Kathmandu as seen from the roof of our hotel in Thamel
The beautiful Swayambhunath on top of a hill in the Kathmandu valley (Monkey Temple)
On the eastern side of Kathmandu is the huge stupa of Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world
A hazy morning in Kathmandu and a white Himalayan peak in the background
Lyngve is blessed by a lama in Kathmandu
Looking out of the window in the Twin Otter flight to Lukla
Lukla Airport on a beautiful day
Organizing the expedition gear in Lukla
Marcus is leaving Lukla, and heading for Phakding. Notice all the soldiers.
Marcus gives away Canadian pencils to kids in Khumbu
A Stupa not far away from Phakding
Our campsite in Phakding with all our yellow Northface tents
A scenic landscape between Phakding and Namche. Thamserku (6608m) towers above the deep gorge.
We have arrived the guesthouse in Namche
Marc and Anthony in Namche
On our first acclimatisation day, we hiked up the hill beyond Namche and had our first glimpse of Ama Dablam
Vanessa and the rest of the team on a dayhike to Thame
Anthony and me bouldering on a rainy day
Anthony is giving his donation to a very remote monastery between Namche and Thame
Lyngve and the friendly monk, who invited us (Anthony and me) to a cup of tea and bisquits
We had splendid view of Thamserku (6608m) when we hiked from Namche to Tengboche
Crossing a bridge below Tengboche
Evening in the dining tent in a small village above Tengboche (Dewoche)
Early morning and we have almost arrived the village of Pangboche
Anthony, Sophia, Herb and Sue are having tea in Pangboche
Marcus is crossing a bridge above Pangboche
Lyngve on the trail that eventually leads to Ama Dablam Basecamp
Ama Dablam hidden in clouds
I was rather surprised to see all the tents and expeditions when we arrived Basecamp (4600m)
We had a Puja ceremony in BC where all our ice axes and crampons were blessed
During our second day in basecamp, Marcus and I climbed high above BC to prepare for the thin air
Marcus at 5000m elevation. Kantega and Thamserku in the background.
The west face of Ama Dablam, as seen from a ridge above BC
Lyngve has just finished the overhanging 5.13 pitch below :-)
Lyngve during his first load carry to Advanced Basecamp. The impressing peak Tawoche (6501m) can be seen behind.
Marcus and I were the first ones to arrive ABC (5400m). We both got a pounding headache while pitching the tents, so we headed down again as soon as ABC had been established.
The second time I got to ABC, I shared the tent with Anthony. We had splendid views from here.
Ama Dablam as seen from ABC
Brad is contemplating the sunset in ABC
A beautiful morning in ABC. While Stu, Brad, Anthony, Marc and Mike decided to go down after a night in ABC, Lyngve felt ready to go up to C1 and sleep there.
There were some steep slabs just below C1, and a fixed rope.
C1 is situated on a ridge (5700m) and there are very few good tent sites. I slept in the Marmot tent, which was destroyed one day later because of a sliding rock.
Kantega and Thamserku as seen from C1
Me and Vanessa, who arrived C1 later in the evening, enjoyed the beautiful sunset in Camp 1.
Red sun on Ama Dablam
Porters in Camp 1
A tiny spot for a tent in Camp 1
View from Camp 1 with Cho Oyo in the horizon
Vanessa in Camp 1 and preparing to go up to Camp 2 for her summit-bid the next day
Camp 1 on a sunny day
Marcus in Camp 1
View from Camp 1
Camp 1
View from Camp 1. Only peaks above 5500m surface the sea of clouds.
Sue in front of the damaged tent in Camp 1
Pure luck that none was in the tent when a rock crached into it early in the morning
A steep part of the ridge between Camp 1 and 2
Looking down the southwest face of Ama Dablam
A mess of fixed ropes. Not according to the book.
Marcus was the first person on our team to reach Camp 2, which is situated on a very exposed part of the ridge at 5900m
After one night in ABC and one night in C1, I returned to the comfortable life in BC
Yak in Basecamp
I had two nights in basecamp, before I decided to start the summit assault on Ama Dablam. Here I have just left basecamp. Tawoche (6501m) is towering in the background.
Once more I had a beautiful evening in C1 and a perfect view of Chamlang (7319m)
Lyngve in the tent in C1. I shared the spacious 3 person tent with Marc from South Africa.
I did a load carry to Camp 2 the following day. What a cramped site...
