Kyashar 2011 Expedition update - part 3

Just had a text in from the guys...

"Been sat in base camp with lots of snow every afternoon for the last 5 days. We managed to get some bouldering in during the mornings before it arrives. Bottom butress which we want to climb in rock boots - not axes and crampons is now plastered so we need a few days of sun to clear that first and lots of snow on the face. Gear stashed at start of climb so all set for when we get the weather! Fingers crossed its arrives soon" - Andy and Nick

Kyashar 2011 Expedition update - Part 2

Just had this text message in from the guys via their Sat Phone......


"All well at BC. Nick is over the man flu and we've spent the last few days bouldering around BC and acclimatising up to 5300m. Weather has been a bit unsettled but not too bad. Heading up to the Col between Kyashar and Kusum Kanguru to acclimatise for a few days... Cheers Andy and Nick"


We should hopefully hear more from the guys over the coming days so make sure you check back for all the latest

Cheers Duncan, Mountain Equipment

Kyashar Expedition 2011 - Update

I managed to grab a 5 minute chat with Nick and Andy this morning via sat phone.

The guys arrived at Base Camp yesterday and up to now everything has gone to plan bar a bout of man flu and tooth ache for Nick - which Andy informed me is just a sign of old age much to Nick’s delight.... youth!

So far they have only been able to catch short glimpse of Kyashar on the trek in as visibility has been poor due to snow though Andy mentioned that the weather had started to clear this morning, so fingers crossed that it will settle over the coming days.

Nick and Andy are now going to spend the next 2/3 days acclimatising at base camp before making their next move. Make sure you check back for the latest over the coming days

Cheers Duncan, Mountain Equipment

And so it begins

Somehow, a lot sooner than expected I’m back in Kathmandu, the same sights and smells, the realities of real life forgotten for the next 5 weeks.

Most of our kit’s in Lukla, sorted and packed yesterday and flown out a day ahead of us this morning so no excess baggage bills to worry about this time.  Once again our agent, Loben Expeditions, has organised everything flawlessly.  I’m slowly learning that using a good agent you can trust takes away a lot of the stress of expedition climbing, well the planning bit anyway...

Hopefully the weather gods will be on our side and we’ll fly to Lukla tomorrow morning and start the 3 – 4 day trek to our base camp at Tagnag below the south face of Kyashar and our home for the next 4 or so weeks.  Although it’s my third time into the Hinku Valley I’m really excited to be heading back, Kyashar is an amazing looking mountain with a really compelling line, well worth a second attempt. 

While we’re away we’ll be sending the odd text via the sat phone to Duncan at Mountain Equipment and he’ll be updating their blog and hopefully this one if I remember to send him the relevant details!

We’ve been really fortunate on this trip to receive a number of grants to help towards the cost of the expedition and would like to thank the Nick Estcourt Award, BMC, Mount Everest Foundation and the Welsh Sports Association.

And of course a massive thanks for their continued support to Mountain Equipment, Black Diamond, Scarpa, Tendon Ropes, Adidas Eyewear and SIS.