The expedition begins - Unclimbed Saldim Ri 6343m

Hello from Kathmandu. We will be occasionally posting updates from Makalu to this blog. Stay tuned for text updates of our progress. There is a fair bit of snow forecasted for the next ten days so we will be staying active and acclimatizing while the system passes through the Makalu Himal. Attached are some images to give you an idea of where we are going and what we are doing, at least what we are planning to do. :)


Brian Beatty flies in tonight and I will meet him at the airport, we will fly into Tumlingtar in the morning and begin the hike into base camp via the Kongma Danda.


-Luke

Luke Smithwick
Himalaya Alpine Guides
e: luke@himalaya-alpine.com
p: +977-980-101-6610 (nepal)
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2015 Pangong Peaks Exploratory

Trip Notes - 2015 Pangong Peaks Exploratory

5/8/2015 | 4351m | Kera Pul Sato

 Our first night in the Changtang.  We drove from Leh today, delayed by a day after a large rainstorm that washed out portions of the road over the 5300m pass that brings you to here, the western extension of the broad Tibetan plateau.  We are a group of 4. 

Our first camp in Pangong.

     This is Jerry Clayton's 4th trip with us, and he invited two friends for the trip. Our plan is simple, we have a little less than two weeks, and a short trek of about 5 days that traverses the Ladakh range. Along the way, there are numerous 5000 & 6000 meter peaks, with glaciated faces, granite ridgelines, and new routes to explore. We will make camps along the route, and then climb the peaks.

     Our team is 8 with Ram Lal (horsemen), Phuntsok (cook), Kunsang (sirdar), and Gomba (assistant climbing guide). Ten horses will be hoofing the expedition gear, and we will be carrying light packs, saving our energy for the climbing.

     Today's drive was fairly uneventful, with some detours between Karu and Choglamsar, as the main road was washed out.  Leaving the Leh-Manali highway, we drove out of Karu, but not before having to hide the Brit, Nick Godfrey, as he had mistakenly forgotten his passport in the hotel and with a police checkpost to pass, they would want to see it if he was spotted in the vehicle.  Nick did his best backpack interpretation, hiding underneath a yellow tarp and packs in the third seat of the Scorpio jeep.

     Passing through the checkpost without a hitch, we climbed toward the Chang La, our first crossing of the Ladakh range for the trip.  Descending, we made it past our last checkpost, with Nick sighing relief, and are now in our first camp next to the creek.  

6/8/15 | Doksa camp | 4847m

A three hour walk brought us to our camp today, with a textbook 300 meter gain in altitude, the team is resting and acclimatizing.  Jerry has picked up a stomach bug somewhere along the way, and has started a course of antibiotics to remedy.  Nick went for a hike in the direction we are planning to go tomorrow, and spotted a Tibetan wild ass (Kiang).  Everyone this morning had an oxygen saturation above 90 percent as we left our camp down by the lake.  Showers came through this afternoon, but looked worse than they actually were, with only a few drops falling in camp.   Dinner is chopping and preparing in the kitchen tent next door, and the quiet continues.

8/8/15 | 5349m | Bulchen Togpo BC #1

      We've just descended from a climb of peak 6020m, with Cindy, Nick, and Jerry all making the summit. Gomba Sherpa and I were assisting.  The curse is broken. This is Jerry's fourth trip with us and we've finally made a summit with him, not without some spectacular trekking in the past 4 years.

Our base camp for peak 6020m (Nikalu).

     We were just acclimatized for the climb, and we all were certainly feeling the final meters to the summit.  Cindy had a mild headache along with Nick, but both had a good general impression, and continued to the summit.  From the summit ridge you could see the Karakoram, along with Kang Yatze to the southwest.  It was Cindy's personal altitude record, with Elbrus being the highest that she had climbed.

On the summit of Peak 6020m (Nikalu).

     Everyone is now resting in base camp, which we approached yesterday and everyone is really happy with. Glacial riverside, with nice grass and plenty of room to spread out.  It's nice to start at 5300m as opposed to 5000m. That extra 300m | 1000ft makes a big difference.

Ram Lal, the horseman, spotted Kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass) this morning.  He keeps an eye out as they sometimes can cause trouble with the horses.  A lone chough circled us on the summit this afternoon, and we spotted marmots here and there as we climbed and descended. 

