Return to Kathmandu

The following day, the 1^st of May, we continued our descent back down the face arriving at base camp early in the afternoon – to be treated to a joyous welcome from our support team and an evening of well earned rest. However it was all hands on deck again in the morning as we broke camp and set off down valley for Lukla and our return flight back to Kathmandu on the 3^rd.

Our good friend Bishnu with a cake baked to celebrate our return to base camp.

I am now settled back into the guest house in Kathmandu reflecting back on the events of the past month since arriving in Nepal in late April. This has been my first climbing expedition to the Himalaya and the greater ranges of the world and has been an experience that I will never forget – highlighted by many a cherished memory. Nepal is truly a beautiful country; right through from its superb natural scenery and majestic towering peaks to the ever friendly and smiling local people.

While we were ultimately unsuccessful in our attempts to establish our proposed new routes on Kyajo Ri and Kusum Kanguru the trip has not been without reward. And I am more than content to walk away with our potential new climb to the Northwest ridge of Kusum Kanguru as a worthy prize for our efforts. Together with Mike and Steve I feel that we bonded effectively and worked well together as a team and were all able to learn a range of valuable lessons from our experiences. And I would first and foremost like to extend my thanks to them for accompanying me and helping ease the burden of the expedition leadership on what has been an amazing adventure.

Next I cannot go without giving thanks to all those that have supported and provided invaluable assistance towards the expedition - without whom this trip would never have been possible. I would like to acknowledge the contributions of both my personal and the expedition sponsors; iclimb, Sport and Recreation New Zealand, The New Zealand Alpine Club, The Mount Everest Foundation, Icebreaker, and Leppin Sport. And also to the great support we received from Parikrama Treks & Expeditions while in Nepal.

Final morning glimpses from my tent before we prepare to descend from base camp.

Finally to all our other friends, family and supporters thank you for your well wishes throughout. All the best until next time and thank you for following our progress on the New Zealand Solu Khumbu Alpine Expedition 2011!!

On the face

After excavating the tent from under a covering of deep snow we made a descending traverse under the West Peak to where we hoped we could safely climb up to the ridge from just over 4500m. Where surveying our options we soon came to the realisation that we would need to focus our attention on one of the prominent ribs if we were to have any chance of success. As the flanking gully lines were awash with fresh avalanches.

Mike on the steep snow slopes of the lower face.

Early morning sunlight creating a striking halo over the West Peak.

Setting out in the half light preceding dawn – to ensure that we would have sufficient light to route find – we began to tackle a prominent rock spur that lead directly to the ridge at a high point below the West Peak. Initially we had planned to push for the ridge on the first day and then continue over the West Peak to the Central Summit on the day following. However after making good progress on the lower moderate slopes, as soon as we hit the steeper ground above, it soon became apparent that with the current conditions this would be a big ask to achieve.

Steve, left, and Ben, right, leading out over snow covered rock after gaining the base of the rib.

Continuing up moderate mixed terrain, through a series a steeper steps which provided more of a challenge, we steadily gained height but the covering of fresh deep snow made for tough going and we made what seemed to be agonisingly slow progress. All the while being continually kept on our toes by the roar of avalanches as they swept down the adjacent gullies - constantly reinforcing our decision to stick to the higher ground! Steve did an admirable job breaking trail and tackling several of the more technical sections as both Mike and myself were suffering from the adverse effects of the increase in altitude. And as darkness fell at 7pm, after being on the go for over 14 hours, we dug out a tent site on a small flat section of the spur at around 5300m and settled in for the night - still a good distance below the ridge.

Steve leading the final corner crack at the top of the rib.

Ben perched on the brief flat section at the base of the final headwall.

Failing to reach the ridge in a single push had all but ruined our chance of topping out on the Central Summit but despite this the following morning we again set off – determined to at least finish the climb to a high point on the ridge itself. After starting out to promising skies the weather quickly deteriorated and we were soon enveloped in cloud and climbing through freshly falling snow.

Ben leading the final headwall, left, and bringing up Mike to the belay, right.

