Manaslu Summit Prep
The team is strong and resting well at Base Camp getting ready for their upcoming summit bid.
Today they will do some more training on their oxygen systems and dial in their packs and preparation for the summit bid.
The tentative plan (always fluid to take account of conditions and weather) is to move to Camp 1 on the 26th, Camp 2 on the 27th, Camp 3 on the 28th, Camp 4 on the 29th.
If the weather forecast holds true the team will leave Camp 4 late on the 29th/very early on the 30th for the summit.
Meanwhile Ott & Guide Tomi are moving up to Camp 2 today on their final acclimatization rotation, moving really well. They will sleep there tonight, tag Camp 3 and return to Base to rest and prepare themselves for the summit.
All well on Manaslu,
Cheers
CTSS Team
Manaslu Acclimatization Complete
The team have now successfully finished their acclimatization rotations on Manaslu. They are currently descending from Camp 2 back to Base Camp after touching Camp 3 yesterday and we look forward to seeing them back in The Big House for some well deserved rest and food.
Kevin feeling really strong decided to sleep at Camp 3 yesterday with Guide Pasang and he is moving downhill today soon.
The latest round of precipitation has dropped over a metre of new snow on the upper mountain above Camp 3. Today it is warming up and sunny for the first time in a week.
The fixing team will wait a few days for snow conditions to stabilize before re-fixing the route C3 to C4 and then C4 onto the summit. This works well for our timing as our climbers are fully acclimatized, we can rest until the route is ready.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Second Rotation on Manaslu
The Manaslu team are back climbing in earnest on their final acclimatization rotation, they moved up to Camp 1 yesterday and today will move up to Camp 2 for the night. The following day the plan is to head as far towards Camp 3 as conditions allow. The previous round of precip laid about a meter of fresh snow on the upper mountain.
Following the Camp 3 tag effort they will drop back to Base Camp to rest ahead of the summit push! It's exciting times on Manaslu, as by completing this round of acclimatization the team is ready to wait for conditions to settle and a nice weather window for the summit push!
We are hopeful that the weather is starting to dry out a little and marks a changing trend for the team as we narrow in on the summit push.
All on schedule and the team is doing well and moving strongly.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Rest Days and Rain on Manaslu
After a productive first acclimatization rotation the CTSS Manaslu team is taking some needed rest days as a wet storm system moves over the mountain.
Despite receiving near constant rain the last two days spirits are high with big domes keeping the team dry and the espresso machine churning out liquid happiness throughout the day.
The team will wait out the last of the weather with one more rest day on the 18th, right on schedule with our itinerary. Starting on the 19th the forecast improves and our second rotation begins with a climb back up to the now familiar Camp 1. From Camp 1 the team moves and sleeps one night at Camp 2, takes a day trip up to Camp 3 and returns down to Camp 1 for another night of good sleep. After that it's back to basecamp! Acclimatization will be complete and after a few days rest it's simply a matter of finding the weather window for our summit push!
Stay tuned for more updates as our team moves back up the mountain in the coming days
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Camp 2 on Manaslu
All is progressing nicely in Nepal and the Manaslu climbing team is right on schedule. Most of the team is currently at C1 having done their acclimatization climb part way up to/with some heading all the way to Camp 2. Their plan is to descend back to base camp today. They have been dealing with wet weather with some snow accumulation high on the mountain over the past few weeks, with more precip due to arrive in the coming days.
It is challenging climbing from Camp 1 to Camp 2. The terrain is some of the most technical climbing on the entire route and it can be broken and steep in spots. A trip from C1 to C2 makes for a full day, especially this early in the expedition as the body adjusts to the new altitude. The team will be a bit uncomfortable sleeping up high but this will have kickstarted their bodies adaptions to this new altitude so they feel much better on future rotations and sleep more soundly.
Once back to base camp they will take a few days to rest, enjoy some good food, and get ready for their next rotation up the mountain. Ever higher.
Meanwhile, private climber Ott and Guide Tomi took another rest day at Base Camp and plan to move to Camp 1 today. Don & Kami are also resting at Base Camp today and looks to move to Camp 1 tomorrow.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Looking Down on Camp 1 - Photo Tomi Ceppi
Uphill Plans
Yesterday the team spent the day training to make sure their skills are second nature, followed by a yummy pizza dinner care of Guide/Chef Tomi Ceppi and Head Chef Kumar in the kitchen! Today was mostly a rest day before the crew set off uphill again to Camp 1 on their rotation.
They will sleep at Camp 1 and then (if weather allows) they plan to touch Camp 2 tomorrow before dropping back to Base Camp the following day. If the weather doesn't play ball, they have planned and prepped to spend a second night at Camp 1 and will look for another weather window on the 15th to tag Camp 2. Either way they'll get some great acclimatization in, which is the name of the game this early in the season. Team is doing really well.
Meanwhile private climber Ott & Guide Tomi have already completed their first rotation, where they spent 2x nights at Camp 1 and tagged Camp 2. They took a rest day today back at Base Camp and are planning to start their second rotation tomorrow. You can see some of their pictures below.