In the distant valley adjacent, we spotted many dzos grazing on the abundant grass.  Tomorrow we'll move further up the valley, into new peaks and more climbing. 

12/8/15 | 5143m | 1541 | Yar La Chumik 

A lot to catch up on, 4 days in the making.  We've since risen up to clear skies at Bulchen Togpo camp 1, went for a reccy of the upper portion of the watershed, and then packed up camp and moved to "BC 2".  It is no new camp for the Himalaya Alpine Guides, and this year is a local "doksa" camp that was currently keeping more than 50 yaks, whom had "left their mark" amongst the grassy green islets whereupon we'd erected our tents for the night.  A short trek to get there, everyone appreciated being 300 meters lower for the night, camped at 5000 meters and breathing the extra oxygen.

I spent the late afternoon and evening scanning the maps and photos I had taken on our previous summit, deciding on our next objective, and hence the name of our mini expedition, the "Pangong Peaks Exploratory".  We were here to climb peaks.

Onwards. We rose to clear skies, packed up the horses, and started climbing up an alluvial fan towards the base camp for our next climb.  Peppered with glacial errratics, we weaved and switchbacked our way up the wash, noticing yak furrows here and there amongst the wildflowers and heather.  The horses catching us up, I moved on with them, instructing the group to take it slow, and slower than that while climbing to our camp at 5500m with Gomba Sherpa and a packed lunch.

Cresting the toe of the ablation valley, the peak came into view on the horizon. My immediate thoughts were, "We do not have enough time for this peak."  It was beautiful, with one of the other climbers remarking later on in the day that it would be a national park if elsewhere.  Camp set, we sat and talked about our options on the peak, with one day to work with for the climb.  I knew going into this trip that we would be hurried for the objectives I had in mind for the group.  Himalayan climbing takes time. 

For the first week, you simply are unwinding and your body adjusting its circadian rhythms to a new time zone, diet, and mountain life. For the second week, you are really beginning to acclimatize. The body begins acclimatizing in the first 72 hours you arrive to high altitude, but it takes far longer than that for you to begin to feel strong and for things to physiologically be "clicking" at altitude.  By the third week, you are in the groove and ready to climb.  If you interested in alpinism at altitude, you need at least three weeks, historical ascents can show you this, be it in the Alaska range, Himalayas, or the Arctic.

Looking out on the range.

Back to the trip, we had a 6000 meter climb under our belt, and in just 7 days from arriving to Leh.  This was impressive with it being on a remote peak with no record of its prior ascent, regardless of it being mostly a scramble.  We were now parked at 5500m on day 10 at high altitude. Our bodies had been exposed to altitude, and we had been up above 5800m (what is considered "extreme" altitude), but we were just starting to show signs of acclimatization. Each of us were still getting elevated heart rates at rest, and shortness of breath even with a slow climbing pace.

Our oxygen saturation rates still remained in the 80's at 5000+ meters. This showed that we were OK at the elevation, but a good level of acclimatization would show us all in the 90's at 5000 meters.  This was a quick trip, and indeed we were lucky to have already climbed a 6000m peak in the first weeks of the trip.  As we got the final tent set the group rolled in and the sky fell with hail, wind, and cold.

We worked to bolster all the tents with large stones anchoring the guy lines, and then jumped in to await its passing, as the pair of other squalls that came and went thus far on the trip, as afternoon convective showers. This one wasn't leaving, and a cold came with it. The weather turned as the barometer dropped, and poking our heads out intermittently we could just see the base of the glacier, with no peak in sight.  We served dinner as the showers and wind stopped, a low had settled on us, with all the peaks in sight covered in a veil of gray, even out to the Aksai Chin.

The group at a camp beneath peak 6200m.

A pizza dinner with french fries, and we headed to bed planning to wake with the sun and see what the weather held.  Occasional showers continued throughout the night, with no wind, which had me thinking the weather was sticking around, and I had no interest in getting stuck on this side of the pass with a foot or more of new snow.  When the morning came, we packed up and headed for the pass, planning to cross before any potential weather came in.  

The day remained surprisingly calm, and we made it over the pass without a drop of rain or flake of snow.  I was glad nonetheless knowing we wouldn't have to back track to our starting point and the horses and everyone safe.  It's a challenge to make weather decisions in a remote area with no access to forecasts (satellite phones being illegal in India). You have to always play the conservative safe card when the weather looks even slightly marginal. I've seen to many large storms over the past few seasons to play the cards any other way.

