Baruntse and Mera Peak Climb & Trek Expedition Recent News Autumn 2013

Baruntse and Mera Peak Climb & Trek Expedition Recent News Autumn 2013

 
Baruntse & Mera Peak Autumn: news of our expedition

12 October to 14 November, 2013
 
In November and October of 2013 our team of men and women of all ages together with our amazingly friendly and helpful Sherpas enjoyed a safe, succesful and exciting expedition to Mera Peak, Mount Baruntse, and crossing of the Amphu Labtsa pass. This was a great circle trek through the Everest region, encompassing lovely remote valley trekking, an "easy" trekking peak (Mera), Nepal's "easiest" 7000 metre / 23,000 foot high peak (Baruntse) and crossing the Amphu Labtsa Pass, which at 5800 metres / 19,000 feet, is really like another peak in its own right.
 
Our Baruntse team reached the summit of this remote mountain perched on the edge of the Khumbu Valley on 4 November. Baruntse has something for everyone, both novice and expert alike. Ours was the first and only team to reach the summit this season, due to a heavy snowfall which arrived between 12 and 18 October. We congratulate our group of members, men and women of all ages, and strong friendly Sherpas on a job well done. Nevertheless, we would like to send our condolences to all of the other teams who tried and especially to the other groups' families, colleagues and friends who experienced tragic loss of their loved ones. We extend our heartfelt condolences to you and yours. However, Baruntse was kind to us this year, and we were very lucky to be able to attain her summit. Also, our team was one of the few to ascend Mera Peak, and, once again, we wish to attribute that to our hard working members and Sherpas. Congratulations on a job well done. To finish off this unique expedition, our team was the first to cross the Amphu Labtsa Pass, bridging this year's snow laden gap between the Hongku Valley and the Khumbu Valley. All other teams had turned back for the previous 30 days until ours broke the trail through waste deep snow. To all of our SummitClimb Blog readers, please enjoy the member's and Sherpa's photos as we post them for all to see. It was a very challenging and rewarding expedition. Best wishes and thank you very much for your support.
 
Blog posts: Please click one of the links below to go directly to that blog post or just scroll down.  Back to Top
Team on the summit of Baruntse in beautiful weather on 4 November, 2013. Felix Berg Photo Everest Massif from Baruntse summit. Jussi Kuva Photo.
 
Team on the summit of Baruntse in beautiful weather on 4 November, 2013. Felix Berg Photo.   Everest Massif from Baruntse summit. Jussi Kuva Photo.

 Janbu Sherpa and Jussi Kuva on the summit. Toni Schneider Photo. Toni, Chewang, and Jangbu on the summit of Baruntse. Jussi Kuva Photo.

 Janbu Sherpa and Jussi Kuva on the summit. Toni Schneider Photo. Toni, Chewang, and Jangbu on the summit of Baruntse. Jussi Kuva Photo.Back to Top

  Snow person in Baruntse basecamp. Jussi Kuva Photo. Team on the Baruntse summit ridge. Jussi Kuva Photo.
 
 Snow person in Baruntse basecamp. Jussi Kuva Photo.  Team on the Baruntse summit ridge. Jussi Kuva Photo.
 
 Wind storm in camp 1. Jussi Kuva photo. Base camp at Baruntse on a sunny day. Felix Berg Photo
 
  Wind storm in camp 1. Jussi Kuva photo.  Base camp at Baruntse on a sunny day. Felix Berg Photo
 
Path to Baruntse basecamp. Jussi Kuva Photo. Our camp at Kote Village. Jussi Kuva Photo.
 
Path to Baruntse basecamp. Jussi Kuva Photo.  Our camp at Kote Village. Jussi Kuva Photo. Back to Top
 
Helicopter rescue at Baruntse lake near basecamp. Jussi Kuva Photo. Walking fron Baruntse basecamp up to the West Col. Jussi Kuva Photo.
 
Helicopter rescue at Baruntse lake near basecamp. Jussi Kuva Photo. Walking fron Baruntse basecamp up to the West Col. Jussi Kuva Photo.

Team in the Chetra La. Jussi Kuva Photo. Team on the summit of Mera Peak. Jussi Kuva Photo.
 
Team in the Chetra La. Jussi Kuva Photo. Team on the summit of Mera Peak. Jussi Kuva Photo. Back to Top
 
Comfortable table beside the pool at the Kathmandu Hotel. Jussi Kuva Photo. Descending from Mera Peak on a windy afternoon at sunset. Jussi Kuva Photo.
 
Comfortable table beside the pool at the Kathmandu Hotel. Jussi Kuva Photo.  Descending from Mera Peak on a windy afternoon at sunset. Jussi Kuva Photo.
 
Porters at Panch Pokhari, on the way to crossing the Amphu Labtsa. Felix Berg Photo Hot shower amidst a lot of snow in Kare. Jussi Kuva Photo
 
Porters at Panch Pokhari, on the way to crossing the Amphu Labtsa. Felix Berg Photo. Hot shower amidst a lot of snow in Kare. Jussi Kuva Photo.

Porter crossing the Amphu Labtsa. Felix Berg Photo Chukkung village in the sunshine with Lhotse south face in background. Sangeeta Sindhi Photo

Porter crossing the Amphu Labtsa. Felix Berg Photo. Chukkung village in the sunshine with Lhotse south face in background. Sangeeta Sindhi Photo. Back to Top

7 November-

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • Reached Chukkung . Long Day. All safe Crossing Amphu Lapsa.
  • Crossed Amphu lapsa with all members. Waiting for porters and sherpas.