We swung leads efficiently and after Steve sent a final stiff crack line the spur we were following relented slightly before merging into the face proper and we were confronted with the final headwall below the ridge. I lead a long simul-pitch up onto the headwall itself and then up steadily steeper ground in now white out conditions. A vertical wall of broken rock provided a final sting in the tail of the climb and then I found myself with nothing but open air in front of me. We had reached the ridge at just over 5550m.

Topped out on the Northwest ridge, left, and preparing for the descent, right.

Bringing the others up on belay my tools began to hum with a build up of static and after wasting little time to briefly halt for a quick bite and the obligatory photos we began our descent - rappelling back down the line of our ascent. Fortunately the weather cleared as we descended and returning to our campsite of the previous night we were treated to one of the most spectacular sunsets we had been fortunate enough to witness on the trip. A truly memorable way to close out the day and effectively the expedition.

Below - the highlights of a pituresque evening after descending to our top camp site.

Retreat to base camp

After sitting it out at high camp for two nights, waiting in vain for the weather and conditions to improve and steadily making our way through our now dwindling food supply, we made the call to bail and descended back to base camp on the 25^th. The descent was an adventure within itself as it snowed continuously all day. Making for treacherous going underfoot – especially as we had decided to leave our boots at high camp and make the descent in our approach shoes. But thanks largely to a now well established trail of cairns we were able to work our way down in near whiteout conditions back to the security and comfort of base camp.

Retreating from high camp in deteriorating conditions.

Then followed another two days spent idle at base camp, resting and watching with ever decreasing morale as more and more snow continued to fall causing conditions on the face to further deteriorate. With our proposed departure date of the 2^nd of May fast approaching – to make the flight from Lukla on the 3^rd – we were now forced to reassess our options. To safely attempt our proposed direct line on the face we would require a sustained period of settled clear weather; first to allow the avalanche risk to reduce and for the face to become clear of snow and then to provide us with a suitable climbing window. With the current weather patterns we were experiencing this would in all likelihood require an extension to our trip – which thankfully we had allowed the possibility for by setting back our flights out of Kathmandu. Or alternatively we could change our objective to better suit the prevailing conditions or as a last resort make the call to retreat. This final option was one that I dreaded and it would be a heartbreaking decision to make, after coming such a long way to leave without even having set foot on the face itself would be a tough pill to swallow.

Ploughing through fresh snow on the return up to high camp.

The tent at high camp partially buried after the recent heavy snowfalls.

Thankfully the morning of the 28^th dawned fine and with the promise of more fine weather to come we set off back up the hill for high camp under a clear sky and beaming sunshine. As to be expected when the sun and increased temperatures hit the surrounding upper slopes the accumulation of snow from the previous days was released in a series of massive avalanches. And it quickly became apparent that to attempt the proposed direct line would be bordering on suicidal as the lower gully section acted to funnel avalanche debris from the upper face – which itself was still holding a concerning amount of snow over steep rock slabs. So it was with considerable disappointed that the decision was made to abandon our current camp and make preparations for an attempt further left on the face in an effort to gain the upper Northwest ridge and from there make a bid for the summit.

As we waited at high camp the entire Southwest face was awash with avalanches.

View up the lefthand side of the face - the line we climbed followed the righthand most of the three prominent rock ribs.

To High Camp again.

On the 23^rd we strapped our plastics on our backs and headed up to HC, planning to rest there the night, then launch upwards early the next morning. This allowed us to check out the route before the afternoon cloud. Rockfall was a major issue on our mind, the top half of the face looked steep and loose in the current dry conditions, the gullys looked to funnel any debris from up high. However the gully on the left of the central spur held ice, giving the fastest and easiest passage up the low section of face. After a close inspection of the possible route with binoculars and a walk to the base of the gully, we saw no evidence of rockfall and felt the gully would be ok in the cold of pre-dawn, planning to climb it early and move onto the spur before the sun hit the face.

However as we regained camp, the snow started to fall. This was no big surprise, we had experienced snowfall most evenings, but it got heavier and heavier as we sheltered in our little tent. As Ben went to fetch water, he got shocked by a static discharge. We sat and waited and made the call that the gully would be too dangerous with this much snowfall, and the pure rock climbing options too hard, so we sat out the next day and hope some sunshine would hit the face moving any excess snow. 

