Himalaya Spring 2016: Summit Bid Launched on Manaslu, Fixed Ropes Update on Everest

The news from the Himalaya just keeps coming this spring as more teams continue to acclimatize on Everest and two climbers prepare for a difficult summit bid on Manaslu. Others are now waiting and watching the weather, hoping for a chance to launch attempts of their own.

We'll start with an update from Manaslu, where Peter Hamor and Horia Colibasanu have reportedly announced that they are leaving Base Camp today to start their summit bid on the 8163 meter (26,781 ft) mountain. The two men will now attempt to reach the top using the standard route, but will help complete their acclimatization prior to attempting a new route without the use of supplemental oxygen. The weather is said to be calm at the moment, and if everything goes according to plan, they should top out this weekend. After that, they'll drop back to BC for a rest before starting their second attempt later in the month.

Over on Everest, more teams, including the Adventure Consultants, have now reached Camp 3 as they continue to acclimatize ahead of eventual summit bids in just a couple of weeks time. Most of the climbers are now descending back to BC for a rest as they wait for Camp 4 to be full established and the fixed ropes to be installed. That process is proceeding, and reports indicate that the lines now reach above the Yellow Band, but bad weather higher on the mountain have stalled due to strong winds at higher altitudes.

Ueli Steck and David Göttler continue to wait for a proper weather window on Shishapangma. The two men have announced that their acclimatization process is done and they are simply waiting for the right time to start the climb. That could happen this weekend as well, although the two talented climbers are prepared to wait as long as necessary before starting their alpine style ascent along a new route.

Finally, there is news from Annapurna as well, were all of the 30 summiteers from this past weekend are now safely back in Base Camp, with most preparing to go home. While they were wrapping up their expeditions over the past few days, a group of 75 local villagers paid a visit to BC. They had just completed construction of a new trail that will cut down the time it takes to trek to the mountain, allowing climbers to get there in as little as three days. That should open up the region to more visitors and bring down the costs for trekking and climbing on Annapurna as well.

Himalaya Spring 2016: Summits on Annapurna, Avalanches on Everest, and More

On top of the big news of the discovery of the remains of Alex Lowe and David Bridges on Shishapangma that broke this past weekend, there is quite a few other updates to share from the Himalaya today too. And with May now upon us, the season is rapidly slipping by with potential summit bids now just a few weeks away.

Over on Annapurna this weekend it was already summit day for a number of climbers. The first teams topped out on Saturday, with others following suit on Sunday. The weather was reportedly quite good, with low winds and great conditions on the summit. This followed days of less than ideal weather which had kept the climbers stuck in Base Camp, but once the forecast improved, they were on the move quickly, going from BC to Camp 4 over the course of two or three days. That put them in a position to top out over the weekend, with a good weather window holding long enough for everyone to get up and down safely.

All told, 30 climbers managed to reach the summit of Annapurna this past weekend, with 16 of those mountaineers being Nepali Sherpas. Amongst the foreign climbers were Aussie Chris Jensen Burke and Spaniard Carlos Soria, whom we've been following on expeditions for several years. For Soria, this was his 12th 8000-meter peak, and at the age of 77 he is now the oldest to ever summit the mountain.


Elsewhere on Everest the teams are back on schedule following the avalanche that took place last week, temporarily closing the Lhotse Face. Late last week there was also an ice collapse in the Khumbu Icefall which shut down operations through that crucial part of the ascent as well, but the Ice Doctors quickly fixed the route and had teams back on track once again. In fact, a number of teams have now spent time in Camp 3 and are back in BC following their rotation at altitude.

If the weather holds – and the forecasts look good at the moment – the Sherpa team that is charged with fixing ropes to the summit hopes to complete their work by the end of the week. If that happens, we should be on track to begin summit bids by May 15, weather permitting of course.

Alan Arnette has updated readers on his progress on Lhotse, and sadly his expedition has come to an end. You may recall that last week Alan shared the news that he was forced to turn back while climbing in the Khumbu Icefall due to a cough that was a sign of an upper respiratory infection. That cough turned into something worse a few days later when he made an acclimatization rotation up to Camp 2. In fact, the infection became dangerous and debilitating to the point that he had to be flown off the mountain from C2 by helicopter. He's now back in Kathmandu, starting his recovery, and preparing to head home.

