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Adventure ConsultantsMakalu
2001 Expedition
Expedition
Leader: Guy Cotter - New Zealand
Team
members:
Robert Stevens - USA
Jean-Claude Latombe - USA / France
Keith Kerr - UK / Hong Kong
Jim Milne - USA / NZ
Bruce Hasler - New Zealand
Mark Williams - NZ/ UK
Bryan
Moore - New Zealand
and
Takashi Ozaki - Japan / Hong Kong
Dispatch
April
11: Finally we're at Hillary Base Camp and having a
rest day before heading up tomorrow to our Base Camp.
All members are fine and enjoying a rest after a
strenuous and delightful trek over the Shipton Col and
into the remote wilderness of the upper Barun Valley.
Ancient Rhododendron forests grace the slopes
intermingled on this side with Himalayan cedar. The
upper Barun is surrounded by huge rock walls with
lofty peaks above occasionally sending down huge
spring avalanches to the valley floor.
Crossing
the Shipton Pass is not for the faint hearted. Three
distinct passes take one over 4000m and the terrain is
definitely alpine at this time of year. We traveled on
snow the whole way to Mungbo, a sloppy wet camp site
almost below snowline in the forest. From here the
trekking route descends into the Barun River and a
meandering track leads through the forest opening into
river flats at Yangle Karka. Another 1.5 hours later
we arrived in Totata, an opening above the tree line
with views of towering cliffs all around.
Yesterday
we ascended above tree line and into the mountains
proper to set our camp at Hillary BC at 4600m. Several
climbing teams are already here and have set up their
base camps here whilst we will move up tomorrow to a
higher site giving closer access to the mountain.
Makalu
stands omnipotent above, 4000m of the South Face hangs
directly above us and it appears we are surrounded by
mountains here. It is a beautiful and remote place.
Snow
in the Kingdom : My Storm Years on Everest by
Ed Webster, Peter Williams (Editor),
(Illustrator) This item will be published in
November 2000. You may order it now and we will
ship it to you when it arrives.