Crossing the Ladakh range.

We are now resting next to the Likche nala, Cindy and Gomba climbed a 5000 meter peak today, and Jerry and Nick rested and made plans for their canyoning trip in the Utah desert in September.  We will walk down the river tomorrow to the trailhead at Likche, where Tashi will meet us with the jeep.  Some of the members of the Nun expedition have already arrived to Leh, and we will be meeting on the morning of the 16th August in Leh to prepare to head into the Stok range for a climb of Stok Kangri.  -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya Alpine Guides (www.himalaya-alpine.com)

Time in the kingdom

Tsewang Namgyal

9 pm, an inky black sky, the distant rumble of a generator and dogs swapping barks across the neighborhood. The truck is loaded, and we’re stopped to pick up some jugs of kerosene for the final pieces of the supplies to a three week ski attempt on 7000m Kun (“queen”, in the Balti language of Purki, with Nun, the “king”, right next door).  A final cup of chai from ama-le (mother of the house), and we roll on, down the Singge Kha-Babs (“from the mouth of the lion”, translation, the Indus river).  The truck bounces and throws with its new load, about 500 kilos piled high, with food, stoves, tents, ropes, fuel, two cooks, and 2 powerful climbers, 1 Ladakhi (Namgyal) and 1 Nepali (Mingma).  Earlier today, I’d been in the main bazaar (market) of Leh, searching out a new map source, and sourcing EP gas for climbs in 2016.  I ran into Tsewang Namgyal, one of the newest Himalaya Alpine Guides. We discussed his plan to head to Zanskar, and I asked if he had room in the expedition supply truck. “Wait here, I’ll be back in ten minutes. An hour later, he turned up, “Ok Luke, we’re leaving at 9 pm tonight. I’ll pick you up.”  My reasoning for wanting to join him was for research (a “reccy” or reconnaissance) in Zanskar for climbs in the autumn of 2016.  Specifically, I wanted to have a look at the Drang Drung, Agshu (Hagshu), Kange, Haskira, and Bakartse watersheds for potential alpine climbing at the 5000-7000m elevation.  This altitude provides tremendous

Unnamed. Unclimbed.

opportunities for attempting more challenging objectives in alpine style at a manageable altitude.  I had heard stories and seen images of more technical, rocky peaks in these watersheds, and had experienced it firsthand on a climb of Z-1 to the northwest in the Nun-Kun massif last Autumn, along with numerous unnamed peaks in the mountains to the North of the valley.  Having just flown here from touristed Chamonix, I’d seen the colorful placard in the town square demarcating a climb of Hagshu last Autumn by a Slovenian team, who received the Piolet D’or for their alpine style ascent. I can’t deny it didn’t refuel my interest to return to the area.
 

Unnamed. Unclimbed.

We reached Shafat around 12 pm the following day, unloading the expedition equipment for Kun, with Namgyal and I then heading on to Padum, him to find horses to transport the equipment on the rocky glaciated terrain to Kun base camp, and I to get my first view at the section of the valley from the Pensi La to Sani.  Don’t get me wrong, this would be my 12th visit to Zanskar, but I’d always come on foot, utilizing other valleys and passes. 

Driving through Zanskar.

     We rumbled on, reaching Padum in early evening, and stopping for a smart glass of Indian Army rum to shake off the 26 hour drive. We thanked the driver and paid him, and then Namgyal set to searching for horses for his expedition, while I secured a taxi pickup for our upcoming Menthosa expedition in September, and also acquired contacts for porters for the valleys I was planning to photograph and scour on the way back up the valley.

Dorje at the wheel.

  The night came, I found a room at the always classic Ibex Hotel (scene of many a Himalaya Alpine Guides trip starts and finishes), and set in for some much welcomed rest.  Namgyal had not located the horses he was hoping, and would need to go with porters from Rangdum, much to his discontent.  A good sleep in, and I woke for a good breakfast of chapattis and omelette before we walked to the edge of town to catch a ride with locals, as all taxis by mid-morning had left for Leh, but we had no regrets in getting the extra sleep.
    After about 20 minutes, we found a lift with Dorje, a man from Absang who was headed to pick up a “kettle”, and what he actually meant I came to learn later was “cattle”.

Mail delivery. Zanskari style.

