Reports - winter conditions and activity

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Island Peak and Ama Dablam, Nepal

I have recently returned from a great work trip to Nepal expedition leading for www.adventurepeaks.com.  We flew into Kathmandu and then travelled up the Khumbu valley to climb Island Peak (6189m) and then on to Ama Dablam (6856m).  Island Peak gave a great climb as did Ama Dablam, however due to some very heavy late snow fall we couldn't summit Ama Dablam, we had a relatively short time slot and the fixing of ropes and finding good snow anchors was the issue.  None the less we had a great trip and enjoyed summiting Island Peak and some great mountaineering up to the camp 2 area on Ama Dablam, as well as all the great trekking between and Nepali culture.


Arriving at Island Peak summit (6189m)

First daylight on Island Peak summit day

Lhotse South Face above...

Bridge on route to Namche

First glimpse of Ama Dablam!

Good to meet the owners of the Sherpa Adventure Gear store in Namche

Everest left and Ama Dablam on right

Lhotse South Face memorial

Yaks to Island Peak BC

The Holy bird

Early start on Island Peak

Upper glacier on Island Peak

Island Peak summit

Lakpa Sherpa tells us about his attempt on Lhotse South Face (behind)

Summit ridge of Island Peak, Ama Dablam north ridge behind

The infamous Yeti skull and hand at Monastery in Pangboche Upper (allegedly) 

Carving in Monastery

Prayer wheels

Ama Dablam from BC

Jumar practice on the boulder near Ama Dablam BC

Mule loads arrive (not on little one)

On way to Ama ABC

Yak camp, or ABC, on Ama


My photos ended at this point when my camera took the quick way off from the camp 1 fixed ropes!




This is a shot I took of camp 2 from a previous expedition though and is around this years highpoint for our team...