Finally, over on Shishpangma, Ueli Steck and David Göttler are now preparing to make their summit push along a new route. The duo announced that their acclimatization process is complete, they've scouted the route thoroughly, and they are now ready to get going. They're simply waiting for the proper weather window to launch their bid, which could come as early as this week.

As you can see, things are really heating up at the moment with lots of activity taking place. We'll probably see it quiet down briefly as teams return to their Base Camps, rest up, and start watching the weather. The season is moving along at a steady pace, and things are going about as well as can be expected. So far, it has been a nice change of pace over the past couple of years, as it looks like things are getting back to "normal" on Everest.

Himalaya Spring 2016: Annapurna Summit Push is On, Progress Elsewhere

It is safe to say that the spring climbing season in the Himalaya is now in full swing, with teams now focused on acclimatization and preparation for eventual summit bids. For the most part, it has been a relatively quiet season so far, which is a welcome change from the past few years when we've seen everything from brawls on Everest to tragic deaths to serious disagreements between climbers. But so far this year, there has been a sense of calm pervading the entire region, which could lead to a very successful return to form. 

We'll start today's update with news from Annapurna, where several teams are now on the move with the hope of topping out over the next few days. The plan is to reach Camp 4 tomorrow, spend a brief time resting there, and then launching the final push to the top. At the moment, the weather looks like it will be good, with winds dying off as they climb higher. If everything goes according to plan, they should complete the ascent on Sunday, May 1, most likely ending the season on Annapurna for the year. 

Over on Everest, a ladder was expected to be installed along the route up the Lhotse Face that was closed yesterday due to an ice collapse. That ladder will help the teams overcome this new obstacle in a safe fashion and allow them to continue on to Camp 3 as part of their acclimatization efforts. We're also told that the Sherpa team that is fixing ropes up the mountain is progressing nicely, and should finish their work all the way to the summit in the first week of May. After that, it'll just be a matter of when the teams are properly prepared for the altitude and a weather window opens to the summit. Most likely that will occur around the middle of May. 

On the Northside of Everest things are progressing as well, although at a bit slower pace. The Chinese-Tibetan team has started installing the ropes there and have now reached 7000 meters (22,965 ft), and by all accounts Base Camp is quiet, well maintained, and orderly. Teams are acclimatizing there as well, with the process continuing on schedule. 

Meanwhile, progress is being made on other mountains in the Himalaya as well. ExWeb is reporting that Sherpas have now established C1 on Dhaulagiri and are pressing forward with installing the ropes up to C2 as well. On Shishapangma, Ueli Steck and David Göttler are waiting out some high winds before proceeding upwards, but everything looks good at there at the moment. On Cho Oyu, teams are still arriving and getting settled, but one group has already reached Camp 2 at 7000 meters (22,965 ft), while on Makalu, the route up Makalu La has been installed up to C2 as well. 

Things aren't going quite as smoothly on Manaslu, where heavy snows are keeping teams grounded for now. Above Camp 1 – located at 5800 meters (19,028 ft) – the snow is said to be more than a meter and a half deep, and still falling. That has kept all climbers from going much higher than C1, which has hampered their efforts to acclimatize. As you can imagine, all of the teams are watching the forecasts closely, and working out plans to break trail to C2 and higher. 

We're in the part of the climbing season that is a bit of a grind for the teams. They still have lots of work to do before any eventual summit pushes, and there are lots of challenges to overcome before that happens. Still, things are going according to the plan for the most part, with progress being made across the region. In a few weeks time, we'll be reporting on serious summit pushes during a season that needs to come off safely and without controversy. 

Himalaya Spring 2016: Lhotse Face Closed on Everest, Annapurna Summit Push Begins

More news from the Himalaya today where the spring climbing season continues to unfold at a quick pace. But today we learn that acclimatization efforts are at a standstill on Everest, while teams on Annapurna are once again on the move.