We cruised along, me shooting pictures out the window and Namgyal chatting with Dorje about the weather and everything and nothing.  Reaching his house, we hopped out and he backed the rig to the nearest pile of stones. He then said to Namgyal in a rapid tone in Ladakhi, “We’ll be here for an hour or so to get the yak, relax and drink tea.” and then the hospitality began. We stood around gazing out at the peaks and the valley around, before one of his daughters brought out a hand woven rug, and proceeded to gesture for us to sit. We sat.

Out came the first course of Khapse, fried barley bread. Next, the Yoszha, popped barley corn. Then, sweet milky black tea, Chai.  Moments later, the yak appeared, with one daughter pushing from behind, and the mother pulling from in front.  Dorje opened the tailgate, and the pushing and pulling reached its maximum effort.  With what I expected to take some time, they were done in minutes, the yak loaded, and then one more, and the tailgate was shut, both of the yaks not looking too psyched to be off of terra firma. They were headed to higher pastures, a summer “doksa”, or grazing area where the grass was tall and waiting for them.
   


We jumped back in the truck, and started rolling towards the Pensi La (“La” means pass in Tibetan dialects, while “Lha” means god), the location of the grazing area, stopping occasionally to chat with locals, deliver mail, and discuss the location of other yaks. We passed the final village before a long stretch in the valley that wasn’t inhabited, and picked up our speed.  Coming around a curve, Dorje spotted another herdsman, and stopped for another quick chat.  This one became an in depth diatribe and then word exchange before we were turned around and heading back to the village, a deal had been struck and the man with the donkeys

Unnamed. Unclimbed.

was going to get a yak.  I realized this may be my time to bow out, and we had just passed the village of Hagshu, so I told Namgyal it was time for me to go, and then politely thanked Dawa and stepped out of the truck in a swarm of uniform-clad school kids who all desperately needed a “school pen”. I informed them all, much to their chagrin, that I had no “school pens”.  They were disappointed, but were content to walk back to the village with their new giant friend. I picked up my gear, and started walking towards the village, dropping a pair of socks that brought out an uproar of laughter from the most vocal children, although politely they brought me my socks and one even asked to carry my boots. I handed him the boot, and he almost fell over, and we all started laughing.

Drang Drung.

  I grabbed the boot up and we continued our trudge to the village.   Over the next days, I had a good look round, and found the valleys of Zanskar to have a huge amount of climbing potential.  We will have an alpine style expedition to the region in October 2016, along with a fixed-rope style mountaineering ascent of

Locals in Absang.

Kun in July 2016. No matter where you are in the Himalaya, there is always a distant unknown peak or spire on the horizon, without a name or story. I find this immensely comforting, that there is simply too much to learn and know in ones lifetime in this range.  The Himalayas of today are what the
Alps were 200 years ago, an alien world.  What will you find?  -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya Alpine Guides (http://www.himalaya-alpine.com)

2014 Himlung with Mustang and Saribung expedition - Khumbu shift

Phakding, Solu Khumbu, Nepal | 21 October 2014 | 0619 | 2715m

Jump forward a week, we've since moved the entire expedition to the Marsyangdi gorge, approached Himlung base camp, experienced a massive storm that claimed more than 40 lives, retreated to Kathmandu, and then flown to the Everest region yesterday.
We're now on approach to Nirekha peak, a gem of a mountain sandwiched between the Gokyo, Khumbu, and Changri glacier complex. We'll approach via Namche Bazaar ("Nauche" in Sherpa/Tibetan), the cultural and economic center of the Everest region.

Namche itself is an interesting place, having grown into a monetary economy over the past 15 years due to a tourism boom. Locals no longer work their fields, and many no longer own livestock either. This is an anomaly in Nepal's mostly subsistence economy.
Tibetans come over the Nangpa La (a pass from China's Tibet into Nepal) to sell their wares in the market of Namche. The last time I was in town 700 yaks arrived fully loaded with their owners goods; including jackets, hats, pots, and a menagerie of other items.
The salesmen remained in Namche until all their goods were sold in adjoining valleys, with Namche used as the center for trade side trips.
The skies are clear here, and there is no sign of the catastrophic weather of a week past. Our spirits are high, and we're ready to move on up. -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya Alpine Guides, luke@himalaya-alpine.com

