Cho Oyu 2008 Expedition Dispatches

BACKGROUND

About FTA and Cho Oyu

Our 2008 Cho Oyu expedition will be led by Stu Remensnyder and already includes a number of members of prior FTA trips including Aconcagua, Ama Dablam and Broad Peak.

We welcome you to follow our 2008 team as they make their way across the high passes of Tibet to BC and then tackle this 8000m giant.

If you would like to receive email updates with images and commentary during the expedition please drop a note to info@fieldtouring.com.with the subject "Cho Oyu Dispatches"..

As most of the staff will be on expedition during the Cho Oyu expedition we may not be able to send notes very often. You can folllow the team at a blog site we have set up for this autumn's trips.

http://fieldtouring.blogspot.com/


Cho Oyu (Beijing) Time

Latest NEWS

When we are able to put up proper dispatches we will but in the meantime you can follow our news at the blogsite

http://fieldtouring.blogspot.com/

September 5 Team assembled, permits and visas in hand and off on the 6th!

CLIMBING TEAM | SPONSORS | CHO OYU 2008 DISPATCHES | CHO OYU 2008/2009 INFO | FTA DISPATCH CENTER

Stu Remensnyder (USA) Leader

During more than 8 trips to Nepal and Tibet Stu has climbed Lobuche E., Mera Peak, Tarpu Chuli and Ama Dablam, crossed the Mingbo-La and trekked to the Annapurna Sanctuary, around the Annapurna Circuit, to Gokyo, to Langtang, to Everest Base Camp (Tibet) and around the sacred Mt Kailash.

Stu led our successful 2005, 2006 & 2007 trips to Ama Dablam, also led our climbs on Aconcagua's False Polish (2003, 2005), Aconcagua's Polish Glacier (2004) and was deputy leader on Broad Peak (2003). He brings with him a wealth of experience in more than 15 years of climbing in the Himalayas, the Karakoram, the Andes, the Alps, Canadian Rockies and US North Cascades and Tetons. Stu is also a Wilderness EMT and qualified instructor for SOLO Wilderness Medicine and will be teaching a WFR course during the trip to interested members.

Ben Kane (Australia) Assistant Guide

Ben grew up on the golden beaches of northern New South Wales, Australia. A less hostile environment would be hard to find. However, the desire to explore the wild has led him into the more remote and mountainous regions of the world, including Patagonia and the Andes, New Zealand and the Himalaya.

Ben has undertaken training in alpine, expedition and ice climbing techniques, as well as crevasse rescue and avalanche hazard. In 2007 he was a guide-in-training on Ama Dablam, and in January 2008 guided a small party on Aconcagua, summiting both peaks safely and receiving rave reviews from members of the trips. In the years ahead, Ben will be leading new treks to the Annapurna Sanctuary, and guiding on Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Nepal trekking peaks and Aconcagua.

Ben is a qualified IRATA Rope Access Technician, trained in industrial abseiling techniques and high angle rescue. He is also a qualified Wilderness First Responder and working towards his Wilderness EMT

Kit Dickson (UK) Climber

Kit is from Manchester (UK) and, as well as being perfectly placed to regularly explore the Welsh Mountains, Peak District, Lake District and the Highlands of Scotland, has climbed extensively in Europe, Nepal and South America (Argentine and Bolivia). Kit summited Kilimanjaro in 2002 and joined tour leader Stu on Aconcagua in 2003, summiting successfully after being stuck in a storm for days, high up on the mountain.
This is Kits first 8000m peak he is really looking forward to the experience, the mountains are one of Kits inspirations – the others being Bjorn (3), Katya (1) and wife Sasha, all of whom are safely stored on Kits Ipod for the climb!
Likes: Clachaig Inn (Glencoe), Whisky, Beer, cooking, football, golf, cliff jumping, gorge walking, white water rafting, music
Dislikes traffic jams, really hot weather, leaky roofs,

Kit will be raising funds for st. Anns Hospice in the UK. You can see more about it and support his cause at
http://www.st-anns-hospice.org.uk/challenge/adventure_challenge.htm

Justin Moody (UK) Climber

Justin is 33yrs old, from the North West of England, currently working and living in London. He has a great deal of trekking experience throughout Europe & South America, having summited a number 5-6,000m peaks in Ecuador. This will be his first trip to the Himalayas.

A keen athlete with a competitive background in running & swimming, recently taken up cycling in order to compete in triathlons. Aiming to complete an Ironman event in 2009.
Likes: Triathlons, Table tennis, Beer gardens, Chicken Fajitas, Goats, Football, Dogs. Dislikes: Box Jellyfish, Dumplings, Earache, Cliff jumping, Wasps, Virgin Trains. As part of this expedition.