The big news of the day is that the Lhotse Face on Everest is closed due to the collapse of an ice ledge on the mountain. The collapse occurred along the route from Camp 2 to Camp 3, where some teams were already moving up as part of their latest round of acclimatization rotations. All teams have reportedly retreated to C2, where everyone seems to be safe. Thankfully, there doesn't appear to be any casualties.

The collapse occurred this morning local time in Nepal. The teams there are now examining their options for climbing higher, which could involve using ladders to climb over the chunks of ice or a longer route that goes around the area where the collapse occurred. It will probably take a couple of days to sort things out, as ladders would need to be carried up the mountain to be put into place or any potential detours will need to be scouted before teams attempt to go around.

In other Everest news, it has also been reported that a Sherpa collapsed in Camp 1 today. He was immediately treated for altitude sickness, placed on oxygen, and evacuated to Lukla. Now that he is at lower altitude, he is expected to recover completely.

Elsewhere, over on Annapurna a new summit bid is now under way. Teams have started to move up this morning with the hope of topping out on Sunday, May 1. About 30 climbers, including 10 Sherpas, have begun to move up, with Aussie Chris Jensen Burke and Spaniard Carlos Soria amongst the group. If all goes according to plan, they should reach C4 by Saturday and launch their bid that evening with the plan of summiting on Sunday morning. Hopefully the weather will hold, allowing them to safely get up and down.

That's all for now. More news as it comes in.

Himalaya Spring 2016: News From Everest, Another Summit Window Opens on Annapurna

Yesterday was a busy – if solemn – one on Everest, as the climbing teams are now in the thick of their acclimatization process. Elsewhere, a similar story is unfolding on a number of other Himalayan peaks, while over on Annapurna the climbers are now eyeing another weather window that approaches in the next few days.

We've reached the mid-way point of the climbing season on Everest, where we get an excellent report on what is happening there via to Alan Arnette. He says that in some ways it is a very normal season on Everest this year, which is a relief considering the challenges of the past few seasons. But it is a quieter time in the Khumbu Valley as well, with about 15% fewer climbers on Everest, and about a 40% drop off in trekking across the region too. That means its fairly quiet there compared to years past.

Alan says that another major change on Everest this season is that the route through the Khumbu Icefall has been altered as well. In the past, climbers spent a lot of time in the Icefall, crossing upwards of 20 ladders as they made their way through this dangerous section of the mountain. But this year, there are just 7 ladders, as the route is shorter while avoiding some of the more dangerous overhanging seracs. The route might be more direct, but it is also more challenging too. Alan indicates that there is actually more climbing involved with passing through the Icefall this season, which is a departure from previous years as well.


As for Alan himself, he's in Nepal to climb Lhotse this season, but his acclimatization process has been slowed by an upper respiratory infection. He tells readers that his team is now on a mid-season rotation up to Camp 2 right now, but he was forced to return to Base Camp after developing a nasty cough. He's hoping to knock the illness out quickly and get back on track soon. With five weeks to go, he still has plenty of time to acclimatize ahead of an eventual summit bid.

Over on Shishapangma, Ueli Steck and David Göttler have now arrived in BC. They finished their trek to the mountain on Sunday and have spent the past couple of days getting settled and rested. The duo have traveled to the Himalaya to attempt a new route on this peak, which they hope to complete in a light and fast, alpine style ascent. They acclimatized in the Khumbu Valley before crossing the border into Tibet, and are now ready to start scouting the line that they intend to climb. It is likely that they'll spend a bit for time acclimatizing and watching the weather before they actually start their ascent.

Finally, the remaining teams on Annapurna are now gearing up for what looks like the next – and possibly final – summit bid of the season. Forecasts now indicate that the jet stream is now starting to move away from Nepal, and as a result winds are beginning to die down to a degree. It now appears that conditions could permit climbers to go for the summit this coming weekend or early next week, although the exact schedule is still in flux.

Time could be running out on Annapurna, where teams have been on the mountain for weeks already. The current strategy for this mountain – which is prone to avalanches – is to climb earlier in the season before it gets too warm there. We're approaching the point in the season when things will start to warm up, making it riskier to climb. With that in mind, most of the climbers are hoping to take advantage of the next weather window to nab the summit while they can. On top of that, a number of the alpinists are also planning on moving on to other peaks in the region, so they're eager to wrap-up their expeditions on Annapurna as well.

