Tag Archives: climb

Climbing Ama Dablam Day 17: Return to Base Camp and Rest

We pack the gear up and leave everything we can at C1. We descend, stash our climbing gear, and then drop back down to base camp. Did You Know? There are a lot of fast flowing rivers in Nepal which … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 16: Recce to Camp Two

Another easy start to the day. After breakfast and plenty of hot drinks, we’ll put the harnesses on and recce the route along towards Camp 2. The route is fabulous and is on great rock. The majority of the going … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 15: First Night at Camp One (5800 m.)

It’s now time to move and sleep further up the hill. We pack up and make our way up to the slabs below Camp 1 where we’ll have our harnesses, helmets, and climbing gear stashed. We’ll spend the rest of … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 14: Return to Advanced Base Camp

After a leisurely base camp breakfast, we rest for the morning. After an early lunch, we trek back up to ABC in the afternoon. It’s much easier the second time around because we will have left most of our gear … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 13: Find Your Fit Friday

It’s about a two hour descent back down to base camp so we may want to just pack and go have breakfast in the base camp. We rest and relax in the sun for the rest of the day and … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 12: Acclimatization Climb to Camp 1

Acclimatization day. The sun hits Advanced Base Cmap quite early and thankfully there is no rush to be up and about. So after a leisurely breakfast and having aired our sleeping bags we wander up to Camp 1. From ABC … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 11: First Climb to Advanced Base Camp (5350 m.)

After our final preparations for our first foray up the hill, we will have an early lunch at Base Camp. We start along the easy trail and then gradually gain height along the ridge as we pass the old airfield … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 10: Base Camp Puja

After the Base Camp Puja, which is conducted by a lama who visits from Pangboche, we will have time to start sorting the loads for our first carry. Did You Know? A popular fast food in Nepal are called Momo. … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 9: Rest and Technical Skills Day

This is a rest and technical training day. We have a very thorough session on the use of jumars, belay devices, prussiks and appropriate techniques for dealing with fixed ropes. It is very good to put all this in to … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 8: Reaching Ama Dablam Base Camp (4450 m.)

After breakfast, we visit the monastery at ‘Upper Pangboche.’ This is a beautiful quiet village just 15 minutes easy walking above Pangboche. After our first ‘puja’ (blessing) of the trip, we drop back down to Sonam Lodge for an early … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 7: Trek to Pangboche (3985 m.)

Today we drop all the way down to the Dudh Kosi to the village of Phunki Tenga, before making our way steadily back up to Tengboche where we stop for lunch. After visiting the monastery and looking around the visitor … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 6: Find Your Fit Friday

Today we’ll get our first proper view of Ama Dablam. We’ll trek up to the Everest View Hotel, a fantastic colonial style building, where we have tea on the veranda. The amazing view includes Taweche, Nuptse, Everest, Lhotse, Thamesurku, Kang … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 5: Trek to Kyanjuma (3450 m.)

After breakfast, we start on the trail alongside the Dudh Kosi (Milk River) which originates from the Khumbu Glacier some 50 kilometres away. We cross the river four times on the route today on some quite exciting (but very well … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 4: Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phak Ding (2650 m.)

We have an early morning flight to Lukla (2,800m). After arrival in Lukla, breakfast, and sorting the gear into loads, we will start trekking towards Ama Dablam. We will trek in and stay in a teahouse at Phak Ding (2,650m). … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 3: Sightseeing in Kathmandu

This morning we’ll be sightseeing and taking in key attractions in and around Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Valley has an amazing range of fascinating highlights. We will visit Pashupatinath and Boudhanath (two favourite places of mine). Did You Know? Kathmandu has … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 2: Arrival in Kathmandu

Today is arrival day in Kathmandu. It will be delightful to be back in this vibrant city, catch up with several friends, and start meeting my Ama Dablam teammates. Did You Know? The population of Nepal is approximately 27 million … Continue reading

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Climbing Ama Dablam Day 1: Leaving Home for Nepal

“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!” ― Dr. Seuss Did You Know? Electric power load-shedding is a way of life in Nepal and power outages can last for … Continue reading

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We’ve All Got a Mountain: TA is Climbing Ama Dablam

I first saw Ama Dablam in 2002 and several times since then culminating this past spring, when I saw the peak from many new angles as I completed my Great Big Walk. It was then, that I knew that I truly … Continue reading

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M is for Managing Risk: Ama Dablam #15

Tragic events in Nepal over the past six months have showed us over and over again the many ways in which high mountains can kill and injure. Falling ice, rock, and snow, storms, landslides, falls, altitude illness, and more take … Continue reading

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D is for Dark & Deary: Ama Dablam #14

I am one of the few who are looking forward to having the clocks fall back this weekend. The morning training has started out in the pitch black these days and now the sunset doesn’t happen until after I’m done. … Continue reading

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A is for Anxiety: Ama Dablam #13