Don and Guide Kami hiked to Crampon Point yesterday and will finally be reunited with his lost luggage with the fresh food drop that the chopper is bringing in today. His plan is to rest today and then move up to Camp 2 tomorrow and spend 2x nights of acclimatization at Camp 1.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Rest Easy on Manaslu
The CTSS Manaslu team has been very active over the last few days.
The 9th of September was a very Auspicious day on the Tibetan Calendar so the team hosted a Lama from Samaguan to perform the traditional Puja Ceremony. The ceremony lasted the whole morning and finished with a traditional celebratory Sherpa Dance.
After the ceremony our climbing team bid farewell to the Trekking team who descended back to Samaguan after 3 nights in basecamp. The Trekking team will continue to explore the valleys, lakes, and monestaries around Samaguan for the next few days before helicoptering back to Kathmandu for a dramatically beautiful finish to their time in Nepal.
Following the Puja our climbing team had an afternoon of rest and preparation for the first foray onto the mountain. On September 10th they departed basecamp after an early breakfast to make their way up to Camp 1. Weather held clear for the morning, giving rise to some heat crossing the lower glacier, but the whole team made it to Camp 1 in good fashion. After spending a bit of time at Camp 1 for acclimatization the team descended back to basecamp and was met at Crampon Point by hot tea brought up from basecamp - not a bad way to break up a long day!
Today the team is enjoying a well deserved rest day as their bodies recover and acclimatize. This follows the tried and true “climb high, sleep low” method that makes our expeditions so successful.
Looking forward the plan is another rest day tomorrow (September 12th) as the team works around a bit of weather passing through the area. On the 13th they’ll head back to Camp 1 for the night and, weather permitting, climb to Camp 2 on the 14th before descending back to basecamp on the same day.
Settling in at Manaslu Base Camp
Our Manaslu team is nicely settled into Base Camp with just one member still waiting on missing baggage from the flights, before making their final move into Base Camp.
In advance of the teams arrival our amazing Nepalese team cleared and levelled the area for each tent and set up not one, but two, massive dome tents (one for our dining room, and one for our hang out tent) as well as each team member's spacious private tent and our Manaslu Exec teams personal, heated domes.
Since arrival the team has rolled straight into the expedition, training on fixed lines yesterday focusing on smooth transitions around anchors and other climbers as well as reviewing the standard climbing systems that maintain the chain of safety while in the mountains.
Today the team took a hour acclimatization hike to Crampon Point at 17,100ft (5,200m) Crampon Point is where climbers heading to Camp 1 leave the rock step behind, don crampons and start moving on fixed lines across the glacier.
Returning back to camp for a fantastic lunch the rest of the afternoon was free time allowing everyone to rest up.
Tomorrow, September 9th is an auspicious day according to the Tibetan Calendar and our team will be making the most of it with a Puja Ceremony.
Puja ceremonies are a chance to ask for safe passage from the mountain and to celebrate our chance to climb in such an amazing place. Our Puja will be led by a Lama who will make the trek up to Base Camp from the village below. Mountaineering expeditions in Nepal have hosted this Buddhist traditional dating back to the very first exploratory expeditions. After the Puja it is a time of rest and celebration - the team heads to Camp One for their first foray on the mountain in the next day!
All is well in Nepal,
Cheers
CTSS Team
Manaslu Team Heads to Basecamp
Our CTSS 2022 Manaslu climbing and trekking teams have been making excellent progress!
Over the last 6 day’s they’ve trekked up the Dudh Khola river valley up to the incredible Larkya La pass at 16,860 feet (5,138m). Crossing the Larkya La Pass is a fairly arduous day with a 1:00AM wakeup to make sure the team was up and over the pass before any afternoon weather can set in. Descending down to the Budhi Gandaki valley our team rolled into the village of Samdo for a well earned meal and night of rest.
With the hard trekking behind them it was an easy morning walk down to the town of Samaguan, at the base of the valley leading to up Manaslu Basecamp. On the way they got their first glimpse of Manaslu high above the valley floor.
Today the team took a rest and acclimatization day in Samaguan visiting an ancient temple to receive blessings from the Lama for a safe climb. Tomorrow the hard work begins again with a steep ascent into Manaslu Basecamp.
On arrival they’ll be greeted by our signature Big Dome dining tent and the best basecamp accommodations of any team on the mountain. From our professional chefs to the espresso maker in the dining area we have made sure that our team is able to rest and fuel into top shape for their upcoming climb.
While the Climbing Team is starting to set their sights on their main objective our Trekking Team is looking forward to living at basecamp for a few days before returning to the lush valley below to continue exploring the incredible culture surrounding Samaguan.
Best of luck to our teams as they roll into basecamp tomorrow!
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Sando & photos from the trail to Manaslu
The Manaslu climbers and trekkers are doing great.
Yesterday they had an alpine start (leaving the teahouse at 2am for to cross the Larke Pass (5,106m) to Sando. It was a huge 12-14hr day, with everyone arriving strong and in great spirits. Today is a much shorter day as they move to Samdawa.
The trail is beautiful, lush green which comes with the rain.
All photos care of CTSS Guide Tomi Ceppi
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