Justin is raising money and awareness for for Richard House Childrens hospice http://www.justgiving.com/moogoat

John Nystrom (UK) Climber

Guy Higgott (Canada) Climber

Guy is a Canadian who loves all outdoor pursuits, top of the list are anything to do with whitewater and climbing/mountaineering.

He has undertaken climbing trips in Africa, Nepal (Ama) in 06, Bolivia, Thailand and North America. He particularily likes the remote feeling of being on a big mountain and is looking forward to returning to Nepal.

Guy is climbing Cho Oyu for Learn for Life, a charity that his wife Vanessa founded. Learn for Life is a post-secondary scholarship fund for kids at Hopeful Home orphanage, where she first started her work a few years ago. This year, Learn for Life endeavours to raise at least $10,000 to send the first three recipients of the scholarship to college, to empower these great young people, and break the cycle of poverty.

Please visit www.learnforlifenepal.com and help Guy reach this summit too!

Guy Leveille (Canada) Climber

Italo Mazza, (Italy) Climber

Expeditions include Muztagh Ata, Aconcagua ( Polish route), Cerro Mercedario, Illimani, Chimborazo, Huascaran, Kilimangiaro; Mount Cook and countless european mountains. Most recently Italo summited Spantik in 2007 with FTA

Lyngve Skrede, (Norway) Climber

Lyngve is an exporer, adventurer and mountaineer and you can see all of his trips on his website at www.distantpeak.com One of his biggest adventures was a four months and 6300 kilometers long bicycle expedition through Mongolia, China, Tibet and Nepal, including a detour to Everest Basecamp (Tibet-side) on very rough roads.

He is looking forward to the view from high on Cho Oyu of that route for a second time as Lyngve reached high on Cho Oyu last year (with FTA) and is excited to finish what he started then! He has previously climbed Ama Dablam (with FTA in 2005), Island Peak, Lobuche East, Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and Zinalrothorn. All together more than 60 peaks above 4000 metres in addition to 215 lower peaks.

When he's not traveling or climbing mountains, he works as a Business Controller in order to finance his next trip.

Erik Haugen (Norway), Climber

I am a 29 year old student and just got married in the end of June! Have travelled a lot the last couple of years, with highlights being; Lofoten, Kenya, Ozztralia, Chile and India. Trekked to Everest base camp and Kala Patar, Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Ojos del Salado (didn't summit) and even Mt. Kosciuszko. I really enjoy being in the mountains and spend a lot of time doing just that, preferably with skies.
Spent a month working in the main hospital in Kathmandu in '06, and promised that 'd come back soon, and maybe do some climbing while I was
at it....

Ian Hibbert (Australia), Climber

Antonin Calzarossa (France), Climber

Rob Baker (Australia), BC Services

Rob is an avid climber, surfer, yogi and cyclist. Engineer and climbing guide in his spare time.

Expeditions and climbing experience include Ama Dablam, Island peak, 4 seasons in Patagonia, Cholatse, Mera peak, Mt Cook (NZ), Denali, Aconcagua, Scottish winter climbing, El Capitan and Half dome in Yosemite. Loads of rock climbing in Australia, UK and Europe.

Always psyched for something. Happiest when in the mountains.

Ryan Castel (Australia), BC Services

Rai "Tsering" Parsu Ram (Nepal), Climbing Sherpa

Date & place of Birth. Rakha 4 Kotang 1969
Training: Basic and advance course of Mountaineering from Manang Mountaineering Institute
Mountaineering Back Ground:
Mount Makalu up to Camp three
Mount Sisapangma up to 8000 meter
Cho-Oyu 2007 with FTA
Mount Ama Dablam Summit (4 times)
Trekking Peak: Mera Peak (15 time summit) Island Peak (15 time summit) Lobuje Peak (10 time summit)

There is no more hard working and reliable sherpa . Helping to set the high camps early and support members delayed by illness or slow acclimation, Tsering is a revered and crucial member of our team. Competent and strong as a climber and gentle and sincere by nature he is a pleasure to spend a month with!