Thangnag, Gokyo, Nepal | 24 October 2014 | 0806 | 4700m
We are at 4700m on the left lateral moraine of the Ngozumba glacier. We will move to Nirekha basecamp tomorrow morning. Right now the team is resting next to the wood stove and preparing for a nice dinner in the heated lodge. Everyone is fired up to climb, and we just received a favorable forecast through the 29th October. -Luke Smithwick, luke@himalaya-alpine.com


Gokyo 3rd Lake | 28 October 2014 | 0637 | 4800m
Checking in from Gokyo. We had a nice climb of Nirekha two days ago, turning back 200 meters from the summit in poor visibility. Some of us are out climbing Gokyo Ri, and I'm down here in lodge with a giant pot of coffee, talking other climbs with one of the guests. We will trek over the Renjo La tomorrow and check out new territory.

Approaching the climb near the real Cho La.

Himlung with Mustang and Saribung - post #3 - last until base camp

Tsarang, Mustang, Nepal | 5 Oct 2014| 0626 | 3615m

The weather always amazes me in Mustang, with the rest of Nepal
dealing with the ins and outs of valley systems and local cloud cover,
Mustang generally remains clear with a gentle breeze. We've had an
excellent few more days of approach, visiting the quaint village of
Dhakmar, and then moving to Tsarang, the old capital of Mustang,
evening past.
Dhakmar has a backdrop of giant orange sandstone cliffs, the cliffs
themselves pockmarked with ancient cave dwellings. Many of the locals
were down valley attending the visitation of the Sakya Rinpoche in
Jomsom, while the others were finishing the winnowing of the
buckwheat, whistling to call the wind as they sifted through the
reddish gold grains.
The village itself, being off the main road that now runs through
upper Mustang, felt much more unencumbered by tourism. Perhaps this
is due to less guest houses and trekkers themselves, many being on an
itinerant march to see the sites and then get back down valley.
Yesterday morning, we climbed up the red cliffs that are the namesake
of Dhakmar (Dhak=Cliff, Mar=Red), making our way on a trail that Karma
dubbed the "blue sheep" trail. Steep, it took us to the top of a mesa
of sorts, with views of Annapurna, Nilgiri I, and the Dhamodhar Himal.
Enroute to Tsarang, we spotted several more raptors, and at the
altitude they soar, it is a challenge to I.D. them with the naked eye.
Ah, I almost forgot, we spotted a flock of around 500 Tibetan
Black-Necked Crane migrating south yesterday. It was the second time
I've spotted them, the only passerine species to migrate across the
Himalaya, and they are always a welcome sight.
It's impossible for me to record all the moments that make a
mountain experience like this unique, and they come in flashes of
memory as time passes. I think this is the aspect of my work that I
enjoy the most, recalling events, and getting to share them with
guests. It's always little things. The way the wind moves through
the golden poplars in Autumn, the smell of dried juniper smoke on the
kitchen hearth in the morning, the unfiltered smile of a young Lopa
child as you pass by their home in late afternoon sun, the body worked
and tired from a days ascent. It goes on and on, and I can't wait to
see what is around the next corner. Over the next week we will
traverse the Dhamodhar Himal, climbing to 6000 meters, then to descend
into the Lost Valleys of Nar and Phu, and our main objective,7126m
Himlung, the mountain of winds. -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya
Alpine Guides



--
Luke Smithwick
Himalaya Alpine Guides : http://www.himalaya-alpine.com
email : luke@himalaya-alpine.com
skype : himalaya-alpine-guides

