Cho Oyu

First the news from Ian in Bolivia:

Desiree and Ian have successfully summited Hyuana Potosi!!! Brad was forced to make a difficult decision, and turned around with our other guide Renee at 5500 meters due to extreme cold. The team is now back in La Paz recouping and trying to eat as much as possible. Stay tuned for a full dispatch coming soon…

Meantime, the team for Cho Oyu is gathering in Kathmandu. From there, they will be flying to Lhasa. After some sightseeing and final preparations, they make a Jeep trip through Xigatse and Tingri, then hike out to Base Camp. 

Hello from Tibet! After 40 hours of international flights to Kathmandu, 3 days of organizing gear, permits, and logistics in Kathmandu, an unbelievable mountain flight over Everest, and a couple of hours by bus, the 2007 HimEx Cho Oyu Team is finally together and ready to go. We have spent the last 2 days in Lhasa exploring the famed Buddhist monastaries and palaces, and getting to know our teammates. It is a very diverse team, and I will give you just a quick rundown here.

Hello from 18,711 feet, ABC on Cho Oyu. The team has been here for almost a week now, and we are itching to be moving higher on the mountain. Russ has been doing a great job of teaching us patience, and thanks to that we are all now raring to go and feeling fantastic despite the altitude. We have made one foray to camp 1 already (at 21,300 feet) and tomorrow plan on going up the hill for 2 nights, including a sleep at 23,500 feet (Camp 2).

Well, exactly one month after leaving the USA, the time has come to climb! The weather is perfect, we have all acclimatized to between 22,000 and 23,500 feet, we have had at least 3 days of complete rest, and we have polished off the last of the yak steaks and whisky here in ABC. So Russell has given us the go ahead to move on the mountain!

Just heard from the satellite phone that the weather took a turn for the worse. An unexpected storm blew in, resulting in biting cold and high winds. Our team is hunkered down at Camp 2, digging in to prevent their tents and gear from blowing away. Everyone is reported to be fine and their spirits are high. Two of the climbers have been sucking on the oxygen bottle, to help keep them warm and happy.