Things are really starting to ramp up now across the Himalaya. We're still several weeks away from summit attempts on Everest of course, but it is easy to see how things are unfolding at the moment. It's all about the acclimatization rotations and the weather right now, but things are proceeding about as well as expected at this point.

Himalaya Spring 2016: Ueli Steck and David Goettler on Their Way to Shishapangma

It has been a busy week in the Himalaya, where teams have been on the move all week in preparation for the season ahead. That includes some well known figures in the mountaineering world who are on their way to Shishapangma, and the first climbers reaching the North Side of Everest as well.

One of the expeditions that we'll be watching very closely this spring is the attempt by Ueli Steck and David Göttler on Shishapangma. The duo plan on making a fast and light, alpine style ascent of the 8046 meter (26.397 ft) peak along an entirely new route. As is usual with these two men, the climb will likely be ground breaking and interesting to watch unfold.

Ueli and David spent a couple of weeks acclimatizing in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal before returning to Kathmandu last weekend. From there, they flew to Lhasa in Tibet and started the trek to Shishapangma a couple of days ago. They've now spotted the mountain, but are still a few days from reaching BC, where they'll briefly rest before they start scouting their new route. Once fully acclimatized and ready to go, they'll start looking for a weather window to launch their summit bid.

With the Tibetan border now open, and Chinese officials issuing climbing permits, teams have now started crossing over from Nepal to make their way to their respective summits. The first teams have started to arrive in Base Camp on the North Side of Everest, where they are now getting settled. More climbers are expected in BC over the weekend as that side of the mountain starts to ramp up operations. Unlike on the South Side in Nepal, teams can drive to EBC, although it still takes a couple of days to get there as they try to acclimatize along the way.

Over on Annapurna, the remaining teams are watching the weather forecasts closely. High winds kept them from reaching the summit last weekend, but a weather window is expected to open in the next few days. That means that climbers could be on the move as early as this weekend. We'll keep an eye on how things shake out over the next few days.

That's all for now. More next week I'm sure.

Himalaya Spring 2016: Weather Window Slams Shut on Annapurna, No Summits

It was a tough weekend on Annapurna, where a number of teams had hoped to make a summit push amidst a narrow weather window. But that window proved to be shorter than expected and as a result no one managed to top out as planned.

On Friday, several climbers managed to reach Camp 4 at 7000 meters (22,965 ft) right on schedule.  After a brief rest in C4, they then set off for the summit that evening reaching as high as 7800 meters (25,590 ft) before high winds prevented them from going higher. This winds reportedly approached 60-70 km (37-43 mph), which is simply too strong and dangerous to allow anyone to press on to the top. All of the climbers turned back, and the majority of them have now safely returned to Base Camp while a few squads have rotated up to Camp 1 and 2 as they acclimatize.

According to Chris Jensen Burke, her team moved up to Camp 3 on this most recent summit push, but heavy snows at C2 slowed progress, and by the time they got to C3 it was becoming clear that the weather window was closing. Things were quiet at that point on the mountain, but higher up the winds were swirling dangerously. So, she and her group elected to abort their push and head back down.


Several teams are preparing to leave Annapurna today. Their resources and tie have run out, and now they must depart. But others remain, with Burke herself saying she has everything she needs to make one more attempt. That won't come until after April 22 though, as the weather forecasts now indicate that the high winds and snows will blow through than. After that, they hope to make another summit push. That would start late this week or next weekend.

Elsewhere in the Himalaya, teams are getting settled in their Base Camps and starting their acclimatization rotations. On the South Side of Everest and Lhotse, the first teams have now moved through the Khumbu Icefall and climbed up to Camp 1. On the North Side of Everest in Tibet, teams are just arriving and getting settled as well. Rope fixing is underway, but acclimatization efforts haven't fully launched just yet. That will change soon however as climbers go on the move.

That's it for today. More to come soon.

Video: The View From the Summit of Annapurna

As I write this, teams of climbers are preparing to go for the summit of Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain in the world, but one of the most challenging and deadly. Ever wondered what it would look like at the top? Take a look at this brief clip, which was shot last season. It'll give you a sense of what it is like to stand on the summit of this iconic mountain and take in the Himalaya as it spreads out below.