2014 Himlung with Mustang and Saribung - Lo Manthang update

Gheling, Mustang, Nepal | 3 Oct 2014 | 0655 | 3620m
It’s a crisp morning, with ice on the tent fly and the Dhamodhar Himal in its snow-covered contrast to the surrounding brown, orange, and ochre hills. We are in Mustang. Last night we swiftly made a change in our plans, the local office in Kathmandu reporting that it’s next to impossible to collect the requisite 11 mountain porters we’ll need during this Nepali holiday, wholly unrelated to the current spectacular weather.
The team, Brett and Charles, are adjusting nicely to the altitude and new environment. It always requires a “break-in” period of about a week to feel fully “here” after a trans-continental flight; what with the new air, altitude, diet, and daily routine of the trekking life. One has had a headache a few times, and the other has had a short bout of diarrhea, but both seem to now be finding an equilibrium.
Our approach thus far has seen big days, covering two days worth of ground in one, a testament to the teams fitness and endurance. Everyone reports sore legs, but enjoying the 5-7 hour days of walking, some on bits of double track, the other on the traditional trail.
We passed through the Syangboche gorge yesterday, visiting the Chungse cave monastery on the way. It was more lively than times passed, with Tibetan Buddhist locals arriving on their healthy ponies to light butter lamps and perform pujas to ask forgiveness for the widespread slaughter (“mar” in Nepali) of sacrificial animals today by Nepali Hindus.
The two days prior brought us in by flight to Jomsom and Kagbeni that night, and then on to Karma’s village of Samar the following day. The wind kicks up the Kali Gandaki river like clockwork, with a steady breeze coming to gusts by 1030 every morning.
The road from the Tibetan border through Msutang is now completely open, and locals use it get around by jeep. The Rinpoche (chief lama) of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism was arriving in a days time to Jomsom when we arrived, and there was hiatus of monks and locals descending from the dispersed Lopa villages of the region as we climbed up, many of them coming by jeep.
As with anywhere with a passable you can certainly drive through Mustang, but you will certainly miss seeing the numerous cave structures, scores of soaring exotic predatory birds, hearing the wind move through the ancient junipers and golden poplar, and watching locals work their time-honored pastoral existence, and simply Mustang, itself.
Mustang requires time, a knowledgeable local guide (like Karma) and the willingness to trek if you are to truly experience all its fascinating nooks and crannies.
Leaving Kagbeni as the monastery and villagers swept and poished for the Rinpoche's arrival, we walked north for about an hour before leaving the main track (read:road) and descending to the Kali Gandaki river. Off the trail, we began what we had come for on this section of our 45 day expedition, to explore off the beaten track and see what we could find. Jackpot! After about 20 minutes up the river we found a cave site complete with about 50 rooms, char marks and ashes from ancient fires, and also a spring that could have served the inhabitants with fresh clean water.
We continued upriver, inspired by our find and managing to also locate 7 saligrams on the rivers course, Brett finding the best specimen. After our ninth river crossing, with the final one up to our waist, we decided as a group to climb back up to the trail and make some mileage to the next village of Chele. Onwards up the gorge, we arrived in Karma's village in late afternoon with a cool breeze flowing down slope and bringing the sharp and distinct smell of juniper. I caught Charles exclamating silently with fists into the air from around a corner, we were extremely content on our first day in upper Mustang. Day one and we had already spotted blue sheep, found ancient fossils, and located an unmarked cave site.

That's all for now, my apologies for the run on sentences, awkard grammar, and spelling and spacing errors, trying to fire off an update before the power and connection goes. Onwards and upwards... -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya Alpine Guides
-more tomorrow, and photos and video to be added in Kathmandu after 7 November-

2014 Himlung with Mustang and Saribung Expedition

29 September 2014 | Pokhara, Nepal | 1503 | 876m

All of the team arrived yesterday, all three of us that is. There is Brett Ryan of Sydney, Australia, and Charles de Courval of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  I enjoy small, focused teams the most.  As a guide service, we are able to mold each day to the interest of a guest better that way, and really go and do some nice side trips and extras.  Brett is a seasoned climber, and Charles a skier who wants to move into high altitude climbing. His most recent expedition was a ski trip across Greenland in 27 days. Impressive.
     Our plan for this particular expedition is multi-fold, with a start in extraordinary Mustang.  Along with us is one of the best local guides to the region, Karma, who hails from the village of Samar. I'm looking forward to returning to the village to catch up with his family while they winnow the season's barley and wheat harvest, and perhaps even help out myself.  One of the other highlights of the trip will be a night of camping with the nomads of Mustang, as they graze their yaks and work a time-honored existence.  Mustang never dissapoints, and I'm looking forward to showing Charles and Brett the sky caves, cave monasteries, and historical sites of this mountain kingdom.
     Today we flew into Pokhara mid-morning, had a great lunch in lakeside, and then toured the International Mountain Museum.  Glacierworks, an organization headed by David Breshears, has installed a nice exhibit on climate change, which will be in place until September of 2015.  There is also an interactive module for exploring the Khumbu, where you watch film at 60 million megapixels per frame, zooming in and out to check out the west ridge of Everest, the South Face of Makalu, and other interesting climbs. An afternoon of rest, we'll have our final restaurant meal tonight, and fly early on the first flight into Jomsom, approaching and sleeping in Kagbeni tomorrow afternoon and evening.  After a week in Kathmandu and a week in Delhi, I am excited to get back in the mountains for my 6th Himalayan expedition for 2014. Stay tuned for more photos and updates as we move up the trail to Lo Manthang, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Mustang. I've attached some images of Mustang below. Stay tuned for new ones! -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya Alpine Guides

