Category Archives: Everest 3.0

Peaks and Passes Day 22: May 6

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 22: Descending the Imja Khola Valley via Dingboche we reach the main Khumbu Valley and pass through the village of Pangboche to our halt at Deboche. Camp (3710m). Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 21: May 5

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 21: An early start for the ascent of Island Peak at 6187m./20,299ft. After taking in the spectacular 360 panorama from the summit we descend to our base camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 20: May 4

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 20: A contingency day in case of delays to our schedule do far. May be used as a rest day or to split the ascent of Island Peak over two days with a high camp. … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 19: May 3

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 19: Scree slopes and an icefall are tackled to gain the Amphu Labtsa (5700m). We now descend fixed ropes to the Imja Glacier and trek to our base camp for Island Peak. Fun Fact of … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 18: May 2

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 18: A rest day. The guides and Sherpas ascend the Amphu Labtsa to establish fixed lines and prepare the pass for tomorrow’s crossing. Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? Most climbers attempt … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 17: May 1

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 17: Passing beneath the giant west face of Chamlang we follow the Hongu Khola and finally the Hongu Glacier to the holy site of Panch Pokhri (five lakes). Camp (5400 meters). Fun Fact of the … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 16: April 30

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 16: After descending to the Hongu River we trek up valley to a camp beside a large frozen lake. (5000m). Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? In Nepal, people do not greet … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 15: April 29

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 15: We make the technically easy ascent of Mera Peak (6476m). The summit view includes 5 of the World’s 6 highest mountains. Descend to the Hongu Valley. Camp (5200m). Fun Fact of the Day DID … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 14: April 28

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 14: We continue our ascent of the North flank of Mera Peak to a spectacular eyrie nestled below a rocky outcropping on the ridge. Camp (5800m). Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? The … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 13: April 27

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 13: A rest and acclimatization day prior to the ascent of Mera Peak. Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? The Sherpa people are a group of people native to eastern Nepal that … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 12: April 26

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 12: Leaving our base camp we trek up onto the glacier and traverse to the Mera La. We make camp 100 metres below the pass on the Hongu side. Camp (5300m). Fun Fact of the … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 11: April 25

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 11: A day for further acclimatization. We follow the ridge above camp to around 5500 metres and return to Khare. Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? Nepal is home to one of … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 10: April 24

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 10: We ascend an ablation valley beside the Dig Glacier to Kare, the basecamp area for Mera Peak. Camp (5000m). Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? Mera and Island Peaks are technically classified … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 9: April 23

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 9: A second acclimatization day at Tagnag. Today is set aside for skills training particularly the techniques required for fixed lines and crevasse rescue. Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? There are … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 8: April 22

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 8: A day for acclimatization. We trek up above camp to around 5,000 metres for views across to the Mera La and return to Tagnag. Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? The … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 7: April 21

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 7: Following the west side of the Hinku River, we trek via the Yak herders’ summer settlement of Gondishung and its Buddhist shrine to Tagnag (4350m). Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 6: April 20

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 6: We follow a delightful descending trail across three ridges, before dropping steeply down to the Hinku River and a final uphill to Gotay (3600m). Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? Archaeological … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 5: April 19

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 5: A long day mostly uphill to cross the Zatrwa La (4600m) and descend to Tuli Kharka a high pasture above the Hinku valley. Camp (4320m). Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? Nepal … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 4: April 18

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 4: Acclimatization day. We make a trek up to around 4000 metres giving views over the Dudh Khosi Valley and across to the Atwra La pass. We return to Chutanga. Camp. Fun Fact of the … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 3: April 17

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 3: A short and easy day of trekking off the beaten track, up through thinning forest to the grazing area of Chutanga (3050m). Camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? Nepali, a branch … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 2: April 16

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 2: An early start for the dramatic flight through the mountains to Lukla (2840m). We spend the remainder of the day resting and acclimatizing. We stay in a tea house. Fun Fact of the Day … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 1: April 15

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 1: We meet the rest of the expedition crew in Kathmandu, pack our expedition duffels, and explore Kathmandu. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? According to UNESCO, Nepal contains four World Heritage Sites: … Continue reading