5 November-

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • Resting in basecamp after summit success.

4 November -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • Jussi, Raimund, Toni, Felix, summit with our 4 sherpas. Back at camp 2.
  • 4 members and 4 Sherpa summit Baruntse at 12:30 P.M. Back to Top

3 November -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • Team up at camp 2, 6400meter/ 20,800 ft. sunny. Little wind.
  • Full team 9 member ,4 sherpas, 1 kitchen boy moving up to camp 2 today. Back to Top

2 November -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  •  All 9 team members and sherpas at camp 1, 6100 meters/ 19,825. Little bit of nw wind, gusts to 50 mph. All good.

1 November -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  •  Sherpas reached 7000 meters/ 22,750 ft.on Baruntse ridge. Great job. Back to Top
  • .Sherpas reached camp 2. Tomorow going up with the team. Today enjoying nice sunny day at Basecamp.

31 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • .Sherpas at camp1 very windy. Members in basecamp waiting. Winter like conditions.

30 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • .All team rested at basecamp. Everybody fine and resting.  Cheers, Felix. Back to Top

29 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • .We fixed westcol today. Lots of snow. Burkhard, Toni, Raimund and Jussi went to base of col. Sherpas did a great job. Cheers, Felix
Sherpa enjoying at Baruntse basecamp. Photo Susanne. iTeam resting near Khare. Photo Susanne.
 
Sherpa enjoying at Baruntse basecamp. Photo Susanne. Team resting near Khare. Photo Susanne.

27 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • .Reached basecamp today. 1m snow. We dug a nice campsite. Beautiful spot. Team healthy.

26 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • All members are very motivated for Baruntse after summiting Mera peak. Going down snowy valley now with blue sky and burning sun. Back to Top

25 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :

  • 10 members left for Baruntse. Maria and Johan are heading for Lukla. Team now in the Honku valley, it is full of snow.
  • 12 members summit Mera peak. All safe back at high camp.
 Summit Day of Mera Peak. Ray showing the his country flag with the help of Felix, Team leader. Photo Ray
 
View from Mera Peak. Photo Susanne. Ray showing the his country flag with the help of Felix, Team leader. Photo Ray.
 
Summit of Mera Peak back ground Mount Everest. Photo Ray Karma Sherpa on the high camp. Photo Susanne.
 
Summit of Mera Peak back ground Mount Everest. Photo Ray. Summit Day of Mera Peak.   Karma Sherpa on the high camp. Photo Susanne.
 
i5404 meters. What a day to end. Photo Ray. What a snow on the trail. Photo Ray.
 
5404 meters. What a day to end. Photo Ray. What a snow on the trail. Photo Ray.
 
Relaxing day at Khare. Photo Ray. Ray at basecame with cool looks. Photo Ray
 
Relaxing day at Khare. Photo Ray.   Ray at basecame with cool looks. Photo Ray. Back to Top

24 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader : Mera high camp. 5750m. we had a beautiful sunset, now waiting for the summitpush.

23 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader : Mera la camp. 5300m. Great weather, no clouds, no wind. Great Team. Felix

22 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :  Khare, restday. tomorrow up to Mera la, climb of Mera peak planed the next days. cheers, Felix

21 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :  Khare, 4900m. Team doing great, all healthy and happy. Staying for rest one day. Lots of snow, so will climb Mera peak from this side as base. thanks, Felix Back to Top

20 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :  Tangnag: 4500 metres/14,800 feet reached. Team healthy, nicer weather today. Lots of snow but yesterday another group summited mera peak.

imageChetra Village camp at 4150 metres - 13612 feet. Photo by Susanne. Chetra La Photo Susanne.
 
Chetra Village camp at 4150 metres - 13612 feet. Photo by Susanne. Chetra La Photo Susanne.
 
Burkhard Felber between the rock walls at Kote, bringing good luck for her expedition. Photo by Susanne. Budhish statue on the way to trek. Photo Susanne.
 
Burkhard Felber between the rock walls at Kote, bringing good luck for her expedition. Photo by Susanne. Budhish statue on the way to trek. Photo Susanne..

19 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :  First day without rain so far, reached kote, 3500m. Great place to relax.

18 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :  Passed zetrwa la. team healthy and in good spirit, bad weather. all 64 porters, staff and members made it to camp safe. Back to Top

16 October -

Today's Update from Expedition Leader :  We reached camp @3200m near Chutanga, rainy, team is well and strong

15 October -

With a big Mi-8 russian helicopter we flew to Lukla (2700m / 9000 feet) today.

We are very lucky to have all the group, gear and staff out here in the mountains. Bad weather and strong rain did not allow us to fly yesterday and the general weather situation is unstable. All members got comfortable in our nice teahouse near the airport and are looking forwards to begin trekking tomorrow. The weather has cleared a bit in the afternoon and we are looking at a cloudy sunset over the plains of Nepal now. Back to Top

Arrival in Lukla - 2013 SummitClimb - Felix Berg - small 

Arrival in Lukla - 2013 SummitClimb - Felix Berg - small.

Barunste Team: 
  • Felix B.(Leader), German
  • Sam P., Australia
  • Mehdi A., Canada
  • Edward M., Canada
  • Christine F., Österreich
  • Raimund D., Österreich
  • Johann F., Österreich
  • Sabine F., Österreich
  • Susanne H., Österreich
  • Burkhard F., Österreich
  • Anton S., Deutsch
  • Mlynarczyk M., Deutsch 
Mera Peak Team:

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