photo Scott patch

Golden Cho Oyu. Photo Wayne Herrick. Last Day at Cho Oyu Base Camp. Photo Wayne Herrick. 

Tenji Sherpa coming down from summit. Photo Wayne Herrick Oxygen, ropes in Camp 1. Photo Wayne Herrick.

 

Overhang just below camp 2. Members using fixed ropes while coming down. Photo Wayne Herrick. Closing our expedition from camp 1. Photo Wayne Herrick

After summiting Cho Oyu John. Photo Wayne Herrick. Celebration. Photo Wayne Herrick.  back to top

25 May-

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Good Morning this is Scott Patch with the Spring Cho Oyu dispatch and it’s May 25th.

It’s early morning here, it’s about 7 o’clock, we are packing up advance basecamp, the yaks are here and we’re busy loading everything.

We will soon be hiking out Advanced Basecamp, we are the last team to leave ABC so it’s very quiet up here. We’ll be hiking down for a few hours and then getting into jeeps and hopefully making it to Zhangmu and crossing the border tomorrow and then getting back to Kathmandu tomorrow afternoon.

We’re excited about being back down in some lush green with some thick air and look forward to being back in the luxuries of the world. Thanks for following the dispatch we will send some pictures and another dispatch when we get back to Kathmandu. Thanks and bye bye. back to top

 

Holly on Fixed Line below camp 2. Photo by Scott patch Holly nearing the top of the icefall. Photo by Scott Patch

Fixed ropes on Summit day. Photo Scott Patch. Nearing camp 3 with yellow band just above camp. Photo by Scott Patch

Shadow of Cho Oyu at sunrise on summit push. Photo Scott Patch Sunsetting at camp 3. Photo by Scott Patch.

 

Tenji Sherpa climbing in the icefall below camp 2. Photo Scott Patch. View at sunrise during summit push. Photo Scott Patch.

 

View coming down from summit above camp 3. Photo Scott Patch. View looking out of camp 3. Photo Scott Patch

22 May- Team summits!

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Hi this is Scott Patch with the SummitClimb Spring Cho Oyu dispatch.

It is 22nd May and we had 3 members; Holly, Wayne and John summit today along with 3 Sherpas and myself. It was a beautiful day at the summit. We’re all back at Camp 2, eating, drinking and tomorrow we head down to Advanced Basecamp. We’re looking forward to a good night’s sleep which I think will come easy for everybody.

Thanks for following our dispatches. Bye bye back to top

Summit Cho Oyu by our Sherpa Tenji Sherpa. Photo Wayne Herrick. Wayne Herrick summit of Cho Oyu. Photo Tenji Sherpa

Summit of Cho Oyu by Holly Budge. Behind Mount Everest, Lhotse and many mores. Photo Holly Budge. Summit of Cho Oyu by Scott Patch and Holly Budge. Behind Mount Everest, Lhotse and many mores. Photo Holly Budge. back to top

 

Self shot on summit of Cho Oyu by John. Photo John. View of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Makalu from Summit of Cho Oyu. Photo John

Summit of Cho Oyu. Scott Patch.Player Flag. Photo Wayne

21 May- Team heading for the summit!

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Hey everybody this is Scott Patch with the Spring Cho Oyu dispatch.

It is May 21st, the entire team; John, Wayne, Holly, Sherpas and myself are at Camp 3 ready for an early start for the summit tomorrow morning.

We’re all doing well, feeling good. We’re just melting water, getting hydrated and getting something to eat. We’ll get a little bit of sleep and then we’re off to the summit.

Thank you for following our dispatch and we’ll let you know as soon as we’re done. Thank you, talk to you soon. Bye bye back to top

 

Explore the route to camp 3 at 7400 metres/24,400 feet. Photo John. Almost there.  7800 meters / 24960 foot. Photo John

20 May- 

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Good morning from the Spring Cho Oyu SummitClimb expedition, it’s the 20th May. We’re at Camp 2, the winds forecast for tonight and too excessive for what are safe to climb in so we’re looking at the weather forecast for the 22nd it seems that it’s much more favourable for us. So we’re going to spend another night at Camp 2 and then leave tomorrow morning and head to Camp 3. We’ll try to melt as much water as we can so we’re hydrated and prepare for our alpine start leaving around sometime around midnight on 22nd or 11pm on the 21st to head for the summit of Cho Oyu.