 

The opposite happened however, the face got zero sun that day and the snow started falling earlier than normal, and heavier, with large thunderstorms moving up the valley. Our patience being tested now, we sat out the day in our cramped tent.

 

To High Camp

On the 21^st, we set up with a load of bivvy and climbing gear, hoping to establish a high camp (HC) under the face. This was approx 1000m above base camp (BC), approx 1.5km horizontal, with some steep slabs, gullys, grass and scrub to find our way up. In our first couple of hours we tried going directly above BC, but found ourselves amongst steep bluffs, climbing moss covered rock slabs to avoid thick thorny bush. A little demoralised we spied an easier spur to our right, the base of which had what looked like an old campsite from one of the previous parties up the valley. So back down the mossy slabs and through the thorny bushes, we were soon on the right track. From here the scrub eased off, turning to alpine grass and lichen, then scree, as we slogged up towards the face.

 

Mostly the face was obscured by afternoon cloud, but as we approached we had short glimpses, confirming what we could see from below. It was dry! Our hopeful coating of post winter snow and ice was not present, it looked like a whole lot of loose rock-climbing was needed to get up the face.

I was a little disheartened by what we saw, but the cloud and snow prevented any more views, so we stashed our kit by a good looking campsite on a spur and headed down. It had been a few long hard days climbing more than 2500m up to HC from the valley, so we spent the 22^nd as a rest day at BC, preparing for launching upwards the next day. As we were not sure how the route would go, we took up a few extra days of food and gas to allow for multiple attempts or sitting out bad weather, planning one night at HC and up to 3 on the mountain.

Heading to Kusum Kanguru Base Camp

After our attempt on Kyajo Ri we decended down to Namche. We just stayed one night as we wanted to allow as much time as possible for Kusum Kanguru. We stocked up in Namche with a bit more 6mm cord and a few pieces of apple pie then set off.

Our treking guide Indra has a rather unique way of controlling us. We like to walk quite quickly and although he is extremely fit he was a little older than us. He would never ask us to slow down. We decended the 600m from Namche rather quickly and then at lunch Indra produced a small bottle of whisky. Then it started to rain, so Indra quickly produced some more whisky. The Whisky kept appearing until the rain stopped. We continued on after the rain significantly slower than we had been earlier. Job well done.

The next day we headed up the Thando Koshi Khola towards the SW face of Kusum Kanguru. We were unsure how long it would take to get to a position to set up our base camp. Indra had organised a local called Pasaang to guide us up to the head of the valley. Pasaang believed no-one had been up this valley for at least two years. He had gone up the valley 8 years ago and told us it would take two days.

The first day was on a well established track as people used it often to run a logging operation. It was quite amazing to see the pit saws in action that we take for granted are a thing of the past.

Logging operation part way up the Thando Koshi Khola

Resting after the first day up the river

The second day was off the beaten track. Pasaang had a machete and once we left the river he began slashing the bamboo and cutting a trail. Although it felt like Pasaang was just making up the trail as he went, there were times when we saw evidence of an old unestablished trail. The trail led us high on the true right of the river.

Gobin resting by the river

Bishnu carrying his load through the bamboo.

Mike and Ben using the "hold my foot" spot guide technique.

Our porters all had heavy loads and we were concerned about how they would negotiate some areas. We decided it was best to assign ourselves porters and help them through where ever neccasary. We fixed ropes in some places and in others just spotted them through.


Finally we arrived at a spot that Pasaang decided was base camp. We were somewhat dubious as he had indicated earlier that the base camp was a little further up the valley at a spot that looked rather flat to us. Furthermore the place he suggested to set up camp was on the side of a hill that was about 20 degrees! With plenty of looking at his watch he wished us luck and sped off home for tea hopefully before dark. We briefly considered heading higher but the reality was that our porters were absolutely exhausted.

Dining tent dug into the hill complete with bamboo retaining wall.

How do you set up a base camp on a hill? Dig. We made makeshift retaining walls. Ben - the structural engineer - questioned my choice of materials when I used bamboo as the uprights for the retaining wall. Ice axes out and down on hands and knees we dug into the hill until we had flatish - stablish platforms for tents.

Base camp was set up well. We thought it was a bit of a waste of time as we were probably only going to spend one night there. Little did we know....