Himalaya Fall 2016: Everest Permit Denied to 12-Year Old

The age debate on Everest reared its ugly head again this week when 12-year old Tyler Armstrong of California was denied a permit to climb the mountain. Tyler had hoped to attempt the North Side of Everest in Tibet, but the Chinese government turned down his application that would have allowed him to try to become the youngest person to scale the world's highest peak.

China has recently imposed age limits on Everest, requiring mountaineers to be older than 18 and younger than 75 to attempt the climb. Tyler had hoped to get an exception to the rule based on his climbing experience. The young man has already summited Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Elbrus. Of course, none of them compares to Everest, which is thousands of feet higher than even Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalaya.

Tyler continues to focus on bagging each of the Seven Summits however, and says that he'll travel to Australia in August to climb Kosciusko, shortest and easiest of those mountains. For now, he'll continue to bide his time and wait for an opportunity to attempt Everest. Whether or not that will happen before his 18th birthday remains to be seen, but considering the current climate there, he may have to wait a few years to get his chance.


Meanwhile, teams have been filing into Base Camp on the South Side of Everest all week long. Mountaineering blogger Alan Arnette arrived a few days back as he prepares to summit Lhotse, as did the Adventure Consultant who were joined by Ed Viesturs for a visit. The Altitude Junkies are also in BC and held their Puja Ceremony today in preparation for the start of the climb.

By most reports, BC is quiet so far this year. More teams are arriving, so I'm sure it'll start to pick-up a bit over the next week or so. But since the number of climbers is down over previous years, it'll probably remain somewhat sedate throughout the season.

Over on Annapurna, the ropes are fixed and the teams are in place for a weekend summit push. The weather looks like it'll hold off for another day or two, so the time is right for an early season attempt on the top. I'll be keeping a close eye on those attempts, and hopefully we'll have news of successful summits over the next few days.

Himalaya Spring 2016: Summit Push Begins on Annapurna

While teams of climbers continue to make their way to their base camps on Everest, Lhotse, and other 8000-meter peaks throughout the Himalaya, those on Annapurna are now preparing to make a summit push. The weather there remains a bit dicey at the moment, but high winds that have buffeted the upper slopes of the mountain should die down over the next few days, possibly granting access to the summit by this coming weekend.

According to a report from ExWeb the Sherpas charged with fixing ropes up the mountain will climb directly from BC to Camp 2 today to prepare for finishing the installation of the lines from C3 to the summit. They'll move just ahead of the main group of climbers, with the plan of finishing their work and reaching the top on Friday of this week.

Meanwhile, the other climbers will move from Base Camp up to Camp 1 today, then proceed from there based on the weather and how quickly the ropes can be installed. According to Australian climber Chris Jensen Burke, she and her teammates will reach C1 today on schedule, and move up one camp each successive day until they are in Camp 4 on Friday. They'll then rest briefly in C4 before setting out for the summit on Friday evening with the hope of topping out on Saturday morning, before descending back to Camp 2 on the same day. If all goes according to plan, they should be back in Base Camp by Sunday.

This weather window is a bit of a tight one. There are essentially two days open on the weekend for teams to summit. The weather is expected to clear on Friday, then heavy snow is in the forecast starting on Sunday. With such a narrow window, everything has to fall into place in order for the teams to have success, but the plan is sound and the climbers are doing everything they can to get themselves into place in order to take advantage of the calm weather that is expected at the end of the week.

We'll be keeping a close eye on the progress of the teams and the weather forecast of course. I'll share any updates on this early season summit bid as it comes in. Good luck to everyone who is moving up the mountain today.

Himalaya Spring 2016: Icefall Route Now Complete on Everest

It was a busy weekend in Nepal, where scores of climbers are continuing to make their way to various base camps throughout the Himalaya. Many of those alpinists are currently trekking in the Khumbu region, where they are slowly acclimatizing as they inch ever closer to Everest, Lhotse, and other high peaks. Soon, they'll reach their destination and the real work will begin as they get ready to finally start their climbs. 