It was an interesting night everybody did well we’re sleeping here at around 7100m, everybody’s doing fine. We have Holly, John and Wayne and they’re all doing very well and anxious to get up the mountain but with the high winds forecast for the 21st and bad weather coming in we think it’s best to wait and not get anyone caught by frostbite so we’ll do that and we feel much safer like that.

Thanks for following our expedition bye bye back to top

19 May- 

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Hey everybody this is Scott Patch with the Spring Cho Oyu expedition update. It is the 19th May and we are at Camp 2 which sits at over 7100m. It’s an absolutely beautiful sunset right now, the clouds are all below us, the sun is shining and we’re loving being at Camp 2.

It’s been a long day, one of our members, our Danish friend Torben decided that Camp 1 would be his high point today, all the rest of the members and Sherpas and I are at Camp 2 and enjoying the sun. We’re making hot water and all of the other various things that we do in camp.

Stay tuned because we’re watching the weather and tomorrow or the day after we will be leaving to go to Camp 3 and then the summit and we’re all looking forward to that.

Thanks for following our expedition and we’ll call with another dispatch tomorrow. back to top

Above camp 1.  View of Ngojumba Kang from Cho Oyu Camp 1. Photo John & Debbie

Over hang below Camp 2. Photo John & Debbie. Melting Ice at Camp 1. Photo Wayne Herrick.

18 May- 

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Hi this is Scott Patch with the SummitClimb Cho Oyu Spring expedition dispatch.

We are currently at Camp 1 which sits about 6400m, everybody is doing good. We’re resting melting water, rehydrating and eating dinner.We are about to witness a beautiful sunset so we’re excited about that and also excited about heading to camp 2 tomorrow for the second leg of our summit push. We will be leaving early in the morning and it’ll be about an 8 hour day as we head up to Camp 2, we’ve already been there before. We’re going to try and get a good nights’ sleep and hopefully the next day we can move onto Camp 3.

We wish everybody well at home. Thanks for following our dispatches and we will talk to you tomorrow. Thanks and goodbye. back to top

17 May- 

This is Scott Patch with a spring Cho Oyu dispatch. Today is May 17th and we are at ABC.  Today we sadly said goodbye to 3 of our members Debbie, Reinhard and Stephanie. Their company will be missed greatly and we hope to see them in the mountains. They leave in good health and we wish them safe travels home!!  Tomorrow the rest of the team will leave ABC for camp 1 and the beginning of our summit push.  As of now the upper mountain looks good for our summit day on May 21st. Stayed tuned for further updates as we get higher on the mountain. Thanks for following our expedition!! back to top

Going to Camp 1. Photo Wayne Herrick.Going to ABC. Photo Wayne Herrick

Glacier between ABC and Camp 1. Photo Wayne Herrick. View of Cho Oyu from ABC.  Photo John & Debbie

 

Our comfortable ABC (Fergal Savage).  Camp 1, Holly looking for something. Photo Scott Patch.

14 May-  

This is Scott Patch with a spring Cho Oyu dispatch. Today is May 14th and the entire team is in ABC waiting for the winds to die down on the upper mountain and give us an window of safe passage to Cho Oyu's summit and return.  The weather here at ABC is beautiful with clear blue skies in the morning with afternoon clouds and light snow showers.  The upper mountain shows signs of strong winds which are expected to remain over the next several days. So we sit and rest in this beautiful alpine valley, enjoying the scenery, company and patiently waiting for our summit push.  Thanks for following our climb.back to top

12 May-  

This is Scott Patch with a spring Cho Oyu dispatch. Today is May 12th and the entire team is down from the upper mountain safe.  We are looking forward to some good food, rest and time to let our bodies heal before our summit push.  The winds are still high on the upper mountain with snow and white out conditions at times. Our climb yesterday from camp 1 to camp 2 was a true Himalayan adventure with strong wind, snow and cold temps. Dispite the conditions, everyone did exceptionally well!!! So tonight we eat and rest. The happiest of birthday wishes to my beautiful 9 year old daughter Natalie, I Love You sweetie!!!! Thanks for following our trip back to top

Way to C2 at 6600m. Going down to Camp 1. Photo Wayne Herrick.

