Life and Death over the Amphu Laptse La Pass...part 1
6 Nov, 08 - 15:02
With all the pleasures we can enjoy in life, why subject oneself to mountain challenges...and willfully visit inhospitable places!?
That's the burning question...=^]
Routine lifestyle involves comfort, security, health...and the ability to watch others struggle via a television or computer screen. It's warm in that familiar bed...and it's safe in the easy chair. These are good things. =^]
Allow your mind to wander to a place where food is not so plentiful...where you can't ask for 'no pickles' on your burger...because there are no burgers. The nearest sushi bar is impossibly far away...and the ones you love are separated from you by huge mountain ranges and oceans.
You might say, 'That sounds like Hell!'. It's a matter of perspective...for even in the most alien environments one can find solace.
We awoke in the Hinku Valley at Amphu Laptse High Camp at about 5400m(17700ft)...on another brilliantly clear and calm morning. We'd heard all sorts of tragic stories about the pass we were about to traverse. Stories of rope teams falling hundreds of vertical metres to their deaths...ill equipped porters taking that final and fatal step...and huge pieces of ice crushing unsuspecting adventurers. Sad but true. =^(
View towards Amputse Peak(6400m/21000ft)...while on the way up to the Amphu Laptse La Pass
Our strong group of porters and staff didn't seem to be concerned with the day that was ahead of us...and I was pleased that we'd replaced our lowland porters with some powerful, confident fellows.
I've traveled on a glacier or two...including movement on fixed lines...so I knew that my best plan of action was to move so slowly that upwardly mobile snowballs would overtake me. There is NOTHING worse than waiting 'in line' to GET on a fixed line. %^/
Bajee Namgel amongst the seracs that crown the Hinku Valley
A couple of hours with the snowballs and crows...and some clean free climbing on some blessed ice...and I was all alone on the summit of the Amphu Laptse Pass(the map says 5840m(19155ft)...but altimeters said closer to 6000m(19680ft)).
Phill cold kickin' it amongst the seracs...en route to the summit of the Amphu Laptse La Pass
All I could hear on the descending side of the Pass were shouts and screams...
I hope you are virtually enjoying climbing in the Himalayas with us via the dispatches at www.secretspoteverest.com and/or my blog!?
If you have not subscribed...you should...right now. I invite you. =^)
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
SecretSpot7Summits.com
SecretSpotEverest.com
Blog.SecretSpotEverest.com
With all the pleasures we can enjoy in life, why subject oneself to mountain challenges...and willfully visit inhospitable places!?
That's the burning question...=^]
Routine lifestyle involves comfort, security, health...and the ability to watch others struggle via a television or computer screen. It's warm in that familiar bed...and it's safe in the easy chair. These are good things. =^]
Allow your mind to wander to a place where food is not so plentiful...where you can't ask for 'no pickles' on your burger...because there are no burgers. The nearest sushi bar is impossibly far away...and the ones you love are separated from you by huge mountain ranges and oceans.
You might say, 'That sounds like Hell!'. It's a matter of perspective...for even in the most alien environments one can find solace.
We awoke in the Hinku Valley at Amphu Laptse High Camp at about 5400m(17700ft)...on another brilliantly clear and calm morning. We'd heard all sorts of tragic stories about the pass we were about to traverse. Stories of rope teams falling hundreds of vertical metres to their deaths...ill equipped porters taking that final and fatal step...and huge pieces of ice crushing unsuspecting adventurers. Sad but true. =^(
View towards Amputse Peak(6400m/21000ft)...while on the way up to the Amphu Laptse La Pass
Our strong group of porters and staff didn't seem to be concerned with the day that was ahead of us...and I was pleased that we'd replaced our lowland porters with some powerful, confident fellows.
I've traveled on a glacier or two...including movement on fixed lines...so I knew that my best plan of action was to move so slowly that upwardly mobile snowballs would overtake me. There is NOTHING worse than waiting 'in line' to GET on a fixed line. %^/
Bajee Namgel amongst the seracs that crown the Hinku Valley
A couple of hours with the snowballs and crows...and some clean free climbing on some blessed ice...and I was all alone on the summit of the Amphu Laptse Pass(the map says 5840m(19155ft)...but altimeters said closer to 6000m(19680ft)).
Phill cold kickin' it amongst the seracs...en route to the summit of the Amphu Laptse La Pass
All I could hear on the descending side of the Pass were shouts and screams...
I hope you are virtually enjoying climbing in the Himalayas with us via the dispatches at www.secretspoteverest.com and/or my blog!?
If you have not subscribed...you should...right now. I invite you. =^)
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
SecretSpot7Summits.com
SecretSpotEverest.com
Blog.SecretSpotEverest.com
Posted by Phill Michael at 11/6/2008 11:57 AM 
Categories: Everest, SecretSpot.TV, Oakley, Frick, Kathmandu, secretspot7summits.com, Sherpa, Nepal, Medtronic, tibet, Surefire, Seven Summits, Tilman Trek, SecretSpot.NET, SecretSpotEverest.com
Categories: Everest, SecretSpot.TV, Oakley, Frick, Kathmandu, secretspot7summits.com, Sherpa, Nepal, Medtronic, tibet, Surefire, Seven Summits, Tilman Trek, SecretSpot.NET, SecretSpotEverest.com
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