Expect some of those teams to begin arriving in Everest Base Camp starting this week, where they'll find the route up to Camp 2 now prepared for them. It was revealed over the weekend that the Ice Doctors – the team of Sherpas tasked with building and maintaining the route through the Khumbu Icefall – have completed their preliminary work, fixing ropes and setting ladders from BC to C2. That means that early arrivals will able to start their acclimatization rotations within a matter of days. 

In addition to fixing the ropes up to Camp 2 we've also started to get a clearer picture of the season ahead on Everest. Last week we had a preliminary rundown of the number of teams that would be climbing the world's tallest peak this season, and the count was much lower than it has been in the past. But now, as the official start of the season draws closer, those numbers are climbing higher. According to recent reports 385 climbers will use the Khumbu Icefall route this year, with 72 of those dedicated to climbing Lhotse and 34 on Nuptse. That means that 279 climbers are scheduled for Everest itself. That's up considerably from what we first thought, but it is also still down from the traditionally higher numbers of climbers that visit Everest on an annual basis. 

Of those, about 40 percent of the climbers are returning from 2015, when the massive earthquake on April 25 put an abrupt halt to climbing operations. The Nepali government has ruled that permits issued last year would be extended for 2016 and 2017, and obviously a number of climbers are taking advantage of that opportunity. 

Meanwhile, over on Annapurna things remain at a standstill. The weather forecasts are unpredictable at this point, with high winds expected over the next few days. The teams there are waiting to make another acclimatization rotation, or possibly even a summit attempt. But for now they have to wait for conditions to improve. There first chance could come later this week, but it is unclear if the winds will drop enough to allow them to make a move towards the top.

Things are now lining up for the season to truly get underway. Stay tuned for more updates in the days ahead. 

Himalaya Spring 2016: Playing the Waiting Game on Annapurna, Ice Doctors Move Up on Everest

The start of the spring climbing season has brought numerous teams to the Himalaya, where most are still en route to their various base camps. At the moment, there are dozens of men and women trekking in the Khumbu Valley, making their way to Everest, Lhotse, and a number of other mountains. But soon, they'll start the real work of acclimatizing and preparing to summit those peaks. That doesn't mean there isn't news to report from the mountains however, as teams on Annapurna watch weather forecasts closely, and the Ice Doctors on Everest continue to make slow, but steady progress.

While most of the teams have yet to reach their respective mountains, Annapurna is the exception to that rule. Alpinists arrived early on that mountain in an effort to summit before the weather warms up, bringing greater chance of avalanches. At the moment, those teams are watching the weather forecasts closely while they wait for rope fixing efforts to be completed.

According to Chris Jensen Burke, the Annapurna climbers are now spread out between BC and Camp 2 as they continue to work on their acclimatization. High winds are keeping them at those altitudes, as the upper slopes are simply not safe for most of the mountaineers at the moment. The current forecasts say that those winds are going to continue to buffet the mountain into next week, so for now there is nothing to be done but continue to wait.

Jensen Burke also says that the rope fixing teams have now reached Camp 3 and when the weather permits, they'll begin installing the ropes up to C4 as well. The gear is in place, and the teams are working closely with one another to get this important job finished, but it will probably be next week before that can be completed too.


Finally, one last bit of news from Annapurna. It has also been reported that a member of a Korean climbing team on the mountain slipped and fell into a crevasse at Camp 2 a few days back. Fortunately, he was clipped into a safety rope, and there was plenty of support staff there to help pull him out. Apparently he managed to drop 5-10 meters (16-32 feet), but didn't suffer any major injuries. He was retrieved within a matter of a few minutes. C2 on Annapurna sits directly over a number of crevasses, making it a challenging place to say the least.

Meanwhile, over on Everest, the Khumbu Ice Doctors continue to make progress in fixing the ropes there as well. The Ice Docs are the special team of Sherpas charged with finding and maintaining a route through the Khumbu Ice Fall each spring. This dangerous section of the climb passes through a section of the mountain where ice calves off of a glacier, shifting and collapsing on a regular basis. According to reports however, the route has now been fixed from BC to Camp 1, and the Ice Docs have now started to install ropes up to Camp 2 as well. They should wrap up those efforts within a few days.