10 May- 

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

 

6 May- 

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Hello this is John Martersteck; member of the spring Cho Oyu expedition led by the ever entertaining Scott Patch.

Today is Sunday May 5th. After having spent in Advanced Base Camp (ABC) the team has made excellent progress regarding our critical acclimatisation programme and we are all sleeping well now at about 18,700 feet. Although we have been enjoying the views here at ABC, which is nestled in a beautiful cirque surrounded by a panorama of rugged Himalayan peaks, we have very much been looking forward to starting the actual climbing.

I’m happy to report that we made our first visit yesterday to Camp One which entailed a long traverse snaking across the piles of rubble that are found in the area. Then along the side of a glacier which features a river of beautiful sun sculpted ice seracs and finally a long difficult ascent to camp one up a steep miserable scree field.  We are awed by the strength and stamina of the three Tibetan yaks who we hired to carry most of our gear. Also our Sherpas, who did an excellent job in putting in Camp One on a flat section of ice out in the wind.

Camp One resides at almost 21,000 feet and entails the personal high altitude record for several of the team members.

The route to Camp Two and Three are clearly visible from Camp One and we can’t wait to tackle them.

Today is a rest day and recovery day and all of the ladies are delighted to take advantage of the Camp shower.

Tomorrow we head back up to Camp One where we will spend the night then climb towards Camp Two and the Ice Fall before returning to Advanced Basecamp. Thank You back to top

 

Yaks in Base Camp. Photo John Martersteck. Camp 1. Photo John Martersteck

Camp 1 from another angle. Photo John Martersteck. Chinese Base Camp. Photo John Martersteck

Chinese Base Camp 1. Photo John Martersteck. Cho Oyu – upper view. Photo John Martersteck

Deb “testing” out the gamow bag for the group. It was a little claustrophobic!Photo John Martersteck.  Deb and John on a hike high above Chinese Base Camp.Photo John Martersteck

Deb and Wayne resting and enjoying the views on their way to Advanced Base Camp.Photo John Martersteck. Deb at Camp 1 in front of all the tents. A bit of protection from the winds.Photo John Martersteck

Deb practicing on the ice wall, with some changes to our ascender safety lengths. We also used a Figure 8 device for rapelling (new to us) – Thanks, Jerry for letting me borrow your device!

 

Glaciers everywhere. Photo John Martersteck. The winds are coming! Lenticular cloud over Cho Oyu when we knew we’d be sitting in ABC longer. Photo John Martersteck.

 

Interim Base Camp. Photo John Martersteck. John rappelling down. Photo John Martersteck

More Ice Seracs. Photo John Martersteck. 

 

Our power sources. Photo John Martersteck. Scott Patch at ABC behind Cho Oyu. Photo Scott Patch

3 May- 

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Hey everybody, this is Scott Patch calling in with the dispatch for the Cho Oyu 2013 SummitClimb trip. We are currently at ABC, we’ve been here for the past few days, everybody is healthy and happy; we’re having a good time.

Today we spent some time down in the ice pinnacles below ABC practicing ascending and abseiling down the ice pinnacles. We had a good time doing that. Everybody’s been eating well. Today was a beautiful day nothing but blue skies with a few clouds rolling in during the afternoon which cooled things off nicely for us to rest up a little bit before dinner.

Tomorrow we are heading to camp 1 and returning back down to ABC for a little bit more rest and then we’ll be heading back up the mountain shortly.

I hope everybody is well. We will talk to you soon and thank you very much for following our climb.

Bye bye. back to top

29 April - 

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

Hello this is Debbie with SummitClimb providing an update.