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No More Sleeps

A few last things to be zipped into the bags, our plane clothes put on, and a few last details to take care of and we’re off.  Thanks for all the well wishes. We look forward to sharing the trip … Continue reading

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Fun with Google Earth: View from Summit of Mera Peak

Google Earth is a wonderful visualization tool. The other evening, Marian and I “flew” over our entire route. Using “street view”, we could even see the view from the summit of Mera Peak. I thought I would share that image … Continue reading

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Audio Post Testing from St. John’s…Introducing the Tech Lunch Box

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You’re Invited to Follow Us on Peaks and Passes

We’re down to two sleeps to departure for Peaks and Passes: Mera Peak to Island Peak through the Amphu Labsta and I wanted to extend a hearty welcome and invitation to join us online for the expedition. Spend a little … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes: Route Map and Itinerary

Mera Peak, Island Peak and the Amphu Labtsa April 15: Meet the rest of the expedition crew in Kathmandu. April 16: An early start for the dramatic flight through the mountains to Lukla (2840m). We spend the remainder of the … Continue reading

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Minimum Effective Dose

A gorgeous day here hinting at the coming of Spring and we spent most of it indoors fighting with “monster bags” rather than climbing Signal Hill as I originally thought we might. But at the moment of choose this morning, … Continue reading

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The Weeks of Lasts: 7 Days and Counting to Peaks and Passes

And I’m not talking about shoe-making…it’s a week of “lasts” and endings and good-bye. Yesterday was my last class with HKR 4210 (what a great group of students I had this year). Today was my last Thursday hockey game. Tomorrow … Continue reading

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Confidence on Ice

It hasn’t been my most favourite winter even though I usually love winter and I usually love hockey. This winter felt tough. Maybe it was tough. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference when something is truly tough or just … Continue reading

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10 Days to Departure for Peaks and Passes (Mera and Island)

Marian and I had a good afternoon training on the hill yesterday-the weather was just starting to break and we started to work off our many Easter feasts. There is gear laid out in the living room and the lists … Continue reading

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13 days to Departure for Peaks and Passes (Mera and Island Peaks)

As the countdown to the trip gets to lower numbers, it was time to start laying out gear and attending to the hundreds of small tasks that go into packing for a month long expedition. One of which was snow-sealing … Continue reading

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Testing the SPOT

Yes…TA is still at home testing the SPOT messenger that we’ll use to dispatch our location each day on the expedition. Latitude:47.57018 Longitude:-52.70151 GPS location Date/Time:03/29/2013 10:45:49 NDT Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/BY8uw/47.57018N/52.70151W If … Continue reading

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Hitting the trails

By Michelle Osmond The TrailRider weighs 23 kg, is designed so that it can be folded and transported in a hatchback, SUV or minivan and can accommodate people of all sizes. It has a single, pneumatic wheel that works well … Continue reading

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21 days to Mera Peak, Island Peak and the Amphu Labtsa and counting…

Here is our itinerary for the trip…three weeks and counting.  Training is going well and it’s time to start putting out gear in piles and turning the living room into an expedition staging centre.  My excitement is mounting each day … Continue reading

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22 days to Mera Peak, Island Peak and the Amphu Labtsa and counting…

It’s countdown time again…22 days until we (Marian, Tyler, Christine and I) board the plane at the Kathmandu domestic airport and fly to Lukla to begin our next expedition. It’s a spectacular and terrifying flight to land at what is … Continue reading

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Signal Hill Seven Times

A quick edit on some training footage-I was trying out the “audio” back on the Go Pro and some different angles and shots off using the ski pole mount. A lovely day to be out on the hill.

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Checking in on Everest 3.0

As some of you will remember, I made a list of experiences that I wanted to complete/experience before going back for a third attempt at Everest. Since that February day two years ago, I have been plugging away at that … Continue reading

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Plan B Toques: Logan No More

I’d been waiting about a month for the email that arrived last night to arrive. It would confirm that a disappointment was in the cards. That an entire year of planning and scheduling and scheming and training would come to … Continue reading

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Getting a Good Fit

Marian and I have new liners for our plastic mountaineering boots. They are heat mouldable ones from Intuition. We hear they are fabulous and worth the investment as they can be form fitted, are very warm, and are very comfortable. … Continue reading

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