Manaslu Expedition News

Manaslu Expedition News

Our Team Just Summited Manaslu: Congratulations to Everyone who climbed and a big thank you to all of the family, friends, colleagues, and sponsors who supported them. We look forward to seeing you on our upcoming Manaslu Climb and also for Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Everest Tibet, Everest Nepal, K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum 1, and Gasherbrum 2.
 
 

Blog posts: Scroll down for day by day news of our climbing and trekking teams

 
climber heading to camp 3   member at the summit of manaslu
 
Climbers heading to camp 3. Member at the summit of manaslu.
 
summitclimb group at summit of manaslu   summit seen from camp 4
 
Summitclimb group at summit of manaslu. Summit seen from camp 4.
 
above camp 3   heading upto camp 3
 
above camp 3. heading upto camp 3,
 

Sept 30: The team slept in and had a big breakfast before hiking 3.5 hours down hill to Sama. It is a bit if a culture shock to be indoors for the first time in weeks. We're enjoying the variety of food, the lower elevation, and of course catching up with loved ones. The team is tired from our big summit days, but everyone is happy and healthy.
 

Sept 29: The entire team is back in the thick air and relative warmth of base camp! Everyone is tired, but happy and healthy. We'll walk down to Sama tomorrow for our first real plumbing, electric, and wifi in weeks Don W.
 
manaslu basecamp summitclimb   manaslu base camp
 
Manaslu Base Camp
 
manaslu base camp   manaslu camp 4
 
manaslu basecamp. camp 4 manaslu.
 

Sept 28:
 
  • Congratulations to Nathasha for summiting Manaslu today!!! She and Ang Dorji had a great summit day, making it from camp 4 to the base camp tomorrow. Huge congrats to the entire team and our amazing Sherpa staff! Everyone who attempted Manaslu made it to the summit! - Don Wargowsky
  • The first team of Jan, Laure, Tenji and Don all summited yesterday. It took us 24 hours from camp 3 to the summit and back down to camp 4. Laure summited with no supplemental oxygen. Jan used one can above 7,700 and Don used O2 on the last hour of the descent. Everyone is tired, but healthy and in good spirits! We are excited to return to the comforts and thick air of base camp today.
  • Also, Natasha and Ang Dorji Sherpa left for the summit from camp 4 at 1 am. They have lots of strength and oxygen and we are praying that they will do well!

beautifull range seen from camp 4   lots of cloud seen from camp 4
 
beautiful range seen from camp. lots of cloud seen from camp 4.
 
Annapurnas from summit of Manaslu.  On the final summit pyramid
 
Annapurnas from summit of Manaslu. On the final summit pyramid.
 
heading for summit   summit seen from camp 3
 
heading for summitt. Summit seen from camp 3.
 

Sept 26: The team is settled into camp 3. The members who are not using supplemental oxygen will rest here for a few hours and leave for the summit at 9pm local time. Wish us luck! Nathasha, who is using supplemental oxygen will go to camp 4 tomorrow morning and attempt the summitearly Saturday morning. - Don W
 
at the hill of camp 3   camp 3 manaslu
 
At the hill of camp 3. Camp 3 manaslu.
 

Sept 25: The team has arrived at Camp 2. We are getting lots of food and rest. Hopefully, the weather with cooperate with our summit push. The SummitClimb team reset both of the double ladders between camp 1 and camp 2 today, making the route faster and safer for all the teams - Don W.
 
chute from amp 1 to Camp 2   members climbing up to high camp
 
members climbing up to high camp.

Sept 24: The team is safe and sound in camp 1. Everyone is feeling great and looking strong! - Don W.
 
 
Sherpa looks down on members climbing an ice chute from amp 1 to Camp 2. Sherpa Photo. Manaslu team ascends ladder to Camp 2. Daniel Mazur Photo
 

Sept 23: We took a rest day a base camp today. Tons of great food and hot showers for everyone. It was good to relax at lower elevation. Tomorrow we will start our summit attempt! - Don W.
 
good food at manaslu basecamp  manaslu basecamp
 
Good food at manaslu base camp. Manaslu basecamp.

Sept 22: Today was a very big day. The team got up at 5am, had breakfast, and climbed to camp 3. After setting up camp, we descended all the way back down to base camp. The team is looking strong and is looking forward to a bit of rest in base camp before we make our final push for the summit of Manaslu! - Don W.
ice step with other climbers   manaslu camp 3

Ice step with other climbers. Manaslu Camp 3.
 