We are at basecamp, we left Tingri yesterday morning and arrived at basecamp. Today was a rest day in camp were all the team members went out exploring and tomorrow we’re heading for interim camp. back to top

Mount Cho Oyu. Yaks are in Basecamp to load the expedition loads. Photo Christina Kristensen

 

27 April - 

Team reports in live (click here to listen)

It’s the 26th April 2013 on the Cho Oyu expedition with SummitClimb. This is Matt Taylor ringing in from Tingri over in Tibet.

Today’s been a really great day, we arrived here a couple of days back and there are 8 people here with SummitClimb. 3 more people joined us today who are also joining the Cho Oyu expedition.

Weather-wise in Tingri today it’s been lovely and warm, if a little too warm so we’ve been stripping off the layers.  We’ve taken a walk out today in town through local villages, through streets and flat plains where we enjoyed some great views of Everest and of course Cho Oyu. 

We’ll be departing tomorrow morning for basecamp, everything’s great, the food’s wonderful and we’re having a chuckle around the table at night-time. Thanks for following our team on SummitClimbNews and you should get our next update tomorrow. Take care, see you soon, bye. back to top

 

 

Scott Patch (Leader), way to Cho Oyu basecamp.Base Camp. Photo Christina Kristensen

25 April - 

This is Holly Budge reporting from Nyalam (4000m), Tibet, with the Cho Oyu 2013 dispatch for April 25th.

We set off from Kathmandu at 4am yesterday morning, on a bus to the Nepal/Tibet border.

The journey took us around 6 hours, over some pretty bumpy terrain! The border crossing was very uncomplicated and quick, much to our delight! We have made it into Tibet! This is a very good start to our expedition!!!

We then had a delicious lunch before driving a couple of hours north to Nyalam. It is noticeably much colder here but the accommodation is very pleasant & clean, and well-equipped with big duvets and blankets to keep us warm!

Today, we did a short acclimatisation trek up a scree hill above the town. Everyone is feeling good and strong, with a few tingles here and there from the Diamox. For the rest of today, we will just chill out and start acclimatizing to this altitude. We will continue to Tingri in a couple of days, before reaching Cho-Oyu Base Camp.

Three of our team members - Wayne Herrick, Debbie Markham & John Martersteck flew to Lhasa, Tibet and will meet us in Tingri in a couple of days. back to top

Acclimatization trek, with the prayers flags & Christina Kristensen overlooking Nylam. Matt Taylor photo. Nylam. Photo Christina Kristensen

 

Torben Kristensen posing photo behind lots of player flags. Tenji Sherpa posing at Nylam. Photo Christina Kristensen

Hi, this is Scott Patch reporting from Kathmandu, Nepal with the Cho Oyu 2013 dispatch for April 22nd.
back to top

All members have made it and are in high spirits and great health, despite the rigours of travel, time changes and misplaced baggage. We have spent most of the last couple days sorting gear, packing, unpacking and repacking our kits to go to Tibet.  Lots of last minute purchases and things to do today.  

We are all set to leave for Tibet at 4:00 am Tuesday the 23rd.  Its a big relief to have everything done and be able to enjoy a quiet evening.

Yesterday I meet with Ms Elizabeth Hawley. She is known as the 'Himalayan Record-keeper'. Ms Hawley has been keeping records of every single expedition who have climbed any major Nepali Peaks since the 60s. We admire Ms Hawley's work and dedication very much. Read more about Ms Hawley here: http://www.himalayandatabase.com/hawleybio.html  

Cho Oyu Spring 2013 team roster:

• Scott P.(Leader) - USA
• Holly B. (Assistant Leader) - UK
• Wayne H. - USA
• Debbie M. - USA
• John M. - USA
• Torben K. - Denmark
• Reinhard K. - Germany
• Stephanie K. - Germany
• Christina K. - UK

• Tengi Sherpa - Climbing Sherpa
• Lapka Tendu Sherpa - Climbing Sherpa
• Ngima Sherpa - Climbing Sherpa
• Nima Dorje Lama - Head Cook back to top