Nepal Mountaineering Expeditions – Gearing up

XPLORE - Out and About

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The call to climb amongst the highest mountains in the world has been echoing in me for a long time.

The allure of standing on top of the world and looking out, and importantly, looking down, has proven far too great to ignore these past few years…

I had expected to be in Nepal in 2013 and 2014 after spending 2012 and the early part of 2013 training in New Zealand with the world’s best high altitude experts.

But, somehow life has the propensity to throw a curved ball every so often, and I’ve had a couple to catch over the past 12-months!

Whilst New Zealand has some of the world’s most magnificent mountain peaks, it doesn’t have the altitude of the Himalayas’. My ability to adapt to the altitude is an unknown, but it will be put to the test on two expeditions to Nepal in 2015.

The first will be in April to climb Mera Peak, which stands at 6,476 metres, 21,246 feet, and in September I will attempt Himlung, a peak that stands at 7,162 metres, 23,497 feet.

Both of these climbs will be done without the use of supplemental oxygen, but there will be a rigorous acclimitisation process to ensure the best chance of success.

And hopefully these climbs will set-me up for an ascent of Cho Oyu, an 8,000 metre peak bordering Tibet and Nepal.

I am confident of my ability to adapt; certainly I don’t expect expedition life will be a problem given my remote outback experience and the hardship that often brings.

Training is in full swing, but as always, remains a work in progress, and I will be spending time climbing in the wonderful Blue Mountains in the weeks ahead…

The first ascent of Mera Peak was made on 20 May 1953, using what has now become the standard route from Mera La and no subsequent ascent occurred until 1975. We will just miss the anniversary of the first climb in 1953 by a couple of days.

We will have two camps on the mountain, camp one at Mera La and camp two, our high camp, at 5,800 metres. Our summit day will typically start before dawn and we are hopeful to summit in 4-5 hours. Some fix rope will be used near the summit where it becomes very steep.

As 2014 draws to a close, grab your climbing harness and a rope, or perhaps if you prefer, a coffee or tea and a nice comfy couch.

Either way please be sure to join me in on these climbs; one step at a time, we can do it together…

 

Baz – The Landy

31 thoughts on “Nepal Mountaineering Expeditions – Gearing up”

  1. Deliberately Delicious January 4, 2015 / 10:51 am

    Baz, I am so glad I’ve made it back here in time to cheer you on! It sounds like 2015 is shaping up to be an incredible year for you!

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    • Baz - The Landy January 6, 2015 / 10:45 am

      Crikey, I’m hoping so, tired of talking about it, need to do it… Yes, we are all very excited, as it has been a work in progress for a couple of years and a couple of delays…

      So get your climbing shoes on, or a good brew and a comfy lounge and we’ll head up the mountain…! Cheers, Baz

      Like

  2. Marie January 3, 2015 / 12:21 pm

    I can only imagine how empowering and humbling the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of climbing must be. Love these images.

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  3. melissadorai January 1, 2015 / 9:53 pm

    Ive been having the same exact urge to go to Nepal in 2016, so I know how you feel. Excited for your upcoming climbs and all the best!

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    • Baz - The Landy December 31, 2014 / 7:08 pm

      Hi Michelle, I’m not sure if I should be a hero, but okay!

      Now I’m not sure what you mean by “what it is like to hand from a rock”. Do you mean rock climb?

      …and hey, have a great 2015.

      Baz, Janet, and TomO (B,J&T)

      Like

  5. kathygiddins December 31, 2014 / 11:36 am

    wow it looks like you’re on a mission. Best of luck with your climbs and I will look forward to seeing the amazing summit pics 🙂

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    • Baz - The Landy December 31, 2014 / 11:55 am

      Thanks Kathy, yes a bit of a mission of sorts. Mind you thee fun is in the journey! Take care…Baz

      Like

  6. travellingbag December 30, 2014 / 11:52 am

    Hi Baz – looks like we may pass in Kathmandu. I’m doing the Everest Circuit Trek, summiting Gokyo Ri and crossing the Cho La to EBC during April. We get back into Kathmandu on 21st April 🙂 Good luck with Mera.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Baz - The Landy December 30, 2014 / 1:39 pm

      I’m arrive in Kathmandu on 22 April, so we should touch closer to the time! Cheers, Baz

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Ice Scream Mama December 29, 2014 / 12:32 am

    You can do it! One step at a time! Go get em. Happiest new year to you and your fabulous wife and son. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Baz - The Landy December 29, 2014 / 12:29 pm

      Awe, thanks sweetie! I trust you and the baseball team are doing well…!

      All good over here, and yes, we are gearing up for a big year of climbing, hopefully. About 12 months behind the original schedule, but on track again.

      Hey, have a couple of scoops, and one for me!

      Cheers, Baz

      Like

      • Ice Scream Mama December 30, 2014 / 10:52 am

        you bet baby! i’ve got my ice cream on with an extra scoop. what’s the aussie flavor du jour?
        hey, what’s a year – nothing. there’s no schedule right? you just keep going, take the adventures as they come. you can’t plan too much in this life, right? 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  8. restlessjo December 27, 2014 / 8:50 pm

    Take good care of yourself, Baz! Very best wishes for 2015 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Baz - The Landy December 28, 2014 / 1:50 pm

      Hopefully it will be full of big mountains!

      Like

    • Baz - The Landy December 28, 2014 / 1:50 pm

      Thanks for that, let’s hope I can make them adventurous…and safe for us all!

      Like

  10. NancyTex December 27, 2014 / 2:48 am

    Fantastic! But I do need to ask why no supplemental oxygen?…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Baz - The Landy December 28, 2014 / 1:56 pm

      Hey Nancy, for the most part up to these sort of elevations it is done without supplemental oxygen. Even on Cho Oyu, the focus for 2016, we will most likely only use oxygen for summit day, above 7,500 metres.

      And hence why I will spend a fair amount of time acclimatising for the climbs in 2015 and 2016 (heaven forbid I’m talking another year away already!)…

      Mind you, it will be a big test for me.

      I’m not sure it answers your question, but oxygen does add cost and weight to a climb…

      (and yes, down at the local watering hole “Bluey and the Boys” did say something about me stealing far too much oxygen already) 😉

      Like

      • NancyTex December 29, 2014 / 1:34 am

        Gotcha. I was speculating that you might be doing these climbs w/o supplemental oxygen because you were going to attempt that on Everest (which seemed crazy). Thanks for the clarifocation. Good luck!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Baz - The Landy December 29, 2014 / 12:26 pm

        Crikey no!

        If I get to Everest (fingers crossed) it will be with full oxygen and full flow to assist.

        The purist’s will say that climbing with oxygen is cheating, but out of around 6,500 ascents of Everest, only about 100 or so have been without supplemental oxygen. From my own reading, the risks are great, especially on the descent when fatigue sets in, and that is with oxygen!

        There is some great information around on the topic.

        Cheers, Baz

        Like

  11. Barbara Grandberg December 26, 2014 / 6:26 pm

    looking forward to following you on all of your adventures….and thanks for taking me with you :}

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Lavinia Ross December 26, 2014 / 10:24 am

    Go for it, Baz! Western Oregon is with you, cheering you on, and will follow your progress! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Baz - The Landy December 28, 2014 / 1:48 pm

      And that makes me “warm and fuzzy” !

      Like

    • Baz - The Landy December 28, 2014 / 1:47 pm

      Thanks, lots of fun getting the “shot”…

      Like

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