Ama Dablam is generally popular to climb in the October season, but this year Himalayan Ascent has a team on the mountain in spring. One of advantages of spring is less traffic, and that’s certainly the case now with only us, a Russian party and an independent British pair.
The team consists of Chris Possa (Switzerland, previous member of Lobuche team), Scott Macintosh (USA) and Niels (USA). Leading is Lakpa Sherpa with support from Niels who is a Yosemites’ guide. It’s a seriously technical mountain and despite its dwarf 6812m height compared to local giants, Everest and Lhotse, it’s not a mountain to be sniggered at. However, the group is in good hands with Lakpa. If successful, it will be Lakpa’s 19th summit in 8 years! He knows the mountain like the back of his hand.
Despite a little bit heavier snow on the ridge compare to other years, progress is good going. They have made a couple of trips up the mountain and have opened the route between camp 1 and camp 2. The team is also the first this season to spend a night at the infamous rocky camp #2. Now they are all having a well-deserved rest day at base camp before the summit push. If all goes as planned, the group is eyeing to summit around the 26th with Lakpa fixing lines above camp 3 as he pushes with the group for the summit. Everyone is well and enjoying base camp before the summit push.
Meanwhile, stay tuned for more updates…also Himalayan Ascent want to do something “special” for Lakpa’s 20th on Ama Dablam in October 2012 so be looking for that….Sumit