Ama Dablam Base Camp (4650 m)
René enjoyed a very relaxing day in Base
Camp today. He wrote his journal, sketched innumerable pictures of the
mountains for his MSc thesis, read and packed his bag for departure to
Namche Bazaar tomorrow. He and his two team members have been joined
by another two AC members who decided, this morning, that they would not
go ahead with their summit attempt.
News from the Adventure Consultants team
of 3, which is aiming for the summit, is that they have reached Camp III,
aka High Camp, (6230 m) and have pitched their tents on Mushroom Ridge.
This is believed to be one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Nepal.
They are hoping to summit tomorrow. One more AC member, who hopes to
summit on Monday, is presently waiting at Camp II.
6 climbers and 3 Sherpas from the
Alpenglow team yesterday succeeded in being the first Ama Dablam
summiteers this autumn season. Congratulations!
Fixed ropes on a new "variation route"
on the upper slopes of Ama Dablam have just been put in place by a number
of guides and Sherpas from various teams. This will allow climbers to use
a new route to the summit, which is to the right of the unstable Dablam
glacier and which avoids this section. This is a safer route than
previously, though tougher and more technical as it includes hundreds of
metres of clear blue ice.