Gheling, Mustang, Nepal | 3 Oct 2014 | 0655 | 3620m
It’s a crisp morning, with ice on the tent fly and the Dhamodhar Himal in its snow-covered contrast to the surrounding brown, orange, and ochre hills. We are in Mustang. Last night we swiftly made a change in our plans, the local office in Kathmandu reporting that it’s next to impossible to collect the requisite 11 mountain porters we’ll need during this Nepali holiday, wholly unrelated to the current spectacular weather.
The team, Brett and Charles, are adjusting nicely to the altitude and new environment. It always requires a “break-in” period of about a week to feel fully “here” after a trans-continental flight; what with the new air, altitude, diet, and daily routine of the trekking life. One has had a headache a few times, and the other has had a short bout of diarrhea, but both seem to now be finding an equilibrium.
Our approach thus far has seen big days, covering two days worth of ground in one, a testament to the teams fitness and endurance. Everyone reports sore legs, but enjoying the 5-7 hour days of walking, some on bits of double track, the other on the traditional trail.
We passed through the Syangboche gorge yesterday, visiting the Chungse cave monastery on the way. It was more lively than times passed, with Tibetan Buddhist locals arriving on their healthy ponies to light butter lamps and perform pujas to ask forgiveness for the widespread slaughter (“mar” in Nepali) of sacrificial animals today by Nepali Hindus.
The two days prior brought us in by flight to Jomsom and Kagbeni that night, and then on to Karma’s village of Samar the following day. The wind kicks up the Kali Gandaki river like clockwork, with a steady breeze coming to gusts by 1030 every morning.
The road from the Tibetan border through Msutang is now completely open, and locals use it get around by jeep. The Rinpoche (chief lama) of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism was arriving in a days time to Jomsom when we arrived, and there was hiatus of monks and locals descending from the dispersed Lopa villages of the region as we climbed up, many of them coming by jeep.
As with anywhere with a passable you can certainly drive through Mustang, but you will certainly miss seeing the numerous cave structures, scores of soaring exotic predatory birds, hearing the wind move through the ancient junipers and golden poplar, and watching locals work their time-honored pastoral existence, and simply Mustang, itself.
Mustang requires time, a knowledgeable local guide (like Karma) and the willingness to trek if you are to truly experience all its fascinating nooks and crannies.
Leaving Kagbeni as the monastery and villagers swept and poished for the Rinpoche's arrival, we walked north for about an hour before leaving the main track (read:road) and descending to the Kali Gandaki river. Off the trail, we began what we had come for on this section of our 45 day expedition, to explore off the beaten track and see what we could find. Jackpot! After about 20 minutes up the river we found a cave site complete with about 50 rooms, char marks and ashes from ancient fires, and also a spring that could have served the inhabitants with fresh clean water.
We continued upriver, inspired by our find and managing to also locate 7 saligrams on the rivers course, Brett finding the best specimen. After our ninth river crossing, with the final one up to our waist, we decided as a group to climb back up to the trail and make some mileage to the next village of Chele. Onwards up the gorge, we arrived in Karma's village in late afternoon with a cool breeze flowing down slope and bringing the sharp and distinct smell of juniper. I caught Charles exclamating silently with fists into the air from around a corner, we were extremely content on our first day in upper Mustang. Day one and we had already spotted blue sheep, found ancient fossils, and located an unmarked cave site.

That's all for now, my apologies for the run on sentences, awkard grammar, and spelling and spacing errors, trying to fire off an update before the power and connection goes. Onwards and upwards... -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya Alpine Guides
-more tomorrow, and photos and video to be added in Kathmandu after 7 November-