Sept 21: Today the team moved up from Camp 1 to Camp 2. We moved up all the necessary food/supplies for our summit push. The terrain was vertical in places, but all the members did an excellent job getting to Camp 2. - Don W.
camp 1 manalsu  setting up camp 2 manaslu
 
Camp 1. Camp 2
 

Sept. 20: We woke up to amazing weather today, the best that we have seen the entire trip. We moved up to camp 1 to find our tents standing, while other teams tents we're destroyed by all the snow we received in the last few days. We are all settled into camp 1 and plan to move up to camp 2 tomorrow. Everyone is fit, healthy, and handling the altitude very well! - Don.
 bad weather   manaslu camp 1 
 
Sept. 19: We got our biggest snow yet overnight. We spent the morning shoveling out out tents and hanging out in the dining tent. The weather looks better tomorrow. Hopefully we can move up to camp 1 then. Don W
 
manaslu basecamp snow
 
Sept 18: It continued to snow most of yesterday, throughout the night, and most of the day today. We're still resting in base camp and waiting for a break in the weather. Don Wargowsky
 
Sept 17: We got a big dump of snow overnight. We will have to take an extra rest day or two at base camp and wait for the snow to settle. - Don Wargowsky
 
high camp in bit cloudy
 
Sept 16: We slept in and had a late breakfast, then took hot shower in Basecamp. Having a hot shower when it is cold and raining outside is amazing!
 
Sept 15: The team climbed over steep terrain and across ladders to camp 2 today. Everyone did an excellent job and descended back to base camp in the rain, but everyone is in good spirits.
 

 

Camp 1 - looking up toward camp 2. Dan Mazur Photo. Camp 1 in the morning. Larkya Peak behind. Jean Luc Bremond Photo

manaslu camp 2   above camp 2

manaslu camp 2. above camp 2.

Sept 14: The team climbed to camp 1 at 5600m, 18,375'. Everyone is feeling very well even though we are at extremely high altitude. Tomorrow we will climb to camp 2 for the first time and then descend to base camp for some rest. - Don Wargowsky
 
  

 
Sept 13 - Today was a big day for the Manaslu team. We got up at 4:30am, ate a wonderful breakfast, then headed up the mountain for an hike to 5,500m, 18,045'. After our hike, we had a traditional Puja ceremony, where a Lama blessed out team and equipment. The team is strong and feeling great! Also, hello to Ludmilla in Russia. Your daughter is a strong climber. We are very happy that she is here! - Don Wargowsky
 
getting ready for puja
 
Sept 12 -  The team used a rainy day to set up our climbing systems and practice ascending fixed ropes. We will use these skills tomorrow on our first trip on to the glacier. - Don Wargowsky
 
 
Sept 11 - Today the team slept in late and had a relaxing rest date. Base camp is huge this year. There are hundreds of tents. Manaslu is a very popular place!

Sept 10 - The team left the comforts of the village and hiked to base camp at 4975m, 16320'. We are very happy to finally be on the mountain! - Don Wargowsky
 
Sept 9 - The team took a rest day in Sama. We ate great food, took hot showers, and played with the children from the school next door. We are all very excited to move up to basecamp tomorrow! Don
 
 
 
Sept 8 - The team took a much deserved lazy morning on Samdo. After lunch, they hiked 2.5 hours to Sama. Sama is the last village before base camp, so everyone is taking advantage of our last creature comforts before we head up the mountain. - Don W.
 
 
 
Sept 7 - The team climbed up and over Lakya La pass 5160m, 16,930' then continued to the village of Samdo. It took about 12 hours to complete, but the team did great and is feeling well in spite of the very high elevation - Don
 
 
 
Sept 6 -  We took a rest/acclimatization day at Bimthang, 3720m/12,200'. The team ate great food and drank tons of hot tea. We took an afternoon hike just outside of the village. Everyone is doing very well with the altitude so far.
 
 
 

Photo Don.
 
Sept 5 - We trekked from Kharche to Bimthang. Most of the hike was in the rain, but the team is in good spirits and happy to be gaining elevation quickly.
 
 

Photo Don
 

3 Sept - We had our first full day of trekking today. The team hiked from Tal, along to Marshyangdi River to Dharapani were we ate lunch then turned Northeast and followed the Dudh river to the village of Tilije. The Dudh is a very white, milky river. It is beautiful and filled with huge rapids and waterfalls. We are happy to be beyond where Jeeps can go. The trails are narrower and everything has more of a remote feeling. Everyone is happy, healthy, and enjoying the view from our tea house balcony.
 
walking   water fall
 
Photo by Don W
 

2 Sept - The road got cleared! We took an Jeep ride to Chyamche on a very exciting road. Big thanks to our expert drivers! From there we loaded our gear on to donkeys and started our hike to Tal. The team is very excited to stretch their legs!
 
bridge   river and rock
 
Photo by Don W
 
1 Sept - Many days of continuous rain caused a land slide that covered the road to our next stop, so we stayed in the hotel for a second night. Our day was filled with great food and watching Baliwood films. The road should be cleared by tomorrow morning.

 


 

 

31 Aug - The team traveled by bus to Besisahar today. We enjoyed wonderful views of the jungle and the Trishuli River. Everyone is very excited to have started our adventure.

Team Roster -

    Don W., (Leader) USA
    Lauri H., Finlande
    Christopher C., Australian
    Ms. Nataliia B., Russian
    Jan C., Czech Republic
    Ulf A., Deutsch


Climbing :

    Tenji Sherpa
    Ang Dorjee Sherpa

Cook:

    Nima Dorjee Lama

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