Above C2 the commercial teams will have to work together to fix the ropes, and effort that is typically led by some of the larger teams, including the Adventure Consultants and Himex. They'll hold an organizational meeting once they arrive in Base Camp and have a few days to get settled in.

That's the latest from the Himalaya. More news to come in the days ahead.

Himalaya 2016: Annapurna Summit Bid Delayed By Poor Weather

While I was off exploring California's wine country last week, things began to heat up in the Himalaya. Dozens of climbers have begun arriving in Kathmandu ahead of the start of the climbing season, with many now en route to various Base Camps, including on Everest and Lhotse. For most, the actual start of climbing is still a number of days off, but they are slowly but surely working towards getting themselves in place for the start of their respective expeditions. But on Annapurna, the teams have now been in place for several weeks, and some are already thinking about making early season summit bids, although as usual the weather is dictating when that might happen.

According to reports, as much a two meters (6 feet) of snow has dropped on the mountain over the past few days, which has resulted in teams staying in place in Base Camp. Right now, they're playing the waiting game as they watch the weather over the next few days to determine when they'll have a chance to move back up the mountain.

Australian climber Chris Jensen Burke says that none of the teams have been above Camp 3 yet, which means there is still some acclimatization to be done. And once the weather settles, the climbers will need to scout the route between C3 and C4 to assess the size of the crevasses there. That isn't likely to happen too soon though, as high winds are expected to buffet the mountain for the next few days too. After that, the teams will no doubt be on the move again.


Annapurna is notorious for its avalanche danger, and this fresh snow will likely create some concerns as well. The higher winds may help blow some of that fresh powder off the slopes, but the climbers will need to wait for things to settle before they start thinking about summit bids. While it is too early to predict when those attempts might start, it seems likely that it could be late this week, or early next before the teams are on the move again.

Fortunately, it is still very early in the season. Last year, 13 climbers managed to summit Annapurna in mid-April, well ahead of the traditional schedule. The theory was that if you climb early in the season, the temperatures will be colder which will keep avalanches at bay. It certainly proved to be a successful approach last year, and it could be the same this year too. Only time will tell.

With the Himalaya climbing season ramping up quickly, we'll be keeping a close eye on what's happening in Nepal and Tibet. It should be a very interesting season to watch unfold, particularly considering the challenges of the past two years. Stay tuned for more to come.

Himalaya Spring 2016: Teams on the Move on Annapurna

The spring climbing season is still a couple of weeks away from officially getting underway, but much like last year there are some climbers who are getting a bit of a head start on Annapurna. In fact, there are several high profile mountaineers already in Base Camp there, including Spaniard Carlos Soria and Aussie Chris Jensen-Burke. Now, it looks like those teams are already on the move as they begin their acclimatization process ahead of future summit bids.

According to a blog post on Jensen-Burke's website she and her squad moved up the mountain yesterday and will stay at altitude for a prolonged period of time. In fact, she isn't sure exactly when they'll return to BC as they let their bodies grow accustomed to the thin air they'll experience as they move up even further. She reports that she and three other members of the team went up to 4300 meters (14,107 feet) to deposit gear a few days prior to their departure, but now they will actually be climbing up to Camp 1 and possibly Camp 2 if the weather permits. 

Chris also says that there are already a number of teams at C1 and C2 as they start their acclimatization process as well. In fact, some of them arrived having pre-acclimatized on other mountains, and are hoping that they'll only need one rotation on Annapurna before they make their summit bids.

The strategy for starting so early in the year worked well last year, when nearly a dozen climbers were able to reach the top before the April 25 earthquake shut down the Himalaya climbing season. The thought is that while it is currently much colder there than it will be during the spring climbing season proper, those could conditions help to limit the number of avalanches that Annapurna is so well known for.

While we're still probably several weeks away from a true summit push, it is interesting to see these climbers going to work so early in the season. We'll be keeping an eye on their progress in the days ahead, but it is starting to look like we could have successful summits on Annapurna before some teams even start to arrive in Base Camp on Everest. Ultimately it will be the weather that dictates when those summit bids can begin, but right now things are calm and progressing nicely.