Tsarang, Mustang, Nepal | 5 Oct 2014| 0626 | 3615m

The weather always amazes me in Mustang, with the rest of Nepal
dealing with the ins and outs of valley systems and local cloud cover,
Mustang generally remains clear with a gentle breeze. We've had an
excellent few more days of approach, visiting the quaint village of
Dhakmar, and then moving to Tsarang, the old capital of Mustang,
evening past.
Dhakmar has a backdrop of giant orange sandstone cliffs, the cliffs
themselves pockmarked with ancient cave dwellings. Many of the locals
were down valley attending the visitation of the Sakya Rinpoche in
Jomsom, while the others were finishing the winnowing of the
buckwheat, whistling to call the wind as they sifted through the
reddish gold grains.
The village itself, being off the main road that now runs through
upper Mustang, felt much more unencumbered by tourism. Perhaps this
is due to less guest houses and trekkers themselves, many being on an
itinerant march to see the sites and then get back down valley.
Yesterday morning, we climbed up the red cliffs that are the namesake
of Dhakmar (Dhak=Cliff, Mar=Red), making our way on a trail that Karma
dubbed the "blue sheep" trail. Steep, it took us to the top of a mesa
of sorts, with views of Annapurna, Nilgiri I, and the Dhamodhar Himal.
Enroute to Tsarang, we spotted several more raptors, and at the
altitude they soar, it is a challenge to I.D. them with the naked eye.
Ah, I almost forgot, we spotted a flock of around 500 Tibetan
Black-Necked Crane migrating south yesterday. It was the second time
I've spotted them, the only passerine species to migrate across the
Himalaya, and they are always a welcome sight.
It's impossible for me to record all the moments that make a
mountain experience like this unique, and they come in flashes of
memory as time passes. I think this is the aspect of my work that I
enjoy the most, recalling events, and getting to share them with
guests. It's always little things. The way the wind moves through
the golden poplars in Autumn, the smell of dried juniper smoke on the
kitchen hearth in the morning, the unfiltered smile of a young Lopa
child as you pass by their home in late afternoon sun, the body worked
and tired from a days ascent. It goes on and on, and I can't wait to
see what is around the next corner. Over the next week we will
traverse the Dhamodhar Himal, climbing to 6000 meters, then to descend
into the Lost Valleys of Nar and Phu, and our main objective,7126m
Himlung, the mountain of winds. -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya
Alpine Guides



--
Luke Smithwick
Himalaya Alpine Guides : http://www.himalaya-alpine.com
email : luke@himalaya-alpine.com
skype : himalaya-alpine-guides

Phakding, Solu Khumbu, Nepal | 21 October 2014 | 0619 | 2715m

Jump forward a week, we've since moved the entire expedition to the Marsyangdi gorge, approached Himlung base camp, experienced a massive storm that claimed more than 40 lives, retreated to Kathmandu, and then flown to the Everest region yesterday.
We're now on approach to Nirekha peak, a gem of a mountain sandwiched between the Gokyo, Khumbu, and Changri glacier complex. We'll approach via Namche Bazaar ("Nauche" in Sherpa/Tibetan), the cultural and economic center of the Everest region.

Namche itself is an interesting place, having grown into a monetary economy over the past 15 years due to a tourism boom. Locals no longer work their fields, and many no longer own livestock either. This is an anomaly in Nepal's mostly subsistence economy.
Tibetans come over the Nangpa La (a pass from China's Tibet into Nepal) to sell their wares in the market of Namche. The last time I was in town 700 yaks arrived fully loaded with their owners goods; including jackets, hats, pots, and a menagerie of other items.
The salesmen remained in Namche until all their goods were sold in adjoining valleys, with Namche used as the center for trade side trips.
The skies are clear here, and there is no sign of the catastrophic weather of a week past. Our spirits are high, and we're ready to move on up. -Luke Smithwick, guide, Himalaya Alpine Guides, luke@himalaya-alpine.com

Thangnag, Gokyo, Nepal | 24 October 2014 | 0806 | 4700m
We are at 4700m on the left lateral moraine of the Ngozumba glacier. We will move to Nirekha basecamp tomorrow morning. Right now the team is resting next to the wood stove and preparing for a nice dinner in the heated lodge. Everyone is fired up to climb, and we just received a favorable forecast through the 29th October. -Luke Smithwick, luke@himalaya-alpine.com


Gokyo 3rd Lake | 28 October 2014 | 0637 | 4800m
Checking in from Gokyo. We had a nice climb of Nirekha two days ago, turning back 200 meters from the summit in poor visibility. Some of us are out climbing Gokyo Ri, and I'm down here in lodge with a giant pot of coffee, talking other climbs with one of the guests. We will trek over the Renjo La tomorrow and check out new territory.

Approaching the climb near the real Cho La.