I am less than two weeks to Ama Dablam. As usual, I’m not sure where the time went in the lead up to the climb, I just know I don’t quite feel ready. Though, if I am honest, I suspect … Continue reading

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D is for Double Double: Ama Dablam #12

It was a double double day on Signal Hill today because I saw both the sunrise and the sunset from the top of the hill. I was on my own this morning do some stair climbing with pack weight. This … Continue reading

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M is for Morning Mind: Ama Dablam #10

It was a gorgeous morning out on the East Coast Trail for an “Up-Down” training hike above Quidi Vidi. My training pack has grown to 45 pounds and my legs are regaining strength and stamina as they lift me up … Continue reading

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L is for Life: Ama Dablam #9

I seem to have decided that all Ama Dablam entries will have a letter from Ama Dablam. It’s fun to watch my mind work with seeking out options for which letters/words could summarize my recent experiences in preparation for Ama … Continue reading

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D is for D.O.M.S.: Ama Dablam #8

Happy #FINDYOURFIT Friday! This work-out gear was how I found my fit today during my Ama Dablam training session this morning. It’s been a good week for training and I’m pleasantly tired and wickedly sore. The culprit is D.O.M.S. Delayed … Continue reading

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A is for Altitude: Ama Dablam #7

I had a swim coach once who said, “If you want to swim faster, swim faster.” I sometimes translate that as, “If you want to climb higher, climb higher.” Today’s training session was step-ups. It was the first, real big … Continue reading

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B is for Berries and Buckets and Boxes: Ama Dablam #6

Yes, that is a fish bucket on my backpack. Yes, some folks call them fish boxes.  Yes, I did pick berries with a backpack and fish bucket/box on my back. Yes, I did wonder how I ended up in that … Continue reading

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B is for Back at It: Ama Dablam #5

After a few weeks “off”, I was back at it today doing “Up Downs” on Signal Hill with a 30 pound pack. I was wearing my birthday present to myself, an Autographer. The autographer is a wearable camera that snaps … Continue reading

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In Conversation with TA

Soon after getting back from the Great Big Walk in Nepal, I sat down with Roger Bill and had a conversation. Here it is…In Conversation with TA

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Pulled in All Directions: Ama Dablam #4

Here’s a look at my new tire pulling rig. Thanks to Marian for coming along and taking this picture. This week my pack weight was up by 8 pounds and I managed the two tires side by side much of … Continue reading

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A is for Awesome: Ama Dablam #3 (The Spout Hike)

Happy Find your Fit Friday! I’ve had an awesome week finding my fit and today is actually a bit of a rest day after four big physical days starting off my training efforts for Ama Dablam. Yesterday was a “climb … Continue reading

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D is for Discipline: Ama Dablam #2

Thanks to Sue for this picture! Another morning, another training day. This morning was an “Up Down, Up Down” workout on Signal Hill. We headed up the North Head trail, down the back side to Cuckhold Cove, up the back … Continue reading

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Out of Re-Tire-Ment: Ama Dablam #1

Tuesdays are now Tiredays or as you can see from the photo above: Tired Ays! Great morning out on the hill with Sue (another convert to the fun and joys of Tire Pulling ) and taking my new tire rig … Continue reading

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What’s TA Climbing Next V? Ama Dablam: We’ve All Got a Mountain

Congrats to Phil, Rick and Tyler for their correct guesses at what I am climbing next. Ama Dablam! I first saw the peak in 2002 and several times since then culminating this past spring, when I saw Ama Dablam from … Continue reading

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What’s TA Climbing Next V Clue 3?

What’s TA Climbing Next Fifth Edition! My goodness how time and climbs fly. We’ve had fun guessing the last few times before climbs, I thought I would offer up the picture clue peak guessing game again this time. Please enter … Continue reading

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What’s TA Climbing Next V Clue 2?

What’s TA Climbing Next Fifth Edition! My goodness how time and climbs fly. We’ve had fun guessing the last few times before climbs, I thought I would offer up the picture clue peak guessing game again this time. Please enter … Continue reading

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What’s TA Climbing Next V?

What’s TA Climbing Next Fifth Edition! My goodness how time and climbs fly. We’ve had fun guessing the last few times before climbs, I thought I would offer up the picture clue peak guessing game again this time. Please enter … Continue reading

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The Great Big Walk

By Michelle Osmond On March 5, Dr. TA Loeffler set out on a 600 kilometre traverse of the High Himalaya in Nepal. The HKR professor, along with her partner Marion Wissink from the Department of Computer Science, and two others … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk: Still Walking

It’s been a whirlwind since getting home ten days ago. I went right into teaching summer courses and the pictures I promised you are long/late in coming. The picture above is the team taking our first few steps west on … Continue reading

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A Great Big Bus Ride Brings the Great Big Walk Back to Kathmandu

Our first motorized seats in 65 days! The whole crew jumped aboard a public bus (we hiked down to its first stop) and loaded all our packs for a hair-raising (for TA) ride to Barabhise (where we would connect to … Continue reading

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