Lhakpa Sherpa (Nepal), Climbing Sherpa

Date & place of Birth: Kurima, Solu Khumbu 1972
Training: Basic and advance course of Mountaineering from HIM Darjeeling
Mountaineering Back ground:
Mt. Ama Dablam Summit (7 times)
Trekking Peak: Mera Peak (20 time summit) Island Peak (20 Time summit) Lobuje Peak (15 time)
Everest to the south summit in 2008

Lhakpa summited Ama Dablam along with 16 members over the last three years and has proven a phenomenally strong and dependable guide. In spring 2008We are excited to have Lhakpa join us on Cho Oyu as it keeps intact a climbing team of Tsering, Lhakpa and Stui who have 3 expeditions together already

Just prior to the 2006 Ama Dablam Climb Lhaka and an all-star nepali team completed an 800m ice climb that first ascensionist Catherine Desteville once claimed would never be repeated.Our members in 2006 were treated to a viewing of the climb's video in namche and our respect for Lhakpa was redoubled! Lhakpa reached the south summit of Everest and turned back with a client who was not feeling well. Noo doubt he would have tagged the top on his own!

Ratna Man Gurung (Nepal), Base Camp Cook

Date & place of Birth: Barpkak, Gorkha 1969
Training: Basic and advance course of cooking
Mountaineering Back Ground: Ramduk Peak (Summit)

Working as cooking since 1995, Ratna has been on more than 30 Expeditions and has been our base camp cook in both 2005, 2006 & 2007 Ama Dablam and 2007 Cho Oyu expeditions and will be our BC cook for Cho Oyu in September 2008 before joining us for Ama Dablam in October once again

No expedition would succede without a great cook and base camp manager and Ratna manages our health and home with a friendly and caring touch. He also has a wicked sense of humour so be forewarned!

Siddhi Bahadur Tamang (Nepal), High Altitude Porter

This will be Siddhi's 5th trip with FTA and we could not be more excited to have him along again. He is also the resident nepali language instructor and takes great pride in helping our members to gain facility in nepali and during snowy days at BC this activity can be a life saver when the cards are worn and the batteries low! Siddhi is also an aspiring climber and learns everything he can from members. Inquisitive, funnny and capable there is little Siddhi will not accomplish if he wishes. We have supported him by helping him to take a mountaineering course this past summer and we hope to keep nurturing his goal of becoming a full time Sherpa guide.

CLIMBING TEAM | TREKKING TEAM | SPONSORS | DISPATCHES | CHO OYU 2007 INFORMATION PAGE

DISPATCHES

for most up to date dispatches during the expedition please see our blogsite:

http://fieldtouring.blogspot.com/

Quick Link Sept 5

September 5th, In Kathmandu and off for the border tomorrow

from stu in kathmandu

Our members have been assembling over the last 3 days in Kathmandu this morning the expeditions got officially under way with a nice meeting with the legendary Miss Elizabeth Hawley who keeps records on all of the major climbs occuring in Nepal and Tibet. her willingess to share things she has learned about the climbs and routes always adds to our knowledge and safety on the hill and we thank her in advance for her help!

After a short welcome meeting members scattered to all parts of Thamel for final shopping before we reconvened at the hotel to find our visas already approved by the chinese embassy. Having heard of other teams being run through hoops we we held cautious optimism in Nima T Sherpa of Su-Swagatam Trek that his contacts could pull off a seemingly impossible task. One again Nima demonstrated why we call him "the man" and there in black and red ink was our golden Willie Wonka ticket of which there seem to be very few this year.

After a meeting on nitty gritty items and schedules we talked for a time about what had brought each of us to this mountain with this group and it was a great chance to get to know each other better and set the tone for a team experience.

Clearly we will have a different experience this year on Cho Oyu with such a smaller number of teams and we welcome the chance to enjoy less competition for space and yet still enjoy meeting up with otyher teams and making the community to be on the hill this year a cooperative and successful one.

After months of working on getting our team in the right position to have a chance to go to Tibet and have a go at Cho Oyu our trip finally became a reality this morning with the successful granting of visas to all members of the trip. Our final member arrives on Monday and we hope he will be whisked off to the border after a short time in KTM and make his way to join us in Nylam that same day.

With good luck the entire team will head towards Tingri together on the 9th and our tentative schedule will look like:

6 to kodari at the border
7 to nylam
8 acclimatizing day in Nylam
9 to Tingri
10 acclimatizing day in Tingri
11 to Chinese BC
12 Acclimatizing day in CBC
13/14 two day trek to ABC
15 rest day in ABC
16 start climbing!

We will pass on word whenever we can and look for an update in the next few days from chris in Kathamndu!

cheers,

stu

Images below from our 2007 expdition...enjoy!

EUREKA!
Flattened tents strewn about at C1 while the EUREKA! Fifth Season Exo stands unscathed!