I met Brad just below the Yellow Tower, when I descended from C2 to C1
Marc and Brad decided to turn arround before the Yellow Tower, so I joined them on the way down to C1
Marc on a traversing pitch between C2 and C1
Climbers descending to Camp 1
Marcus and myself decided to climb up to C2 and sleep. It turned out to be a very crowded day between C1 and C2.
The Yellow Tower and the extremely exposed 5.8 pitch
Marcus is waiting for his turn to climb the Yellow Tower just below C2. This is the most difficult rock pitch (5.8) on the entire route.
Lhakpa and Tshering welcomes Marcus on top of the Yellow Tower
Lyngve is climbing/jummaring the Yellow Tower. Severe exposure.
Our tent was erected on the shit-central in C2. An awful smell.
Marcus is belaying our tent. We had to sleep with harness....
Marcus is melting snow in Camp 2
Sue in company with Stu and Brad, started from C2 to C3 together with Marcus and me.
A snowy ridge beyond Camp 2
Shortly beyond C2, we had to put on our crampons to climb the Grey Tower
Lyngve is climbing the Grey Tower
Climbers below the Grey Tower
Tchering Sherpa on the Grey Tower
The yellow tents can be seen in Camp 2
Marcus on the challenging Grey Tower
The upper part of the Grey Tower
Marcus is climbing an interesting pitch between C2 and C3 (somewhere beyond the Grey Tower)
Lyngve on the ridge beyond the Grey Tower
Marcus on the steep snow/ice ridge below C3 and the mushroom
The exposed cornice on Ama Dablam. Kantega and Thamserku in the background.
Tshering had some initial troubles on the overhanging ice, and thus he let the ice-expert Marcus lead the pitch
The cornice just below C3 was fragile as hell, and I think this was the most risky part on the entire climb
Me and Marcus (in his down jacket) had to dig snow for almost two hours before we were able to properly pitch the two tents in C3 (6300m). In the mean time it was getting colder and colder up there...
I started off 08:45 from C3, half an hour behind Marcus. I was soon being trapped behind a slow Italian team. Here I am looking back at C3, while I am waiting for those Italian ahead of me to move on.
This is the Italian team that slowed me down, and I was fearing frostbite on my toes because of the slow pace.
Finally I got in front of the Italian team, and I could see Marcus higher up.
In the steep slopes below me, I could see the Italian team and further down the Adventure Consultant team.
Marcus wih the Canadian flag on top of Ama Dablam (6856m)
Makalu, the world 5th highest mountain, can be seen to the left
A cold Marcus on the summit of Ama Dablam
Lyngve on top of Ama Dablam
Marcus on top of Ama Dablam
Lyngve in his down clothing on the windy summit of Ama Dablam. Makalu, the 5th highest mountain in the world, can be seen behind him.
Marcus complains about the cold wind, and wants to descend
Summit views from Ama Dablam
While Marcus started on his way down, I decided to spend a few more minutes on the summit of Ama Dablam.
We met Stu, and told him it was at least one hour left to the summit
Marcus and his iced-up mustash
Lyngve is descending to Camp 3
Lyngve is rapelling down a steep ice/snow pitch between C3 and C2
View in south-eastern direction
Lyngve in the upper part of the Grey Tower
At the Grey Tower and Camp 2 below (yellow tents)
We still have some minutes before sunset and the cold sets in
Marcus in the rock and ice coloir beneath the Grey Tower
On the Grey Tower, shortly above C2
Himalaya after sunset
Marcus is arriving Camp 2 in darkness. We are tired after a long and eventful summit day.
Early morning in Camp 2
Marcus is rapelling down the Yellow Tower, the day after we summited.
Marcus safely below the Yellow Tower
Lyngve on his way back to BC
Only half an hour away from BC
Lyngve is monitoring the progress of the others climbers from Basecamp
Ama Dablam by sunset, as seen from BC
A lot of stuff to pack before we leave BC
Marcus in BC on departure day
Marcus and I leave BC, while the rest of the team still struggle on the mountain
Lyngve is leaving Basecamp
Ama Dablam as seen from Pangboche
Ama Dablam by sunset, as seen from Dingboche
Lhotse as seen from Dingboche
Everest (left) and Ama Dablam (right), as seen from Tengboche
Namche Bazar
Everest by sunset
My last glimpse of Ama Dablam in the horizon
A mani stone above Namche
The Monastery in Namche
Marcus' stunning picture of Ama Dablam
Vanessa and Brad are eating well deserved pastries in Namche
Anthony in Namche
A small kid in a village between Namche and Lukla
Celebration in Lukla
Anthony, Mike and Stu get ready to board the plane in Lukla
Marcus during the flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
Kathmandu - Baktapur
