Dispatches - April 2008

Camp 2 and Mustard the Wonder Mutt

info@calpinist.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:33:16 +0100

The north facing couloirs of the huge central rock island between camp 1 and camp 2 feature the most demanding technical terrain so far. Although only a few short pitches, the climbing is ultra delicate, with only a thin veneer of rotten ice sparsely smeared to downward angling rock slabs. The glass-smooth slabs are around 70 degrees steep in places, and any purchase with ice tools or crampons is tenuous at best. As I ascended the pitch for the first time (after Inaki led and fixed a rope) I fel [...]

Phone dispatch

info@calpinist.com — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:49:11 +0100

On April 21, Inaki, Horai, and I left early in the morning to head for the "wall" on Annapurna 1. Our goal was to acclimatize ourselves in preparation for the next step in our bid for the summit. About an hour out, I started to feel very sick. We all have taken our turns struggling with some kind of illness or another, it's just the way of life when you climb ...so I guess it was my turn, now. I wanted to continue on, but Inaki and Horia said if I didn't turn around and g [...]

Finally a break�

info@calpinist.com — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:52:13 +0100

The weather over the last few weeks has been atrocious. Day after day we are greeted in base camp by the rising sun, but by mid morning watch the mists rise from the valley below, bending around the base of Machhapuchhre, the great Fishtail Mountain. By mid day, thunder ehchoes over the high passes, and the snow begins to fall. If it were not for the ridiculously sublime view framed by breaks in the clouds, the storms would be nothing but dreary.

{rokzoom album=|approach4| [...]

More photos from Dan Stensland

tommy.klinefelter@gmail.com — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:45:38 +0100

Here's more images sent by Dan, showing the trek to Annapurna basecamp. We're expecting a dispatch from Don in the next day, so stay tuned. We've also updated the sponsor's page, so take a look at the people and organizations that make the expedition possible.

{rokzoom album=|approach2| title=|Annapurna basecamp approach. Photo Dan Stensland|}images/IMG_0430.jpg{/rokzoom} {rokzoom album=|approach2| title=|Annapurna basecamp approach. Photo Dan Stensland|}images/IMG_0433.j [...]

The approach to Annapurna basecamp

tommy.klinefelter@gmail.com — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:00:00 +0100

This photo-dispatch was sent by Dan Stensland, who took some great shots of the trek to the Annapurna basecamp. Dan made a point to note that both he and Don made the entire approach in flip-flops. Enjoy these images, and expect more to come (click on images to enlarge).

{rokzoom album=|approach| title=|Annapurna basecamp approach. Photo Dan Stensland|}images/IMG_0687.jpg{/rokzoom} {rokzoom album=|approach| title=|Annapurna basecamp approach. Photo Dan Stensland|}images/IMG_0 [...]